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 ?

A paper cut, demanding sutures.

Had a pt brought in by ambulance for a hemorrhoid. Even dragged her adult son out of bed so she wouldn't have to walk home alone afterwards

Young male pt came in complaining of bilat cyanotic hands. No poor circulation or cold or anything, just...blue.

Turns out he just got new jeans and the dye was rubbing onto his hands.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

"I started antibiotics last night but I don't feel any better".

"I was at urgent care for my (skin rash), they gave me a steroid prescription but said not to fill it right away. My rash is worse." Didn't get the steroids. Did have a progression of sxs that ended up with IV steroids etc.

Specializes in ED.

It never ceases to amaze me what people think is an emergency!!!

early 20f....signs in for "sleepy"

It is almost midnight. She says her mom told her to come in because she is falling asleep while driving and she is 10-ish weeks pregnant and it isn't normal to be that sleepy while pregnant.

Wait.... WHUT?

I kinda went tough love with her and said that maybe she should be at home sleeping at 11:30 at night and not driving tonight or when she is too drowsy. She drove herself by the way. She also said she had to drive herself to work. I asked her if driving sleepy is a risk worth taking to put her life, my life and that of her unborn child in danger.

I was probably a bit snarky and definitely in "mom mode" but this girl wanted us to do something so she wasn't so sleepy.

That's pretty much allllll up to you, sweetie. All you!

Specializes in ER.

I thought I had heard it all, but this week I got the winner.

Man comes into the ER, with a letter. His wife had been to an immediate care center and they had referred her for a CT of whatever injury it was she had.

The letter was sensible, and clear, stating the imaging already done and the reason for referral.

Just one thing missing though.

"Sir, where is your wife?"

"Oh, she's at home, she's tired so she sent me instead."

:roflmao:

Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Pediatrics.

Pt and his adult daughter came to ED. Pt was stung by a bee prior to arriving, approx 30-45 min. Daughter encouraged him to let her bring him in so they could "find out if he's allergic to bees."

Gee...I think if you were, you would've had some type of symptoms by now?

Here's a few I can remember from the last FEW WEEKS:

- "My girl is having problems getting pregnant and she said my member smells so I'm here to see if I have sperm problems"

- "I cut my finger while cutting onions"... had what looked like the most superficial paper cut I've ever seen, no blood, nothing... the doctor literally put a bandaid on it. She waited almost 3 hours since we were drowning.

- Every female patient who comes in complaining of something and then casually adds "oh and if we could check if I'm pregnant that would be good" (when in reality that's probably the real reason they came in)

- "I've been coughing for at least 6 years" (smokes a pack a day)

- "My jaw has been locked for over 24 hours" (asks for a sandwich within 30 mins of getting there)

- Guy put a LOCK (the ones you used for your high school locker) around his member.... forgot the code and couldn't get it off. Ended up needing surgery.

- Girl said she noticed a "few drops of blood" when she wiped after urinating. When asked her LMP, she said "it started yesterday"... UMMM..... ?????

Specializes in ER.

I had a patient come to ER for a broken toenail from stubbing her toe. 

I had someone come in for hurt feelings. 

Just kidding but I wouldn't be surprised. 

Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

"Pt states her boyfriend convinced her to 'eat his butthole' and has been having an itching sensation since 'maybe cause my boyfriends dirty or something.’ Pt did not wash face, came straight to ER. Pt also has a broken tooth she fears may be infected from boyfriends butthole. Pt got out of jail yesterday."

Specializes in PACU, ED.

Healthy 30 something male came in complaining that he had felt light headed at work 8 hours prior to entering our doors. He also had his discharge paperwork from the ED he had visited before coming to us. They had given him a liter of NS and a full work up but didn’t find a reason for his transitory experience. Since they didn’t have an answer for him, he came to us.

 I imagine that guy could still be on a lifelong mission to find out why he had that one particular episode. 

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma Nurse.

My very first day in the ER an ambo brought in an 8 year old girl with a stubbed toe. Her parents followed in their private vehicle. Medics were shitty and I was shocked. That was almost 6 yrs ago. Since then I’ve learned that people come in to the ER for some of the absolute stupidest reasons you could imagine and that common sense is not common at all. 

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