ER Visitors!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ER-Med-Surg-Travel/Contract Nurse.

ER visitors!

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"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, too bad they aren't just in the ER.

You probably get more of them, but we get them for 12 hours in a row, then often come back and have. them. again. for. 12. more. hours. 3. times. in. a. row.

UGH!!!

Anway, funny post and oh, so true!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Someone already posted this! I read it before here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

this was the orginal recipent...

UtErRnEmt user_offline.gif

Registered User

you can find it here

https://allnurses.com/forums/f18/er-visitors-funny-299439.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
this was the orginal recipent...

UtErRnEmt user_offline.gif

Registered User

you can find it here

https://allnurses.com/forums/f18/er-visitors-funny-299439.html

I was duped and thanked a post I already thanked. Just too trusting....thanks for bringing this to my attention.

I have so much to learn.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

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

I don't work in the ER, but I see these up in Med/Surg. I always say, "You need a pen?" and make a big show of handing it to them until they tell me they already have one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh so true...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER-Med-Surg-Travel/Contract Nurse.

Sorry guys!That's my fault for not citing my source...I received this on Myspace awhile back and thought it was funny! So, to whom ever the original source is ...Kudos to you!:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Or the family members who want snacks and drinks for all ten of them- go to the vending machines, this isn't the free food bank!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment