Frustrated with pts!

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

So lately it seems like I've had a lot of pts getting overly annoyed with wait times. Had a little kid brought in with fever, so we did X-rays, meds, straight cath, and all we were waiting on was the UA results and the parents were out every 5 mins harassing myself and the doc! Yes I know the baby is tired and you have to work in the am but if you were so worried you brought your kid to the ER in the middle of the night, wait for the damn results!!

And these aren't even the long wait times! This was just two hours for everything. We've even had parents leave AMA then have to call them back cause their kid is really sick and needs abx.

Sorry rant over, just had to get that off my chest!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hear ya loud and clear. Getting the same flak too. Actually had a family member say "step it up" with repect to lab results. I replied "10-4, steppin' it up". Got the hairy eyeball. Don't expect 5's and don't care.

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Well some people just aren't reasonable. I try to justify things as a lot of the patients in the ER are there because they are not good decision makers. Which is why I am looking to make my exit from the ER.

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I've had people huff and puff and say "aren't things supposed to go fast in the ER?" Sometimes I'll point out that if they'd done the labs outpatient it would take a day or more for results, sometimes it doesn't seem worth it.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
I've had people huff and puff and say "aren't things supposed to go fast in the ER?" Sometimes I'll point out that if they'd done the labs outpatient it would take a day or more for results, sometimes it doesn't seem worth it.

I try to tell them things only happen quickly when you're dying and you don't want to be that pt. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Just annoying cause if you're sick enough to go to the ER in the middle of the night, you think it would be important enough to wait for the results.

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Specializes in CEN.

I deal with the same. Work at a level 1 trauma center and ppl come in with the usual wanting pain meds or cold symptoms then are at the nurses station complaining every 5 min that they are not being seen quick enough. Actually told a pt a few days ago that her doctor was doing CPR and would be with her as soon as he could and her reply was "how long does it take to do CPR? Only takes one person!" Lol

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"Thank god you you aren't my priority."

Some people even understand this one.

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"Dogs get treated better"

Heard that one time from a pt who came in with vomiting and abdominal pain and was NPO until her results came back. She was mad because we wouldn't let her eat.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

Glad I'm not the only one who's frustrated!

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