Wasn't there a whole thread about this? Some people thought it was disrespectful, some people thought it was practical.
we do this and think of it as either practical or to ward off evil spirits. :lol the bag is always then covered by another bed sheet so as to not offend the living and/or the families.
Specializes in ICU, ED, Transport, Home Care, Mgmnt.
"Positive suitcase sign" = There is an overnight case under the stetcher. Most dramatic example of it was a confused little old man who was brought in by his family at 11:30 pm on a friday night. After exam we went to the waiting area to explain that we couldn't find any acute problem with him. What do you know, vanishing family!
We call it Samsonite Syndrome. The 63 yo who just has to be admitted because she is sooo dizzy and sick/needs TLC. She brings in every piece of luggage she owns filled with every nightie and cosmetic she owns, :rotfl: :rotfl:
Funny, no matter where you are an ER Nurse...the sayings are universal!!
DED...Dead, Extremely Dead (For those folks who have already shown signs of lividity!)
TMB...that's a favorite of ours...
OPM's..Oh's per minute...(or in our case Oye's per minute, we have a high Jewish and Spanish population...) we have alot of vocal patients that feel it necessary to let everyone in the ED that they are there and uncomfortable...
MBD My Baby Daddy
Drama Alert...People that throw themselves on the floor because they think it gets them seen faster
"Yes Doctor".. (we use this one for our interns)...means look jacka$$..you have been a doctor for 10 minutes and you are at the bottom of the food chain, I know what I am doing go bother someone else
PID shuffle...great one and a wonderful diagnostic tool
Saints Peter and Paul are dancing at the bedside = Circling the drain
WTL Went to the Light
Positive Dorito's Sign...That is for our 16-30 year old females w/abd pain complaints eating their snacks while you are triaging them.
30cc of whatever street your hospital is on...ie "That pt needs 30cc of Broad St." meaning they are wearing out their welcome and need to be discharged...
We once had a person try to hang themselves in our bathroom..not really funny at the time, but when we had our next staff meeting and our communication book was passed around, someone wrote in it.."Bungee jumping in the bathroom is suspended until further notice!"
...yes, we are. Along with the "Q" word don't forget the "S" word...the opposite of fast.
I'm not superstitious either...except when the day starts out reasonably mellow (subjectively) and someone say one of them...usually it's a volunteer who is there to help for a couple of hours and wants the "excitement" the whole time they are there...all of 2 hours... I think they should stick around for another 10 at that intensity level...
Specializes in 6 years of ER fun, med/surg, blah, blah.
Of course we put the body bag under the sheet for a possible DOA. It saves time & all that arm & leg flopping around trying to get the pt. into one of those, after the fact can be irritation.
positive "O" sign: nursing home pt comes in via EMS w/
mouth wide open and eyes closed
positive "Q" sign: same as above w/ tongue hanging out
hypoCBCemia:what the pt suffers from when she insists on having labs drawn even though she's not sick
an "excremental" cardiac rhythm: looks like sh!!t (asystole, vfib, etc)
TMB disease: too many birthdays
does anyone else put the body bag under the bedsheet when you get word of a code coming in?
Rena RN 2003, RN
635 Posts
we do this and think of it as either practical or to ward off evil spirits. :lol the bag is always then covered by another bed sheet so as to not offend the living and/or the families.