Flu epidemic?

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Sounds like if the hospitals set up a flu hotline for people to call, and passed that number to the media to call, it could keep a lot of these unnecessary visits to the ER from happening, if the nurses doing the tele triage gave these instructions over the phone.

Got the whole afmily vaccinated, and my agency still had vaccine, but we sold our leftovers. I just hope we don't get the strain that isn't covered!

[Lindz]

Original Wmn are you in San Diego? I'm not in the ED, but last night I was told there were about 150 kids in the ED and there was a 12-15 hour wait just to see a doctor!

At the beginning of my shift on Med/Surg, we could take something like five kids. We maxed out at 2230. The charge was hoping there were no sick calls and she could get an extra nurse for days because there were 7 kids waiting in the ED for a bed. Well, at 0530 we got slammed with admits all with some kind of fever, vomiting, dehydration, etc. They had waited all night for a bed. When days came on there were another 7 waiting to come.

Bless all of you in the direct line of fire, I was going crazy with just my five kids, don't know what I would have done with 150.

[Scis]

I don't know about you guys, but if I had the flu, the LAST thing I'd want to do is bundle myself up and go out in the cold to sit in an ER waiting room along with others who had the flu also, maybe even worse than me! I don't get it. I guess they think we have a magic wand to wave over them to help them be cured spontaneously! I would take Tylenol/Motrin, drink plenty of fluids, wrap myself up in bed, and stay there until I felt better! I try to tell my patients that as they arrive in triage, but the STILL choose to wait for hours! Unbelievably, in the northern NJ ER I work in, the waits can be up to 8 hours or more during peak times!

I guess I blame the media for the mass influx. It has been all over the news about the flu deaths, so people panic. Yes, this season may be worse than some others, but if everyone tries to stay out of crowds, stay home if not feeling well, and treats their flu symptoms at home rather than go out infecting everyone in their paths, maybe we could avoid some casualties!

[kate930]

Our local news was saying this morning how one "expert" is predicting a worldwide pandemic with up to half a million deaths.

Yeah, that oughta fill up the ERs even more.

[Scis]

kate930

That "expert" certainly does not work in an ER!

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

Yeah, I saw that report too, but didn't pay very much attention to it. Sort of took it with a grain of salt, and I'm immunocompromised with stage 3 COPD. Remember, the word ex in that word? Well, it just means X pert in my book. You all go now in peace, ya hear?

Fran

[marcicatherine]

I spent another LOVELY day at triage. Once again, rooms full, 20 down out front at 1030 am. I love my job! "Fever, cough, congestion, body aches, vomiting" rang in my ear about 75 times. and my favorite........"can you tell me how much longer".......i'm tempted to say "a long freaking time". Patients cussed me today when I called their name and they happily scurried to the triage room only to find me holding 2 ES Tylenol and a cup of water. (Thank God we have the authority to dispense Tylenol or Motrin at triage) At 3pm when my shift was over, I gazed out in the waiting room at the sea of blue masked souls and thought to myself..........I love my immune system, and I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[laughingfairy]

Last year I was one of those dumb parents...

My 4 year old has asthma.

Step 1) went to PCP for asthma attack, you all probably know the drill. We have it down to a science, early detection means no hosp.

Step 2) returned in 4 days for recheck-now we have an ear infection. No temp, no s/sx. Now we do the ABT. And our flu shot

Step 3) low grade fever (99.2) after the ABT was completed. Return to the office. I haven't medicated her because it was low grade, and I believe fluid, fluid, more fluid, rest and let the body do its thing unless the temp goes above 100.5*

15 minutes to drive to the doctor's office, and 20 minute wait. I'm talking to the Nurse practioner and going over her symptoms when her temp was being taken (she was shivering at this point but still telling the staff jokes). And the NP goes "this is not a low grade temp! we medicate this!" WELL HELLO. It was now 105.6.

I felt pretty stupid, and as if I wasn't believed that 35 minutes ago this was not her temp.

Turned out she did have the flu and the flu shot was too late. So even those of us who do know occasionally screw up. But now I do think twice about going to the doctor's office vs. the ER, even when she is "a little sick."

[athomas91]

i was in the ed last nite seeing psych pt's (i do on call in addition to ed rn) - the charge rn was busy - so they called me out to the front to take care of some "problems"

i spent 10 min explaining to someone w/ 2 brain cells that were at war with each other that his aunt's body aches were no worse than any of the other 40 people in the waiting room or any of the 10 nurses in the back who were sick as well..... and that no the doctor would not be coming to the waiting room to see her because she was hurting...... he finally got the message...

[eltrip]

Originally posted by hoolahan

Sounds like if the hospitals set up a flu hotline for people to call, and passed that number to the media to call, it could keep a lot of these unnecessary visits to the ER from happening, if the nurses doing the tele triage gave these instructions over the phone.

Got the whole afmily vaccinated, and my agency still had vaccine, but we sold our leftovers. I just hope we don't get the strain that isn't covered!

As a matter of fact, my hospital does have a flu hotline, answered by registered nurses. It's receiving quite a number of calls. Info on home care is being provided, along with criteria for further medical intervention...i.e, when an ED visit would be necessary.

[schoolnurse/dr]

I'm a schoolnurse in an elementary school. I sent 20 kids home on the 15th, all with flu symptoms. Wev'e had 4 kids end up in the hospital with temps of 104' that they couldn't get down using tylenol and motrin. One quit eating and was unable to talk for 4 days. Mondays are the worse because the kids have all been sick all weekend and the parents won't keep them home, because they're sick too. I tell them to give them lots of fluids and watch thier temps, but alot of them don't even own thermometers. You wouldn't believe how many of them have never had their temp taken till they come to me sick! They act like I'm going to stick them or something when I try to put the probe in their mouth. Oh well, hopefully christmas break will see them all well so that when we come back after the new year they can be here and learn. Happy Holidays everyone and hope you all stay well.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I would have gone to the ED Mon or Tuesday night ...if I could have gotten some morphine...But I don't think I could have gotten out of the house....I haven't been this sick in 10 yrs...I am trying to stay up for a few hours now so I can rest tonite...Even lying in the bed hurts...Morphine...or a shotgun....