er visitors...a funny

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Specializes in emergency.

thought these were funny and true. add on if desired....:jester:

Alas, sometimes in the ER the family is harder to deal with than the patient. Here are some family member we all have seen in our ER:

DOORWAY GAWKER- stands and stares at the staff, arms folded, from the doorway with an impatient, angry looks on their faces

THE VENTRILOQUIST - talks for the patient until you tell them to stop it

THE SHADOW- you have to pry this person away from the patients bedside in order to do your job. then they watch every move you make as you start an IV, give meds, etc.

APATHETIC ANN/ANDY - brings a book, laptop - has a sort of been here/done this attitude - seems uninterested in whats going on

THE SUCKER - accompanies a patient with some kind of bogus chronic problem and has bought into it hook, line and sinker

THE KLEPTOMANIAC - you might catch this person rummaging through the cupboards, drawers and perhaps pocketing a thing or two

THE ERRAND RUNNER - may come up to the desk requesting warm blankets, footies, water, food, more pain meds, etc etc etc

MAMAS BOY MAMA - accompanies their grown son or daughter to the ER and sits with concerned look at bedside

BABY DADDY - accompanies girlfriend to ER and is suspicious of any male that comes into the room. Wants to stay there when pelvic exam is being done.

THE DUMPER- drops off confused mom/dad/annoying sibling/girlfriend/boyfriend and leaves

SPACE INVADERS - crosses that line into the staff area or follows the doctor into their area - definitely a no no

MAJOR HOLIDAY GIFTERS - brings mom/dad/grandma who they haven't seen for months to ER because they "aren't doing that well/can't take care of themselves/need to go to a nursing home"

CHICKEN LITTLE - runs to triage desk requesting help for mom/dad/etc in the car who are dying (99% of the time they are fine). Comes up to the desk and tells you heart monitor is dinging - is that OK??!!!

SUSPICIOUS STAN/STELLA- takes notes - wants names of staff, name of medication, name of tests. Has special "medical notebook"

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Brillaint!

I will add the family who brings 27 people for a broken finger. What's up with that?

Former ED Volunteer.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We had the "window monkeys". In our ER, we had rooms with sliding glass doors and in order to look out into the hall, you had to move the curtains and stand in the window. They looked liked monkeys in a zoo!

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Specializes in Emergency, outpatient.

:yeah:ROTFL

Y'all really brighten my day.....:bow:

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Specializes in ER.

Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes the "OMG, you're so uncaring, I can't believe that you're a nurse!" to show up here?

I think the OP's work is wonderful...and will need to bring it to my next meeting!

Chip

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

i love this thread .. keep it going ...

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Dependent Denise or Starving Stella: lives to be cared for by you and any other health care provider. Is so lonely and devoid of human contact, will keep you in her room as long as possible and if she sees you walking by will call you to come in and do something else for her.

Abdominal pain/give me Vicodin Vickie: the really savvy patient who knows how to act to leave with a few Vics. Will live through a pelvic exam, even an enema or two, doesn't mattter!

What do you mean this pain I have had for 3 months isn't an emergency Edward.....

hehe, great thread! :lol2:

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:igtsyt:In honor of Chip: "OH MY GOSH I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE TALKING LIKE THIS!!!!!!" And please, keep it up; I've had a rotten day! :p

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

IRRELEVANT INFORMATION SUPPLIERS--Prattle on and on about their own medical/surgical/psychiatric history when all I want to know is the patient's info. Interrupt history taking with vignettes of their own past medical experiences.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ED.

WANNA-BE WANDA: the family member who claims to be a nurse and offers many suggestions to treatment, up to and including which vein to use and suggesting 'starting the IV with a butterfly', and when asked whether RN or LPN, states they are CNA.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Don't forget the Very Important People: The first thing they tell you in triage is "I live in XYZ Very Affluent Area" or "I am the sister/brother/neighbor/3rd cousin twice removed/5th Trophy Wife of Dr. X."

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Specializes in ER.

Hungry Hungry Hippo: The visitor who tells you repeatedly how they haven't eaten a thing all day and how weak they are becoming. Of course this is told to you in front of their family member/friend/cousin's baby's daddy who has been vomiting for 3 days.

Take Charge Terry: The overbearing son who shows up when Mama is shipped over from the NH. Has all the facts on Mama and demands only the best care for her. Wants multiple warm blankets, pillows to prop her up, warm socks for her feet, food,...questions every procedure...comes to the desk every 15 minutes to "inform" you of something more important than anything else you are doing. Demands to speak with the doctor multiple times. All of this because he's feeling guilty for not visiting Mama in the NH for 2 months.

Pain Pill Poppin' Patty: Overly concerned with what type of Rx mama/aunt/friend/neighbor is going home with. "She really needs something for pain. She's really hurting. Can the doctor write her a prescription for hydro...hydra...hydracodeen...hy-dro-co-done? Its the ONLY thing that works for her!"

Knock, knock. Who's there?: Visitor that CANNOT remain in the locked ER for more than 5 minutes at a time. And when he leaves, he cannot stay OUT for more than 5 minutes at a time requiring the nurses to constantly stop what they are doing to open the doors!

Tenacious Telephoner: Can't make it to the ER myself to check on Mama, but I'm gonna call every 15 minutes to make sure you update me on what's going on with her. Cuz I care so much....

Good Lord...I could go on and on and on....been a LONG day!! :bugeyes:

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