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.
Has this ever happened to you? Pt starts seizing, quickly progesses to respiratory arrest, everyone including Nancy Nurse rushes into the room. You happen to be walking by the phone when it rings...
"This is Dr. Bigshot returning Nancy Nurse's call.."
"Nancy Nurse is very very busy now, I'm going to have to take a message."
"But she called me."
"I understand that, however she is in a critical patient's room"
"But she called me."
"Yes ma'am, however Nancy Nurse is currently BVM-ing a patient who is not breathing, please leave a message."
Has this ever happened to you? Pt starts seizing, quickly progesses to respiratory arrest, everyone including Nancy Nurse rushes into the room. You happen to be walking by the phone when it rings...
"This is Dr. Bigshot returning Nancy Nurse's call.."
"Nancy Nurse is very very busy now, I'm going to have to take a message."
"But she called me."
"I understand that, however she is in a critical patient's room"
"But she called me."
"Yes ma'am, however Nancy Nurse is currently BVM-ing a patient who is not breathing, please leave a message."
"Oh" and the line goes dead?
Yep
Was so shocked the first time it happened that I actually stared at the dead receiver in my hand for a good dozen seconds...
northshore08
257 Posts
Anyone for Ativan air freshener spray? We need an automatic one in the waiting area....
:chuckle