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 ?

Specializes in pure and simple psych.
Ok, so the eastern United States is suffering through 90+ degree weather that feels like 100 degrees.

This is the God's honest truth - had a 34 year old male come in to the Emergency Room today. Complaint? Hot and sweaty.

:chuckle :roll What did he think you would do about that?

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Emergency application of cold packs and AC???????

we had a man come in (pt was in his 70's) States he was having diarrhea and needed to stay at work so he "plugged it up" with a lightbulb. Bulb end first. The xray was CLASSIC. The pt ended up leaving AMA. He didn't come back so we're hoping it was okay.

I am a med surg nurse....at work c/o abd pain, not normal for me, never even been to an ER before for medical tx, tell them I have polycystic ovaries as part of my history, though I have never had an utra sound for confirmation of a cyst....er doc does u/a only...oh, i think its just your cysts, go home and take this vicodin...that's it ... no blood work , ct scan or anything!! So, go home and take meds....still hurts 2 days later....go back to ed again ( mistake! should have went to urgent care or my md 1st )

did blood work and ct scan, no appendicitis but do have a cyst...but Doc says I think it may be kidney stones but we did the wrong CT scan for that so I will discharge you and call your md if this persists....no offer either time for medication even motrin!~ went to md -- I have 5 kidney stones!! I felt like the ER thought I was faking!! I am not overly dramatic, don't cry or fuss, just sit calmly and wait....that's the problem , people who act like they are dying for a hang nail get more attention that someone with real medical issues...........

I am a med surg nurse....at work c/o abd pain, not normal for me, never even been to an ER before for medical tx, tell them I have polycystic ovaries as part of my history, though I have never had an utra sound for confirmation of a cyst....er doc does u/a only...oh, i think its just your cysts, go home and take this vicodin...that's it ... no blood work , ct scan or anything!! So, go home and take meds....still hurts 2 days later....go back to ed again ( mistake! should have went to urgent care or my md 1st )

did blood work and ct scan, no appendicitis but do have a cyst...but Doc says I think it may be kidney stones but we did the wrong CT scan for that so I will discharge you and call your md if this persists....no offer either time for medication even motrin!~ went to md -- I have 5 kidney stones!! I felt like the ER thought I was faking!! I am not overly dramatic, don't cry or fuss, just sit calmly and wait....that's the problem , people who act like they are dying for a hang nail get more attention that someone with real medical issues...........

I know how that goes. I on the other hand do have serious problems with ovarian cysts. I've had some large ones and almost had to have them removed surgically. I have a very high tolernce for pain, I was a cheerleader in high school.. I've dislocated my knee cap and had fractures in my back, along with many sprains, strains, and bruises. I go to the ER tell the nurse I have a lot of pain and they are like well hunny you don't look like your in pain, you look fine.. they do an ultrasound and they just kind of look at me like wow I guess you really are in pain...:yelclap:

Specializes in NA, Stepdown, L&D, Trauma ICU, ER.
menstrual cramps... not because of endometriosis or anything like that, just plain old menstrual cramps...

Ok, I gotta confess... I did that once. Lemme explain. Years ago I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks. Wasn't quite ready for the D&C, so I waited a few days, had the worst cramps of my life, and well... it took care of itself. I had a few normal periods, and then one with cramps worse than the miscarriage. I didn't have a clue what was wrong with me, if I had endo or something, if I was having another one. I went to the ER because they hurt so bad I couldn't breathe :o Maybe it sounds silly, but that was seriously the worst pain of my life

Specializes in everywhere.

these stories are so great! Keep them coming! I don't have any cool ER stories to add (I work Pediatrics), but I do have a few about parents. I love this thread

Coming in with gum in your hair, chipped acrylic nails, or a hangover is funny stuff. Homeless folks coming in for meals and a place to sleep, that's just sad.

I had a patient who was in a car accident and requested to be transported to the ER by ambulance. When he arrived, the paramedic told me that this guy had "no complaint." I asked, so why is he here? The patient had no reason at all. I'm still scratching my head on why he wanted to go to the ER! :-)

we get this all the time. Running nose, others want their wounds dressed at 2 am coz they have an important meeting the whole day so they won,t make it for their appointment. last night someone came for a HIV test because he had hugged 2 girls!!!!!!!!! Someboby tell me, has hugging changed its meaning?

Kidney stone = real pain......real pain = emergency -----do not hesitate

These stories are really GOOD, but it reminds me of something.

As nurses, having seen this kind of abuse, and knowing how crowded and busy ER's are; we may hesitate to seek care.

I woke up one morning with the WORST abdominal pain. Definitley 10/10.

Said nothing to my husband, sure it was gas.

2 hours go by, no toileting, change of position, antacids are working.

Call to my primary, described the problem. He tells me, "get to the ER NOW!

My reply: "Isn't that a little dramatic?".(Heck, I'm not having a heart attack or a stroke, isn't that what ER's are for, I'm thinking?).

He: Get here now!"

So, I call hubby, get him to drive me, and it turns out that I have a ruptured ovarian cyst, COULD have bled to death; and and was admitted for 24 hours to R/O surgery.

So, don't hesitate to seek the care you or your loved ones need just because you think the ER'S are full of crocks and the docs should'nt be bothered with li'l ol' compentent you.

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