Most common non-emergency visits

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Specializes in Neuroscience, ED.

I found out that a number of women come into the ED complaining of nausea and vomiting. Really what they want is a pregnancy test.

It would have never occurred to me to go to the ED to get a pregnancy test when one can buy them for a few dollars at the pharmacy, dollar store, Wal-Mart, etc, etc, etc

Hmmm, what is wrong with me???? (j/k) :banghead:

Your turn - - ->

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yes but if you dont pay your bills and dont care about oweing someone money....they are free in the er

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Specializes in Emergency.

And if you have the "gold card" (free state health insurance), its free to go to the ED to get a preg test. Some gals even know how to play the system and end up getting a US to r/o ectopic. In the end they are upset because we won't give them a picture of their "baby".

Sore throats, paper cuts ("I didn't have any bandaids at home, so I thought I'd come here"), dental pain for 1 month, scabies, HIV testing, and STD check are common chief complaints.

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Pelvic pain ( as above seeking pregnancy test..sometimes just for menstrual cramps)

Dental Pain

"Crazy" Granny drop-offs on the weekends

New Momitis - brings in new baby for every burp in a panic (i can't be mad at them though..God bless 'em)

I'm sure there are more..I'm just not feeling creative enough to name them all right now:D

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Not a nurse yet...But this guy came in while my son was in for a legitimate reason wanting treatment for a sunburn...I kid you not...The check-in nurse threatened to put alcohol on his back if he did not leave...

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Specializes in L&D, PP, Nursery.

I don't work ER but when I had my husband there recently, I woman brought her 3 year old in because he swallowed chewing gum! The sad part about it is, I have to pay for most of the visit because I chose to take him to the closest ER (8mi vs 45mi) when he sliced his hand with a pane of glass and required 16 stitches because he was bleeding profusely!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg, Pediatrics, ER.

There are so many ridiculous reasons people go to the ER for that it is hard for me to choose. I guess one of the most recent ones is the family of four that chose to come in to be checked for MRSA. They had heard it mentioned on the news so they just thought they would "get checked out."

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I really don't think its right to make fun of people that go to the emergency room for whatever reason. While as nurses you realize that these problems are serious, people that don't have any medical training don't, and they could be legitimately scared.

I was in SO much pain one time I could barely walk, I had extreme extreme pain in my back and a uti, and I called my doctor, who had no avail. appointments. I read on the internet that I could have a kidney infection and every website I looked at made that sound very serious, so I had my boyfriend watch my sons and I drove myself to the ER.

When I got to the ER I was walking a little funny because of the back pain and I was literally scared, I had convinced myself I had a kidney infection. It turned out all I needed was Cipro, but I heard the nurses making fun of me. I was so embarrassed, it just made an awful day even worse and I ended up crying when I finally got to go back to my car.

I just don't think its right to make fun of people when they go to the ER. =( Yes, going there for a pregnancy test is stupid and thoughtless, but again, who knows, maybe they are legitimately afraid they are having a serious problem and need medical treatment right away. Doctors aren't always willing to see patients w/Medicaid right away.

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Specializes in ER.

Keep in mind all of these stupid people keep us in a job!!:nurse::D:lol2:

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Specializes in Emergency.
I really don't think its right to make fun of people that go to the emergency room for whatever reason. While as nurses you realize that these problems are serious, people that don't have any medical training don't, and they could be legitimately scared.

I was in SO much pain one time I could barely walk, I had extreme extreme pain in my back and a uti, and I called my doctor, who had no avail. appointments. I read on the internet that I could have a kidney infection and every website I looked at made that sound very serious, so I had my boyfriend watch my sons and I drove myself to the ER.

When I got to the ER I was walking a little funny because of the back pain and I was literally scared, I had convinced myself I had a kidney infection. It turned out all I needed was Cipro, but I heard the nurses making fun of me. I was so embarrassed, it just made an awful day even worse and I ended up crying when I finally got to go back to my car.

I just don't think its right to make fun of people when they go to the ER. =( Yes, going there for a pregnancy test is stupid and thoughtless, but again, who knows, maybe they are legitimately afraid they are having a serious problem and need medical treatment right away. Doctors aren't always willing to see patients w/Medicaid right away.

I'm sorry to hear that those nurses made fun of you. I would have considered your complaint to be valid based on your symptoms, especially since your presentation sounds like how some people present with kidney stones. So that means IV fluids, toradol, labs, and radiology. I myself have gone to the ED when I had a UTI; I was out-of-town, it was late, and there wasn't any urgent care clinics (and it was to the point where I was urinating blood...anyway, too much information). But I realized that other people with life-threatening emergencies needed to be seen first, and I respected the staff in the decisions they made based on who they needed to go back to the treatment area stat.

I do treat my patients with respect, and I don't mind caring for the sore throat/STD check complaint. What irks me is when these non-emergent patients are hollering down the hall because "I've been here for 30 minutes and haven't seen a doctor yet"; or "I've been here for one hour and need to go to work". Meanwhile, I'll be running down the hall with a crash cart because we have a patient coding, and it just doesn't click to some people that others actually do have emergencies, and that patients do die in the emergency department.

There are many people who will admit to me that they lied about their initial complaint to gain something else. For example "I have abd. pain"; diagnosis=pregnant. Then they'll say "yeah, I just wanted a preg test anyways". And when I try to do patient teaching and coordinate prenatal care for them, they say "oh, I'm getting IT taken out in a week anyways so I don't care." Its those patients that are well aware that they are abusing the system because they can, and come in for emergency treatment because "I didn't have a bandaid at home, so came here for one"; or "I didn't have tylenol at home, so I came here for some".; but "I have insurance (aka free state care), so I deserve everything for free."

I'll treat you with respect, and I don't care if your complaint is serious or not. However, its those patients that flat-out lie who really bother me: "I can't breathe!--->(now in a room, RN at bedside)--->yeah, I was dx with an STD last week and still have discharge, and no I didn't fill my abx; and I never said I had SOB." I'm amazed how frequent people c/o "chest pain" when they see that there is a wait...it makes me hard to do my job, because I treat chest pain as an emergency. But when I see a 16 year old talking on her cell phone, eating chips but is complaining of "chest pain" - I'm sorry dear, but you'll have to wait.

You know how some states consider it to be a felony if you assault a health care worker? It should be a felony to knowingly falsify reasons for seeking emergency care just to get seen faster. By lying, people are possibly delaying treatment for someone whose condition is more serious which could have tragic consequences.

Some of the most kind patients I've had are those who have sore throats. They are so relieved to get their antibiotics and pain meds. I try to give them viscous lido, which really helps to take away their sore throat during their ED stay. Many of them are so grateful to feel "even just a little" better. And a simple "thank you so much" goes a long way.

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded rant.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

in these parts it's "spider bite", hands down. (aka: "staff?")

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ok.....dental pain......let me tell you!!!

My husband had a hack dentist start a tooth extraction.....couldn't get it out....referred to an oral surgon. But guess what...it's 4:00 so he can't been seen until tomorrow. When the numbing wore off at 2100 he was DYING!!! My husband is not a wimp! I work labor and delivery and he was hurting more that any natural delivery I have ever seen. Naturally.....the dentist didn't give him any pain meds....didn't answer his pager.....so off to the ER. THE ER WAS FABULOUS!!! Not only did they given him something IM ( I forgot what it was) but the ER doc put in a 12 hour dental block that got him through until he got to the oral surgon the next morning.

No you shouldn't go to the ER everytime you have a toothache....but this was an EMERGENCY!!!

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