Is this a "no-no"?

Specialties Emergency

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I've read alot of threads here about irritation with people who come in for non urgent issues- and I also intend to work in an ED when I graduate in May.... but now I'm wondering...

There have been multiple times in the past where I have brought one of my 3 kids into the ER because of I knew they had an ear infection and it was like a friday night when they came down with symptoms- fever, pretty bad ear pain, and knew they needed antibiotics- but their dr's office wasn't open until Monday, and there is no urgent care center here. So I'd take them into the ER so they could get started on antibiotics and not have to suffer through Monday. (and sure enough every time I ended up there, they had an ear infection) I think this has happened maybe 3 or 4 times.

Now I wonder if everyone was annoyed with me because its not a technically "urgent" thing. (Though IMO it was urgent- I didn't want them to suffer longer than necessary)

I've taken my kids in too . . it is the Friday night thing with no other option available that is so hard. I live in a very small town (600 people).

I do not begrudge a parent bringing their child in. Not at all.

steph

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If your child is in pain I wouldn't have any qualms about bringing them to the ER if you can't get into your doctor's office for days. If anyone was annoyed that's on them. Your child's pain has to come first.

I can still remember a terrible earache I had as a child. The pain is awful.

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Specializes in med/surg.
As someone who was a frequent sufferer of middle ear infections, when you are in that pain....it is an emergency!

So, anyone who says an earache isn't an emergency....I say pain is what the patient says it is....if I say 10/10 that's an emergency!

Now, I just walk into specialist's office if problem brewing....I will not wait....am pushy enough to do it....many cannot.

Maisy;) (ER nurse)

I agree with th OP... if I thought my child was suffering I'd take him in. I know what kind of pain one experiences with ear infections... not quite as bad as having your TM pop a hole while your plane is descending, but oh so close...

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"Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common bacterial illness in children and the one most commonly treated with antibiotics." quoted from AAP.org. My kids ( 3 of them) had chronic ear infections...and they were always diagnosed by my Ped as bacterial. Abx and they felt better if not pain-free after a dose or two. They always presented with quick onset of intense ear pain, fever 102 or greater and vomiting. My son use to get viral sore throats though.

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I faced this dilemma just last week. Friday night my baby started in with this honking cough and sounded to me like he was in distress, it was disrupting his sleep. I didn't want to "abuse" the system so I tried to find an urgent care clinic that morning, then remembered my family doctor started keeping Saturday hours (thank goodness.) Got the little booger some Ceclor and Albuterol syrup.

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Specializes in Emergency.

If the patient/parent(s) are respectful to me and have patience, then I am not annoyed - no matter how minor the complaint is. I do have a problem when people are wandering the halls, cursing because they had waited 30 minutes to see a doc and they didn't get a prescription, or genuine rudeness (specifically, derogatory comments and swearing). Or if they say to me "Hurry up, I gotta get to work".

A smile, genuine attentiveness, verbalization of care at home, and perhaps a "thank you" is all I need. It's the minor care patients (sore throat, stubbed toe 1 year ago, etc) who complain that annoy me. If they are cool with me, then I am cool with them.

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Critical Care/ ED.

Beachbum,

Speaking as a recent ED nurse and as a mother of a child that had chronic ear infections, I just want to reassure you that you did the right thing for your child. When my son was two, he had constant ear infections and there were several times I took him to the ED, either because I couldn't get him in to see the doc or because he woke up in the middle of the night screaming in pain. No way would I have let him suffer because it might irritate the staff (which it didn't).

While I am definitely not one to run to the doc for myself, I do tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to my child. Better to be safe than sorry and I'd rather hear "There's nothing wrong with him" then "You should have brought him sooner." IMHO

You were being a good parent.

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When we were kids, my folks used warm sweet oil in our ears for earaches. I don't recall ever having had antibiotics for an earache and we did have our share of earaches. Does anyone ever use this or have you had it used on you? My own kids were always given antibiotics, although I questioned that, in view of how my folks cared for us. I did sometimes use sweet oil for them, too, with great results.

Of course, we were given ASA, which is a total no-no now for kids with fever.

We had chicken soup, warm milk and rock candy in it for sore throats, Paregoric or Pepto Bismol for tummy aches, never antibiotics. Somehow we survived. Hot tea, a heating pad, calamine lotion for rashes, hot or cold steamer for respiratory matters, Vicks on one's chest and back - they worked wonders.

Wrong to go to ER? Well, I always call my (or the kids') doctor first and he always phoned in a prescription or advised come to the office next business day if not better. Never sent us to ER. Often advised the previously mentioned home care methods. As a nurse, I'd have just gone/taken the kids, though, if I'd not felt it wise to wait. I think ER's are great places to avoid if at all possible. But if you think your children need immediate care, please get them seen wherever that needs to be. I just wonder if you could call your private doctor first.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

As a peds ER nurse, I am actually relieved to see that the child checking in has a chief complaint as "earache". This means not too much work for me. A little auralgan, tylenol with codeine, and d/c with an rx. What does annoy me is when the earache comes in by ambulance, or the parents get angry when they have to wait. I feel bad for them, but an ear ache is not going to come back before something critical. Most reasonable people understand that, but as you know, there are people who just don't get it. I enjoy it when the kids can have a positive (read: no iv or shots) ER experience and leave feeling better with a popsicle.

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There is nothing worse for a triage nurse that to have a sick child wait in the waiting room in pain. Tears your heart out. i have no problem with parents bringing a child to the ER for legitimate reasons.

My peeve is the mom who shows up with a child for a temperature who hasn't given ANY antipyretics. This is unacceptable to me. Why make your child suffer so we can see how high the temp is?

Educate your patients, any fever will respond to the correct dose of tylenol or ibuprofen, given at the correct times.

:angryfire

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I don't have issues at all with parents who bring in their child, as long as they are not rude, pushy or demanding. The frustration lies in those that have been in and our of ERs for weeks or months, with the same c/o and every time....no doctor follow up ever. Or the parents that won't give Tyenol because "I want you to see how how their temp was" or "I can't afford it....but let me get my $200 cell phone out of my $50 handbag...oops there are my $4 a pack cigs". That angers me beyond belief. Or the...standing in the hallway 20 mins. after being brought back to a room wanting coke, coffee and a work notes for the whole family and then demanding to be seen NOW because they have places to go. Or the parents that wake up the child to bring them to the ER when they are obviously in no distress, because the ER isn't busy at 2 a.m.

Those patients are what make me want to bang my head against the brick wall we have in triage.

I'm a mom, I know what it's like to face a sick child with no options other than ER. I've been there and done that countless times. I love to treat the parents and child that are just happy to have someone help them and I really don't care what their complaints are. I have issues with those that demand it and that are just plain nasty to everyone while they are there.

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Even though I am an ER nurse, I have no qualms with taking my kids in or other parents bringing their kids in. They are kids and due to the way diseases process in their little bodies, something seemingly minute could be serious. And besides, no good parent wants their child to be in pain. I DO have problems with the parent who has ignored the symptoms for several days or weeks and refused to see their PCP or treat fever/pain with Tylenol/Motrin, only to come to the ER and demand prompt, immediate, and exclusive treatment.

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