Flu Cases

I work in a small, rural ER. We have seen many influenza A's (33 at last count) and 4 influenza B's. Many people have also come in with respitory/flu-like symptoms and end up negative for influenza A&B. Most are treated symptomatically. If they are diagnosed within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms they may get a script for Tamiflu. The 4 Influeza B cases have been much more sick than the A's - I mean train wreck sick in less than 24 hours.

Tons of both A&B, and also some people who are dx symptomatically who don't swab +. We give ILNS bolus, IV Toradol, po Tylenol, swab for flu, and send home w Tamiflu Rx if relatively new sxs. Occasionally get a CXR if productive cough to r/o pneumonia. This nurse is tired of the flu cases....most of them are aged 18-45 with no other comorbidities, and are big whiners. Gaahhhhh!

We have had many cases of Influenza A over the past 3 wks and had our first case of B come through Thurs. noc. Depends on the ED doc but for the most part we use Ibuprofen or Toradol, 1L NS, and send script for tamiflu.

Tons of both A&B, and also some people who are dx symptomatically who don't swab +. We give ILNS bolus, IV Toradol, po Tylenol, swab for flu, and send home w Tamiflu Rx if relatively new sxs. Occasionally get a CXR if productive cough to r/o pneumonia. This nurse is tired of the flu cases....most of them are aged 18-45 with no other comorbidities, and are big whiners. Gaahhhhh!

Pretty much the same here! I am so tired of asking have you been to see your doctor? Response.... well no I have been sick for a couple of days,week, whatever, but I got worse tonight so I came to the ER. :angryfire

The ER where I am currently on assignment in San Diego DOESN'T SWAB FOR INFLUENZA! I couldn't believe it. Every other place I've worked swabs anyone with flu symptoms. I have yet to swab anyone at my current assignment.....

Just got home from the Dr. office my daughter has Influenza A. Can't help but think I brought some of the germies home w/ me from work since I've been around it for the last 3 wks.

Tons of both A&B, and also some people who are dx symptomatically who don't swab +. We give ILNS bolus, IV Toradol, po Tylenol, swab for flu, and send home w Tamiflu Rx if relatively new sxs. Occasionally get a CXR if productive cough to r/o pneumonia. This nurse is tired of the flu cases....most of them are aged 18-45 with no other comorbidities, and are big whiners. Gaahhhhh!

THANK YOU!!!!:yeah:

Tons of both A&B, and also some people who are dx symptomatically who don't swab +. We give ILNS bolus, IV Toradol, po Tylenol, swab for flu, and send home w Tamiflu Rx if relatively new sxs. Occasionally get a CXR if productive cough to r/o pneumonia. This nurse is tired of the flu cases....most of them are aged 18-45 with no other comorbidities, and are big whiners. Gaahhhhh!

OMG, I am so sick of it too! While I do understand that it is miserable to have the flu, most people do fine at home with some Tylenol/Motrin, rest and some chicken soup! The last day I worked every hospital in the city except ours was on diversion with 30+ people in their waiting rooms--so, of course our already busy level I center got ALL the ambulance patients that day in addition to all the ambulatory pts. I got an elderly lady from a NH with shortness of breath, lethargy, etc who had been diverted from two other hospitals. And if I get another pt on the "pneumonia pathway" I swear I'm gonna scream!

I'm just praying for summertime.

Also, we don't swab pts at our facility either. Most pts will probably get a 1 litter NS bolus(because I swear that a toe pain gets a line at my facility:icon_roll), tylenol or maybe vicodin(because we give it out like water) or toradol. I have yet to see a script for Tamiflu given to anyone yet.

Tons of both A&B, and also some people who are dx symptomatically who don't swab +. We give ILNS bolus, IV Toradol, po Tylenol, swab for flu, and send home w Tamiflu Rx if relatively new sxs. Occasionally get a CXR if productive cough to r/o pneumonia. This nurse is tired of the flu cases....most of them are aged 18-45 with no other comorbidities, and are big whiners. Gaahhhhh!

These people are sick. And if the swab is neg for the flu, it's not unreasonable to think of other resp illnessess. Like whooping cough, RSV, TB, and yes sick people complain, they are sick. Coming from a nurse of 30 years who went undiagnosed for 4 months with whooping cough and now disabled, not only did I cough, I whined.

Tons of both A&B, and also some people who are dx symptomatically who don't swab +. We give ILNS bolus, IV Toradol, po Tylenol, swab for flu, and send home w Tamiflu Rx if relatively new sxs. Occasionally get a CXR if productive cough to r/o pneumonia. This nurse is tired of the flu cases....most of them are aged 18-45 with no other comorbidities, and are big whiners. Gaahhhhh!

Yup! This is us. Upwards of 8 hour wait times last week in our ED. Would anyone think to go to an Urgent Care center (they pass 4 to get to our ED!) or hey, maybe stay home and be miserable there, just like the docs and news have been saying? No, and they bring the whole family with them. With babies CRAWLING on our floor! UGH! If that poor wasn't sick coming in, guaranteed the babe is gonna wake up with a fever and nasty cough tomorrow! I know sometimes it can't be helped, but don't let them on the floor.

We've *finally* just started making people wear masks. No one EVER took them out of the little holders. Now they are handed one at registration with instructions to WEAR IT, please.

We've *finally* just started making people wear masks. No one EVER took them out of the little holders. Now they are handed one at registration with instructions to WEAR IT, please.

We have a saying at our hospital--"If it coughs, put a mask on it."

We've had mostly "A", several "B", and a few that were positive for both. We treat symptomatically, and a few scripts for tamiflu if recent onset of symptoms.

If I'm triaging, I give them a mask and tell them to cover their mouth AND nose, and if they refuse to wear it, I chart on the front in BIG RED letters, "pt REFUSES mask."

I've had a few people that were instructed to stay home from work for 3 days (which made them happy), but they said they had other things to do (attend weddings, etc).

I was not a very nice nurse and told them exactly what I thought of their intent to further spread the transmission of the mutated flu virus to others. Pure selfishness!