What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

Specialties Emergency Nursing Q/A

And did you have to treat them?

I am just curious. Your stories always seem to either crack me up or shake my head in amazement.

Thanks for sharing ?

I guess it could be seen as such, but if you've ever witnessed the phenomenon, it's apropos, I assure you.

I have seen the "pheonmenon" that was referred to, it is the mocking of a cultural norm that i find insulting.

Specializes in ER/Home Care/Psych/MentalHealth/Teaching.

We had a young couple (15-16 yrs old) come into ER early one Sunday morning asking for a pregnancy test.

Our triage nurse asked, "And how far along do you think you are, Dear?

The girl said, "Fifteeen minutes." :clown:

In triage the other day. Registration came running to me saying this pt was having a seizure.

I run to the area this lady was sitting. The seizure pt greets with a, "hello..how are you." I then bring her into my triage booth per wheelchair.

NURSE: Ma'am, what's bring you to the ED today. **I begin taking her VS**

PT: I have been having seizures in my neck and my right arm for the past 2 days on and off. **Pt head immediately begins shaking back and forth violently...whilst looking at me**

NURSE: OK, are you having a seizure right now?

PT: "Yes", **Head still violently thrashing in my triage booth while talking to me** "but it is just my neck right now because you are taking my blood pressure"

NURSE: "So you are not having a seizure in your arm because of the BP cuff."

PT: "yes"

NURSE: "Ma'am, if you can control when this happens..why don"t you just not have one at all?"

I check in the computer what the MD orders on the pt, and I see a psych consult. LOL

Specializes in Emergency.

18 y/o male brought in by mom, c/o abd pain. They were at a buffet, he had "2 full plates of food and 2 big dishes of ice cream". Worst part? I actually had to put a line in this idiot so he could get zofran & pepcid. Best part? Pulling them out of the room into the hallway for a stroke.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Came by ambulance, for.... c/o "dry mouth"

Pt not sure if it was from the smoke (lots of wild fires and smoke in the area) or just a medication side effect.

Had a 13 yo female come in emergency traffic with severe abdominal pain. She was unconsolable and accompanied by her mother. We get her in the room and begin triage. When get ready to put a line in, she stops crying and asks if she is getting an IV. We tell her yes, that we need blood and to start fluids. She states that she is going to be ok, that her sister pinched her on the stomach and she was mad and wanted to teach her sister a lesson.

woman comes in with abd pain started an hour ago, walked into the room to her eating a turkey sandwhich and a red pop! She said "i used light mayo!"

Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Patient arrived via EMS with a chief complaint of ....."Nothing".

No problems, no complaints....the patient just wanted a look over to "make sure everything is okay".

Specializes in Emergency Department.
Patient arrived via EMS with a chief complaint of ....."Nothing".

No problems, no complaints....the patient just wanted a look over to "make sure everything is okay".

Ding, ding, ding!! I think we have a winner here.

Too bad he/she probably won't pay for that $800 ride and $3,000 "look-over." :rolleyes:

Had a 13 yo female come in emergency traffic with severe abdominal pain. She was unconsolable and accompanied by her mother. We get her in the room and begin triage. When get ready to put a line in, she stops crying and asks if she is getting an IV. We tell her yes, that we need blood and to start fluids. She states that she is going to be ok, that her sister pinched her on the stomach and she was mad and wanted to teach her sister a lesson.

i bet mom was mad to

Wanted me to sign paperwork on his apartment application certifying that he was in need of his dog as a companion animal so he could move in with a dog into an apartment that wouldn't otherwise allow dogs

I kindly replied that if he could get his GP to sign off for him more power to him but our ER attending would not see him for that purpose

he responded.."really? are you sure?"

Could you imagine!!!....."hey Dr such and such....this will only take a sec.... HAHA YEAH RIGHT!!!":up:

s kind of c@@p ****** me off :devil: I have a real service dog and I was at a meeting and I was stopped at the door and told I could not drink my dog in . I get this a lot and just told him this is my guide dog and he then told me oh no if this was a guide dog you would be pushing it in a stroller and it would be barking to tell you if you where going to hit something . Will I was just stunded and I asked him where did he get this from ? and he said oh the people over there told me when I told them they could not bring there pugs inside ?????????:uhoh3:

Specializes in ER.
s kind of c@@p ****** me off :devil: I have a real service dog and I was at a meeting and I was stopped at the door and told I could not drink my dog in . I get this a lot and just told him this is my guide dog and he then told me oh no if this was a guide dog you would be pushing it in a stroller and it would be barking to tell you if you where going to hit something . Will I was just stunded and I asked him where did he get this from ? and he said oh the people over there told me when I told them they could not bring there pugs inside ?????????:uhoh3:

Too bad there isn't any official paperwork associated with animal assistants. Anyone can claim that their animal is needed for a medical purpose. There's no universal behavior/education standard, and that certainly sours attitudes for people with genuine needs and well trained dogs.

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