"VIPs" in the ER

Specialties Emergency

Published

Recently I had a pt present to triage with a smaller laceration. It was a weekend so urgent care/PCP was closed. About 5 minutes after she walked in triage got a call from someone in admin telling us that "Mrs so and so is a big donor and needs to be taken back". This is when we're jam packed with clearly more emergent patients around. Is this a common practice? I've only been working ER for a couple months so it was a jolt.

Thanks,

Phil

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It can def happen... At least she didn't say don't you know who I am?!? I've gotten that when I worked triage in the ER... It happen sadly you just get used to it

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Specializes in Emergency.

Yes it does happen. It is complete BS in my opinion, but it is the way of the world unfortunately.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Yup. I had a guy whose dad had donated 10mil and he did have CP granted. But we had several cp waiting for beds. Sucks.....but it happens. No one wants to be in the headlines for not providing excellent care. I try to think of those VIPs as "well we wouldn't have these multiple beds to work with if it wasn't for them...." Just so I don't blow a gasket....I've also taken care of a few famous people or their relatives....sheer nerve wracking when they're legit sick....symptomatic bradycardia pacer pads and dropping pressure..... I prefer my average community patient with no VIP ties.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Yep, we had 6 patients waiting on obs tele beds some of them had been waiting overnight. And who did the first open bed go to? The VIP.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Unfortunately, yes. Should it happen? No. But it does.

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Specializes in ED.

I had two recently. They were VIPS because of family. Those family members were super wonderful but it still made me mad. One of those was basically a GI bug who went right back, while one of our city cops with known GI issues had to wait. I was not ok with this and made a stink with my boss.

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Specializes in ICU.

VIP patients make me grumpy. One brought his/her own doctor and RN. What do you need me for? Sheesh.

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The VIPs I have dealt with have all been appropriate and appreciative, and I haven't had pressure to do anything different from the norm.

On the other hand, when my peers come in themselves, or bring in family, I prioritize them when safe.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
The VIPs I have dealt with have all been appropriate and appreciative, and I haven't had pressure to do anything different from the norm.
My first job (brand spanking new nurse too!) - took care of my hospital CEO overnight. :-)

I remember there was more than one nurse that shift who didn't want the assignment.

I was "Voluntold" (as they say in the Army) and I accepted.

The patient didn't request/demand anything "special" from me and I didn't treat the patient any better than I treated my other patients on my assignment that night.

Now I HAVE had patients, whose FAMILY thought they were "VIPs". The poor patients didn't say a word, but the family (including current and retired nurses) who were loud enough on their cellphones to someoneortheother talking about how "if they hadn't brought Little Angel back to be seen any sooner, I was going to call Dr. Bigshot Surgeon. He's a personal friend. I was gonna call him and raise holy hell... blah..blah... "

I've also had fellow ER Physicians make ridiculous requests of ER nurses such as: "Hey guys! There's a Dr. So-and-So out in the waiting room. Dr. So-and-So is a physician with Big Rival Hospital System but we frequently admit patients to them. If you (not 'we', 'you') could bring the patient back ahead of line, it'd be great. I mean, not saying you "have to" but if you (again with the 'you'?) could, it'd be great. Thanks!"

The patient in question had been in the waiting room post triage for about 20 minutes. VS borderline but stable. CC was non-emergent from Triage and ESI standpoint. Pt. felt like crap - but so did the 14 other patients ahead of said pt. who'd been waiting to be seen too (longest waiting was approaching 3 hours).

I said no but was over-ruled by my charge, who was in turn over-ruled by someone else, who was no-doubt over-ruled....

Pt. was seen, worked-up and discharged by the time the second patient of the 14-in-waiting was assigned an ER stretcher to be worked up...

So, the ones whom others deem "VIPs", don't see themselves as such and don't behave like so.

You have those who 'deem themselves' to be "VIPs", aren't so to begin with yet behave as such anyway.

When the truth of the matter is - the mere use of the acronym "VIP" in a clinical, healthcare setting is a disgrace!

'Everyone puts their pants on the same way.'

cheers,

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Specializes in Critical care.

I've taken care of my mayor, hospital CNO, CFO, CMO, surgeons, anesthesiologists, former A-list celebrities, (mostly in ED, but several as icu pts over several days) etc. Near the top for nerve wracking for me was my former nursing instructor about 2 yrs post graduation. Only one of those VIP's acted out the "don't you know who I am? " routine... the majority of special treatment expectations came from family or other hospital staff.

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