Food in the ER

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I know maslow's, and that food is on the bottom.

I'm laughing because there were family members that cursed at me every time I walked by because I wouldn't make them sandwiches and sent them to the cafeteria.

How often are food requests at your place, and how often do you run into disgruntled family members because you don't feed them?

Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

Yep it's always I didn't have (insert meal) and I'm hungry...look it's not my fault you didn't eat when you should have. You've been here for 2 hours, you'll leave. And it always seems to be the ones with abd pain and N/V who want to be fed....

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Scenario is the same.... Family member comes in. As soon as They get there, food requests. Pt and family.

The family always says 'Since we've been here all day, can you get me a sandwich?' All day I guess equates to 1-2 hours.

I have to lock the kitchen area 'cuz they bring the big bags and load up all the milk, juice and TV dinners.

I work LTC and it's the same here too for visiting families. And doncha' just love it when they scoop out every last ice cream & jello, salt & pepper and sugar packets. We keep sugar separate from pantry things just to have it for our diabetics if needed!
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I just realized they are probably taking the condiments too.

Isn't it funny, how society views healthcare/emergency services? Where else can you go and steal all day long?

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Specializes in ED.

As a general rule, we do not feed patients in the ER. The exceptions are those that are admitted and a rare few who have spent most of the day waiting for test results (abdominal pain excluded). The frequent flyers who roll in via ambulance for the 4th time in the same week demanding a turkey sandwich is a definite no. If a patient is allowed to eat, I order them a tray from dietary. And I never feed family members. They are directed to the vending machines or cafeteria.

I just love when family members come to me, worried because mom hasn't eaten all day and she is diabetic. Well, mom has been throwing up for 2 days, what makes you think she will hold down a turkey sandwich?? Or the abdominal pain, 10 out of 10 who sends her boyfriend to vending machine to get her a bag of cheetos. Seriously? We even have a sign in the waiting room that states nothing to eat or drink until you have been evaluated by a physician. There are days when instead of introducing myself as a nurse, I want to say, "I'll be your server today".

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The family always says 'Since we've been here all day, can you get me a sandwich?' All day I guess equates to 1-2 hours.

In my clinical this past Wednesday a family member said almost the exact thing, (he'd been there maybe an hour and a half) and my Nurse looked at him and smiled and said "I've been here since 5:30, if I get enough time to have my own lunch I'll bring you that pizza." He was dumbfounded, and the Nurse and I had the leave the room because we were choking on laughter. (No, he did not want cafeteria pizza he wanted us to call and get some delivered and bring it to him)

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Just a patient but..I have only been in the ER only a few times, I have never asked for food, drinks and neither have my family, I don’t know what is wrong with some people, whenever I’m in the ER I don’t think of food, I think I hope they can make me feel better and I don’t need to stay. If they want food they should get it themselves especially family members. I think it is so rude to ask a nurse to order a pizza or pick up fast food, seriously the disrespect shown to your profession boggles my mind. The most I have ever asked was to give my nurse a hug before I left for caring for me. People need to start respecting the scrubs!!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Oh, and what about the families who gobble down the PATIENT'S food themselves when we order a pt tray for the pt?!?!?

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A few sandwiches for those who need them... no treats... no soda...

Most patients get crackers and water, families get... nothing

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Specializes in Aged care, disability, community.

The only time I've ever been fed in emergency has been when my son was there with either croup, a temp that just wouldn't drop or d&v and he was exclusively breastfed. They offered me food regularly as each time we were out back for a good 10 to 12 hours at least and the nurses worked on the theory that I was his food source therefore I needed to eat. As a patient I've never felt well enough to eat when I've been there.

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Specializes in ER / Critical Care.

Hmmmm some of y'all are acting like these patients are asking for food of of your plates!! They are your patients and if they are cleared by the Dr to eat then why not call dietary and get some food for your patient?? It's not like it's money coming out of your pocket!

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Specializes in Emergency.
Hmmmm some of y'all are acting like these patients are asking for food of of your plates!! They are your patients and if they are cleared by the Dr to eat then why not call dietary and get some food for your patient?? It's not like it's money coming out of your pocket!

It's not about personal cost to me.

#1. Believe it or not there are people who visit the ER exclusively for the gourmet fare. I have sympathy for people with nothing else to eat, but we have an overcrowding issue, and we are not a diner or a shelter. The ER is not the appropriate place to catch a meal.

#2. We are referring in this thread to people who come in with a CC of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting or otherwise too ill to take care of themselves or eat at home, and the first thing on their mind is a snack. See the irony? I have the same issues if they bring their own or purchase food in the lobby.

#3. Patient's families do not as a general rule need to be fed since they can pick up, walk out and find something much more tasty than the dried up old sandwich I can provide. I'm not a waitress and catering to their culinary needs is a waste of my time.

#4. The stealing!!!! So, when I do have one of those unfortunates who does both need and want to eat in the ER I have nothing left because room 12's entire family just gorged on cheese sandwiches and apple juice, which they are more than capable of going and buying for their own darn selves.

So I guess it's a matter of mixed practicality and principle, not stinginess on the part of the ER nurse.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

When I was an ER volunteer, the galley fridge had peanut butter, jelly, bread, coffee, ginger ale, and juice. If a patient wanted food, they weren't waiting for a room upstairs, they weren't on observation hold (which meant an overnight stay on the unit), and the doctor okayed it, they could have a peanut butter sandwich. If a patient came in alone with a small child (we didn't do peds), we could make the child a peanut butter sandwich.

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