I never realized we are all in the same boat!

Specialties Emergency

Published

I was just browsing these boards and I read posts from all over the country and things are pretty much the same everywhere!

I see these things all the time and I think they are universal throught our ED's..these are my observations please tell me if you disagree or if you have had similar experiences.

1. Everyone wants a meal when they come to the ED usually after 9 pm.

2. Ever notice how many people have cell phones and use them in the department with signs posted everywhere in five different languages not to use them?

3. Have you gone through a shift without using the bathroom?

4. Isn't the onset and reaction from the blue looking herion OD to IVP Narcan the coolest thing in the world!

5. Do you get broken hearted when patients tell you "If that doctor doesnt get in here in five minutes. I AM LEAVING!"

6. How many patients have you seen with the chief complaint of Nausea and abd pain that were drinking soda and eating frito's.

7. How many times a day are you asked "How long is it until the doctor see's me?"

8. On busy days when the strechers are lining the hallways and the patients reach out to you and grab you as you walk by. Do you feel like Richard Dreyfus entering the space ship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

9. How many times a day do you hear a Doc say "Where is the chart for room 8?" and it is either in front of him or in his hand.

10. Isnt it amazing that people will go through a complete Abd workup and all they wanted was a HCG Quant?

11. Ever woke a patient up from a snoring deep sleep to have them tell you their pain is a 10/10 (pain is truly subjective!)

12. Ever treat a child with a fever of 103 and vomiting who's parents tried homopathy and gave the child baths in rosehips and tried every natural remedy under the sun, and you promptly shove tylenol up their butt?

13. Would you drop dead of an MI if someone covered their mouth while coughing instead of coughing directly into your face.

There are just some thoughts and observations. I am sure their are many more universal ED facts that will come out. These are the ones on the top of my head.

Quote: "Could she have called a taxi? "No! They cost MONEY!"

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That just drives me nuts...I would have needed an anxiety pill more than she did after she told me that. ;)

Quote: "Now you know why our E.D.'s triage is known as "THE PENALTY BOX.""

Oooooh...that is good! :D

I actually had a pt ***apologize*** to me for being an a$$hole last night (in his words.) I was so shocked, I almost had a freakin' MI! ;)

ERNurse 752

After that apology, did you need to "simma down na' " ? :lol:

I saw a GREAT cartoon on the board at work. It shows the hospital waiting room is equipped with 2 rope ladders. People signing in for triage are given an opprtunity to first climb one of the ladders.

A nurse with a clipboard explains, "We are trying to cut down on the number of frivolous visits to the ER. If you can climb the rope ladder and grab the $500.00, it's yours. But, then you won't be seen in the ER today. :roll :rotfl: :roll :rotfl: :roll

you know, l am always intreagued(sp) when this thread pops up again....l had a pt apologize the other nite too...for the last time she was at the ER, she thought l recognized her, l didn't and wouldn't have either if she hadn't relayed the whole ugly event....yeah, l was in the "penalty box" that nite too....ahhh, l won't bore you with details, but this chick reported me to the nsg supervisor for almost slamming her head in the trigae door....if only !........oh what a nite....and Tom, btw.....l no longer even hope for the clean underwear...........

Originally posted by AngelGirl

ERNurse 752

After that apology, did you need to "simma down na' " ? :lol:

:D :p Sho' did, suga'!

ERNurse752

You sound "as country as cornbread." Very refreshing. Thanks.

Mmmmmm...cooooooornbread... :D

Originally posted by amy

The patient visitor that pulls up on the ambulance ramp with someone in the car with a "Medical Emergency" that turns out to be a sprained ankle?

LOL. I sprained my ankle when I was 15yo. My mother took me to the local ED for xrays just to make sure it wasn't broken. They have an ambulance bay and a private vehicle drive. My mother picked the closest non-handicap parking spot(which wasn't that close) not the private vehicle drive. I was holding onto her shoulder and hopping toward the ER as fast as I could hop. It must have been a slow night cause one of the nurses (who was male) apparently saw us through the ambulance bay doors and came out with a wheelchair. I'll never forget that guy. I embarresed the stew out of him. He was triaging me and asked me for LMP. My answer was "right now." He turned bright red. LOL.

Specializes in cardiac, diabetes, OB/GYN.

From labor and recently delivered patients and their significant others...Nurse, you have NO IDEA how tired we are...You have NO IDEA how much it hurts. They told me I would be sure to be PAIN FREE (not in labor baby, I don't care WHAT kind of analgesia you get..) My favorite,,,,"Do you have any idea who I am????" My favorite reply, "Yes I do, do you?

I think I've read this post a couple of times...its so nice to know you aren't alone in their(patients)-idiocy! My favorite is the sickle cell pts we have. I'm in sssooooo much pain I can't take it.(VS completly normal) I'm soooo nauseated, when can I get my (they name there DOC) followed closely by where is my soda and crackers can I get a meal I'm hungry. Maybe their stomachs are different because of the dx but I have never been hungry the same time I was nauseated and in pain.

Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......
Yes I too get disgusted with some folks. Americans used to be hardy pioneering type folks. Draging wagons through the snow exploring the west. Yukon gold rush, WWI, WWII, People carrying folks down 80 flights of smoke filled stairs because they were less injured on 9/11..etc..etc. But it seems there is a class of apathetic people that can not tolerate any kind of ailment for any period of time.

Isnt it disturbing when you get a very healthy young Man/Woman coming to the ED, where you have to think hard about their vague complaint and have to word it so the folks in the core wont laugh too hard!

Scenario 1: Friday 0300: Young 18 year old man walks into triage drinking a coke. States "He Doesn't Feel Well" Upon closer Triage the young man states "I havent felt good for 3 days and I have a fever." 0 HX/ 0 Meds Vitals T 98.8 P 72 R16 BP120/80 Nurse writes "General Malise X3 Days"

Scenario 1a: (ideal world) Friday 0300 Young 18 year old man walks into triage drinking a coke. States "He Doesn't Feel Well" Upon closer Triage the young man states "I havent felt good for 3 days and I have a fever."0 HX/ 0 Meds Vitals T 98.8 P 72 R16 BP120/80

Nurse states "oh thats too bad". "You need to step into the next office and see Corporal Punishment. He will give you 10 minute block of instruction on parachuting and the use of an automatic rifle. You will then be transported to a airfield and parachuted into Afghanstain. Dont forget about your co pay and life insurance forms. "Have a Nice Day!" Then the nurse will yell out into the waiting room "NEXT!"

Think that will cut down on the non-urgents?

:) :(

:yeah: Thanks for the effort! Having been a Paratrooper in Afghanistan, I can say for certainty that I would have liked to have some "disposables" for mine clearing, ambush checking......! Kepp them coming!:chuckle

"And now, for something completely different!"

Specializes in ED.
How about this for a nursing diagnosis in the ER for those patients who are repeat visitors for that darn pain control that we keep chasing....

"Demerol Deficiency"

"HYPODILAUDIDISM" OR "HYPODILAUDIDEMIA"

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