drunks

LV2SV · Oct 4, 2005

I used to pick up the drunks from the local PD and bring them into the ER, now I'm taking care of them in the ER! Remember one thing...your first priority is SAFETY! Your's, everyone else in your department and your patients. You must take steps to ensure everyones safety first. Whether this is restraints, or the police. You said your PD won't "take them to the drunk tank," fine, but as long as they are able to stumble towards the door, they can be arrested for drunk in public. They may not take them downtown, but they must post an officer at the door of the pt's room, for SAFETY! Other than this, what traumaRUs said is right on! Don't forget, A&B on a nurse is a felony, don't let anyone get away with this!!! It may be a good idea to be familiar with what A&B complications are in you city. An unsolicited touch or a threat of bodily harm is usually all it takes, and while you may not press charges, a lot of times this is a good bargaining chip for good behavior. However, there will always be the out of control ones who simply must be 4-point restrained.

BennyMambo · Oct 6, 2005

i'm curious how others handle the drunks that come into your ER's.
i used to have sympathy for them and do what i could for them but the longer i am in the ER, the less patience i have for them.
figured maybe i could learn a trick or two to keep my sanity when dealing with them.

I work in a drug an alcohol detox facility that also has protective custody. Most of the "drunks" end up at our place. The staff here always treats each person with respect. Some have been here hundreds of times. However, I have also seen a 70 year old chronic alcoholic finally 'get it' and remain sober and come in to speak to those in our facility. Yes, we get frustrated, we get verbally abused, but each of these persons have the potential to turn their life around so we view each time they come in as another possibility for them finally having the desire to change and ask for help. :)