Being a Patient Where you Work

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Just curious if any of you have been patients or you close family members have been patients in the ER you work in? If you have never been in this situation, would you use your own ER if you or your family had an emergency?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I was a patient in my own ER once, when I had a sudden onset of vertigo while working. Would I voluntarily go to my own ER now? Very likely, but if it were something of a "delicate" nature I might think twice.

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

I have gone to the ER At the hospital where I worked. Although I didn't work IN the ER, we worked closely with them so knew many of their nurses.

I was kept overnight for hyperemesis gravidarium. When my IV infiltrated, the nurse (who frequently floated to our floor and so worked with us often) got it into her head that SHE would be the one to reinstall it, no matter how many times she had to stick me herself. I'm kind of a hard stick to begin with, and I was dehydrated. But she kept sticking with 18 gauge, in my wrist, because it's all she could 'see'. After a couple times, where I kept my cool and let her dig in my wrist, I finally told her that I got that it was a matter of pride for her since she knew me and all, but that I might hurt her if she didn't go find someone else to try.

All that to say that I think if you go somewhere where they know you, things could go either really well, or really badly.

[schnookimz]

I have been to the ER and had surgery at my hospital, but no inpatient stays. I would for sure go back, but never stay on my floor.

[loriangel14, RN]

Oh yes I have been to the at my hospital a few times, plus mnay times with my kids.Both of my kids have been inpatients where I work too.

[Mommy&RN, BSN, RN]

Yes, I have had surgery and was a fresh post op in my unit. So was my husband. When my mother has COPD exerbations I try to get her on my unit. I know and trust (most) of my co-workers and know mom gets a little extra TLC from my co-workers. The surgeries my hubby and I had are unit specialties, so I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Yes, and yes.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

No. I used to work in my hospital's ER and it would be too awkward to go back. I got along with many of those nurses, but it's the few that I didn't get along with that would keep me out of the ER. I would go to the other hospital's ER over my own.

[nursemeanie]

Our insurance only covers our facility. It can be pretty awkward!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

My grandchildren have all been pts in the ER where I worked for 10 years. And...they got fantastic care....

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Glad to hear all these replies! I was a pt in my ER once, got amazing care as I expected. I am also having outpt surgery at my hospital in a few months. Could have gone someplace closer for both, but would rather drive farther to go somewhere I trust

[bebbercorn]

If you can't trust your co-workers enough to treat you, perhaps you should find another place to work... unless it's "delicate..." as Lunah said.