Would you go to the ER for this?

Nurses General Nursing

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My friend's a nurse and she has been having trouble breathing, etc. She refuses to go to the ER because she's embarrassed. She isnt turning blue or anything, but she has been hacking producing nothing, etc and can't get a DR's appt. Would you be embarrassed to go to the ER with those symptoms, if you were a nurse and worked at that hospital? I am not asking for medical advice....I'm asking about whether or not you would be embarrassed to go.....

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

Sorry the TOS says no medical advice. What would you do if you couldn't breathe?

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Sorry the TOS says no medical advice. What would you do if you couldn't breathe?

My case is different.........I'm not yet a nurse and do not work at the hospital as a nurse like she does. I did not ask for medical advice though...I asked if you would be embarrassed to do it.....

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

My answer is yes, and no. LOL. Yes, I'd be embarrassed to go for a simple cold that just needs time to resolve itself. I wouldn't feel embarrassed to go if I literally couldn't breathe. I actually did go to the ER for that and it turns out I was in congestive heart failure. I waited until I was sitting straight up to sleep, couldn't walk the stairs or to the bathroom without assistance, but I did get there.

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My case is different.........I'm not yet a nurse and do not work at the hospital as a nurse like she does. I did not ask for medical advice though...I asked if you would be embarrassed to do it.....

Technically it is asking for medical advice because you're asking a professional nurse about his/her opinion regarding symptoms. This thread will eventually be closed due to the TOS here. If your friend is a nurse, he/she should know when to visit an ER.

And no, I would never be embarrassed to visit an ER if I were having trouble breathing. ;)

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My answer is yes, and no. LOL. Yes, I'd be embarrassed to go for a simple cold that just needs time to resolve itself. I wouldn't feel embarrassed to go if I literally couldn't breathe. I actually did go to the ER for that and it turns out I was in congestive heart failure. I waited until I was sitting straight up to sleep, couldn't walk the stairs or to the bathroom without assistance, but I did get there.

Dang, Lisa! Hardcore woman, you are! With that kind of stubbornness, I think you might be related to me.

Glad to know you're doing well and apparently made it through! :yeah:

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Technically it is asking for medical advice because you're asking a professional nurse about his/her opinion regarding symptoms. This thread will eventually be closed due to the TOS here. If your friend is a nurse, he/she should know when to visit an ER.

And no, I would never be embarrassed to visit an ER if I were having trouble breathing. ;)

No I was asking about whether or not the nurse would be embarrassed, not medical symptoms, or advice. There is a vast difference.

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No I was asking about whether or not the nurse would be embarrassed, not medical symptoms, or advice. There is a vast difference.

And thx for the reply! Med profs can be embarrassed about the weirdest things.

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If you have trouble breathing you go to the ER. And no one should be embarassed to go to the ER if they can't breathe.

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I see more trivial things in the ER. Just don't come to the ER in an ambulance for this. To answer your question, no.

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Specializes in Latest interests: Hospice Home Care.

To breathe is to live -- difficulty breathing = having trouble living. Not too proud or embarssed to find out the nature of the problem. I had chest pain that was significant in my mind and I went to the ER and they kept me overnight for observation and to have a cardiac stress the following day. Nothing is too embarssing when it comes to common sense that dictates when something is wrong. If the nurse doesn't want to use the same hospital where she works - there might be another option such as a medi center or even a different hospital. By the way, has her condition improved?

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There's always CVS Minute Clinics

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