I never realized we are all in the same boat!

Specialties Emergency

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I was just browsing these boards and I read posts from all over the country and things are pretty much the same everywhere!

I see these things all the time and I think they are universal throught our ED's..these are my observations please tell me if you disagree or if you have had similar experiences.

1. Everyone wants a meal when they come to the ED usually after 9 pm.

2. Ever notice how many people have cell phones and use them in the department with signs posted everywhere in five different languages not to use them?

3. Have you gone through a shift without using the bathroom?

4. Isn't the onset and reaction from the blue looking herion OD to IVP Narcan the coolest thing in the world!

5. Do you get broken hearted when patients tell you "If that doctor doesnt get in here in five minutes. I AM LEAVING!"

6. How many patients have you seen with the chief complaint of Nausea and abd pain that were drinking soda and eating frito's.

7. How many times a day are you asked "How long is it until the doctor see's me?"

8. On busy days when the strechers are lining the hallways and the patients reach out to you and grab you as you walk by. Do you feel like Richard Dreyfus entering the space ship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

9. How many times a day do you hear a Doc say "Where is the chart for room 8?" and it is either in front of him or in his hand.

10. Isnt it amazing that people will go through a complete Abd workup and all they wanted was a HCG Quant?

11. Ever woke a patient up from a snoring deep sleep to have them tell you their pain is a 10/10 (pain is truly subjective!)

12. Ever treat a child with a fever of 103 and vomiting who's parents tried homopathy and gave the child baths in rosehips and tried every natural remedy under the sun, and you promptly shove tylenol up their butt?

13. Would you drop dead of an MI if someone covered their mouth while coughing instead of coughing directly into your face.

There are just some thoughts and observations. I am sure their are many more universal ED facts that will come out. These are the ones on the top of my head.

What would we do without our "regulars" to the ED. We might be able to actually take better care of the sick people. Have one VERY drunk girl that comes in when ever she is loney. Usually always has some lame excuse to be seen , but mostly just wants to talk. We end up having to make her wait most of the time.....just to busy. I don't know if it is a good Idea though having her wait in the waiting room. She always gets someone feeling so sorry for her they come up to the triage window asking when we are going to "take that poor girl in". They think we are so rotten for making her wait. Thinks if she takes an ambulance in we will take to her sooner...but we only end up having the emt's take her out to the waiting area.

I just love the people who come in, laden with gold jewelry, carrying cell phones and beepers, who ask you for a scrip for Tylenol/Ibuprofen so Medicaid will pay for it!!

Specializes in ED, MED-SERG, CCU, ICU, IPR.

I like the ones who ask for "a coke to go"

Would you like fries with that?

How about the ones who give you the name of their primary care doc and it is your ER attending!

When I was 5 weeks on the job, there was this one abd painer who had been in so many times (tattoos and all) that she knew me by first name!

The one guy I triaged with a sore leg for thirty years and decided it was time to find out what was wrong. ( no kidding, guys)

Then there was the guy I triaged because he itched all over. How long? One year. Every time he bathed!

Don't you love the "family affairs". Mom, Daughter, Other Daughter all with stuffy noses.

How about the guy who came in one hour after an overdose screaming "I don't want to die! I love my kids!" Can you believe he procreated? I guess THAT doesn't take brains.

Then, the screamer who thinks she broke her leg. And when is lunch?

The Whiny Gyne. Kick out the boyfriend and they perform a lot less.

Specializes in ED, MED-SERG, CCU, ICU, IPR.

Here's one for you...

19 y/0 female accompanied by 2 friends, "I think I'm having an allergic reaction to alcohol. I had 5 beer tonight and now I'm dizzy, weak, and having nausea" Her friends were there to explain how she was also acting differently. Intestinal fortitude by definition may be the ability to keep a straight face.

I'm still laughing cause i thought my ER was the only one who had those types of patients.. They all must be on a bus making regular stops at everyones ER's... How do we get off the bus line..

No matter where you nurse you get the same pts. everywhere, and if it wasn't for stupidity we would be out of work in ER! Every one in my family that I come across wonders where my empathy and tolerance have gone. My answer is for them to spend a while in ER and they will find out for themselves!!

These observations are hysterical ! like Nurse Nancy I thought many of those patients were ours only.......

Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

nope we all have them spaz! :eek:

me :)

Hi All,

67yo woman who called 911 came in last night. Chief complaint was that she took Ambien and became drowsy about 1/2 hour later. OH MY GOD!

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