I hate it!!!

luckylucyrn · Jun 18, 2008

This 17 year old sounds like a perfect candidate for the "medical necessity" screening by the MD....More of the hospitals in our area are going this way and perhps when word get around some of the abuse of the ER will diminish ( I know better than to think it will stop. LOL)

Unfortunately she decided to complain of nausea and abdominal pain, so she had to get evaluated, which of course included a pregnancy test...which is all she really wanted.

MassED, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2008

Oh this is one of the reasons I quit nursing. No one takes responsibility anymore and that goes for nurses too!

that isn't true across the board. If you got out of nursing because of patient's like those and the nurses, then maybe it's good you got out - you could've sought another area in nursing to change your perspective or perhaps you figured out nursing wasn't for you.

mwboswell · Jun 18, 2008

Unfortunately she decided to complain of nausea and abdominal pain, so she had to get evaluated, which of course included a pregnancy test...which is all she really wanted.

of course another way out of this is to just do the point of care preg test while she's waiting in the lobby, when it comes back positive, tell her, and then maybe she'll sign out and leave. AT LEAST you've done your job as far as controlling excessive health care costs and keeping the visit bill down...

and only to play devil's advocate here: maybe we could look on the "bright side"...maybe as a result of some interfacing with the healthcare system at least the innocent child she'll be having, might get a shot at some prenatal care.

we already know that children born outside of marriage to single moms have increased risk for: lack of prenatal care, inc incidence of RSV, inc incidence of otitis, more chances for developmental delays, poorer performance in school, more likely to have run-ins with the law, less likely to finish high school, more likely to be involved with drugs etc......

but maybe, just maybe, that one pamphlet we put in their hands when they come in for their "pregnancy test", they can use to get referred into some OB clinic, or (if they're not already) get them referred to start whatever state-medicaid program they have access to --- at least the soon-to-be born child will have some better chances at life; UNTIL they come back 16-17 years later asking for THEIR pregancy test!!!!!

-MB

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 18, 2008

I had a patient who works at the local Wal-Mart.

Apparently, a lot of folks figured out a quicker way to get a free pregnancy test than the ER.

Go to Wal-Mart, take the test off the shelf, smuggle it into the bathroom, use it in there.

The patient told me that pregnancy tests were one of the most frequently shoplifted items in the store, and that they usually found them in the bathroom trash cans. They finally started locking them up and making the buyers pay for them in the pharmacy.

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2008

Personally, in opposition to my usual liberal viewpoints, I wish all teenagers and young women were on depo shots until they were proven to be able to support themselves! There is nothing more difficult to do than raise a child on your own (when you are older), I can't imagine being young, with no prospects and having that burden on my shoulders-subsequently on my children's shoulders.

I agree with others, Pregnancy tests should be done out front-and ER visit would not ensue.

Maisy

lvnandmomx3 · Jun 18, 2008

good point. What the hell is wrong with people these days? Really, is it necessary to go to the hospital to find out whether or not you are pregnant? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. The drugstore test is 5 bucks. The ER visit is probably 1000 bucks. Powerful minds were at work when these children were created."insert lots of sarcasm here"

I just left the .99 cent store and they had tests there. Maybe some ER's should post flyers with free advertisment....... but then again they probably would not read them. When I was and ER Lead for the admitting dept. I felt like and idiot calling the ins. co to get an authorization and to find out eligibility on these pt's. Some things will never change. We even had our fair share of older women coming in for them.

cursenurse · Jun 18, 2008

Poor people and the uninsured tend to use emergency departments for their primary medical care needs. What's new?

I disagree that this is d/t poverty. I was raised very poor, and I believe uninsured. I never went to an emergency room for tx. My parents believed in treating basic illnesses at home. My mother thinks that most things can be helped with herbal tea, fluids, and rest. Vomiting was never seen as an emergency, it was natures way of purging a toxin from the system before it could do serious damage. I think that it is an entitlement/ignorance issue. I also think that laziness plays a big role- why stay at home and make your own tea and clean up your own puke when you can lie in a hospital bed and have others do it for you? :cool:

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2008

I disagree that this is d/t poverty. I was raised very poor, and I believe uninsured. I never went to an emergency room for tx. My parents believed in treating basic illnesses at home. My mother thinks that most things can be helped with herbal tea, fluids, and rest. Vomiting was never seen as an emergency, it was natures way of purging a toxin from the system before it could do serious damage. I think that it is an entitlement/ignorance issue. I also think that laziness plays a big role- why stay at home and make you own tea and clean up your own puke when you can lie in a hospital bed and have others do it for you?

Your mom used common sense...no longer seems to be a requirement when assessing what an emergency is in and if a need exists to visit the ER. I used the ER several times during my youth-all for possible fractures, sutures and r/o appy! The things we see now are ridiculous!

Maisy

cursenurse · Jun 18, 2008

Too bad we can't offer the following options:
1. Mandatory adoption
2. Mandatory sterilization
3. And, as unpopular as it may be with some folks, the "A" word.
My opinions only, not necessarily anyone else's. I'm sick of paying for the dregs of society.

I do believe in abstinence being the best option for these non married people. The problem with abstinence is that this is not something that you can just come along and try to teach a person in 7th grade sex ed. To get a person to really appreciate and commit to abstinence, it needs to be taught in the home from a young age. We're talking about changing a mindset here. With all that confronts them in the community, the lack of the morality in their own families, television, etc I believe abstinence teaching (in school or the ER) is a complete waste of time and money.

queen777 · Jun 18, 2008

But it is wrong to vent! I got in trouble yesterday by someone on here when I said something oops, can't say!

Be careful what you say nurses because you really aren't allowed to say .....

queen777 · Jun 18, 2008

Thank you. Totally with you on this thought.

queen777 · Jun 18, 2008

Personally, in opposition to my usual liberal viewpoints, I wish all teenagers and young women were on depo shots until they were proven to be able to support themselves! There is nothing more difficult to do than raise a child on your own (when you are older), I can't imagine being young, with no prospects and having that burden on my shoulders-subsequently on my children's shoulders.
I agree with others, Pregnancy tests should be done out front-and ER visit would not ensue.
Maisy

Does make you wonder if they are thinking. Guess they're not. I will never understand why some young girl under 21 and not married:banghead: would want that responsibility.