Most common non-emergency visits

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 25, 2008

dental pain, sore throat, cold symptoms, and nausea/vomiting X2 hours.

Anything that has lasted more than a week is usually just an annoyance. I especially like the people with emergencies that also have an emergent appointment to go shopping at Walmart, and must be discharged before it closes, to heck with the ambulance that just came in- I want my script!

SweetTeaRN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2008

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.

I agree with this completely. I'm not talking about people who have a legitimate complaint and think that something is worse than it is with imaginations running wild. I'm talking about people who KNOW what is wrong with them or why they are seeking treatment but knowingly say "I'm having chest pain" or the equivalent because they think they will get seen faster. This happened recently in my ER when a co-worker was at triage, after a man was rushed to triage and immediate EKG performed after c/o chest pain, overheard his girlfriend saying, "see? I TOLD you it wouldn't work" when he was told to go back to the busy waiting room. I think it should be a criminal charge because the delay in care this person might cause another patient with legitimate chest pain or respiratory distress could potentially be life-threatening. I also get upset when people come in via EMS with stupid complaints ("I stubbed my toe") because they think they will get seen right away. I then secretly hope we are somewhat full so the patient gets taken to the front triage desk instead of into a room. I am not talking about patients with legitimate emergent complaints, or even patients who are just overly worried and think they may have legitimate emergent complaint. I am talking about patients who think they can abuse the triage system to get ahead, the proverbial elementary school way of thinking "I know I can cut others in line." :twocents:

Anything that has lasted more than a week is usually just an annoyance.

Once I was walking a patient back to a room c/o "back pain after a car accident." I asked how long ago the accident was, and without missing a beat, he stated "14 years ago." I said, "wow, you have been having back pain for 14 years and you decided to come in tonight?" He just looked at me and said, "no it just started hurting last night." :confused:

ernrs2b · Jul 25, 2008

I agree, if we didnt see the non-urgent/clinic visits and only saw true emergencies we would be without a job. I tell people that all the time. So, please call the ambulance, make up a bogus complaint to get to the ER on the other side of town, only to refuse care, because you needed a ride to the doctor

RN_in_SC · Jul 25, 2008

My point in posting this was really to see the way people knowingly maneuver to get things from the ER. It was never intended to "make fun of people". As a new ER nurse, I am learning about the way the system works and the way it doesn't work (when people abuse it).

It reminds me of an old episode of ER where a lady came in screaming of severe abdominal pain, got an ultrasound, she was pregnant and she knew it, found out it was a girl and then got up and walked out (she was just fine after she found out the sex of the baby).

As the previous poster stated - when someone does something like that I find it to be malicious because resources and time should be going to the most urgent patients first.

cursenurse · Jul 25, 2008

Cold outside- bus didn't come so mom said call 911. abd pain. vomiting x 1. smoked weed for the first time and don't feel right. family of 5 in minor fender bender- noone hurt but need to get checked out. chafing of the member secondary to excessive masturbation. And of course all of the STD complaints.

allnurses Guide · Jul 25, 2008

It reminds me of an old episode of ER where a lady came in screaming of severe abdominal pain, got an ultrasound, she was pregnant and she knew it, found out it was a girl and then got up and walked out (she was just fine after she found out the sex of the baby).
.

I remember that episode . .. . she got up and walked out to have an abortion because she didn't want a girl, she wanted a boy.

And Carol Hathaway, the nurse, was appalled . ..

I love ER . .. especially the older episodes.

Now to the subject at hand . . . . .I agree with those who say without the "clinic" type visits our rural ER would be broke.

Our most common non-emergency visits are sore throat, back pain, tooth pain, and new moms bringing in their babies for things that scare new moms - mostly no bowel movement for a few days. (I did this with my #1 son when he was screaming during a bowel movement and was very constipated . . . :imbar ).

steph

Larry77, RN · Jul 25, 2008

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'm sorry if you were treated badly but you obviously don't work in the ED where we see so much "crap" that sometimes you do get a little jaded.

The people that get to me are not the "scared new mom's" or severe back pain that ends up being a nasty bladder infection, its the ones that come in a couple times a week for sillly c/o, who never go for f/u from the last visit they had, and who yes, slap down that gov't coupon stating, "I have insurance". These are the people abusing and clogging up our system ruining it for everyone.

I think anyone who comes in for a non-emergent reason should be required to pony up $20 a visit--that's 4 packs of smokes--and don't display your new Iphone and try to convince me you can't afford to go to the clinic so you came to the ED where it's "free".

yikes, I really got going there...sorry for that...:)

AandE angel · Jul 25, 2008

Glad to hear its not just the UK and that you guys stateside get the same inappropriate ER patients as we do, does anyone else hate it when you are the assigned Triage nurse and a patient uses the term "get checked out"!! the injury happened 6 months ago but now seems a good time to get it "checked out" aarrr... which part of Emergency Department are you having a problem with! Keep smiling ER nurses everywhere

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2008

The one patient that I can remember even chapping an easygoing MD Was a woman in her 30s that brought in 4 kids because she (not the kids) had been in a wreck 4 or 5 days before. She demanded that all of them be seen even though they had not been in the wreck. So, she wanted "the state" to pay for all this, they usually went to the Charity hospital, but not this time.She had the kids out of school that day to get MD excuse for her work.

I understand her needing an excuse, but to expect the MD to write hers plus one for each of the kids missing school on the day she went to the ER when they weren't involved in the wreck at all.

Then, to top things off, she wanted us to feed ALL of them lunch while they were there.

Anne, RNC

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 25, 2008

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.

your sig says it all: future nurse. these er nurses are venting. someday, when you're a nurse, you'll get it. but right now you don't. you haven't walked a mile in their shoes, and therefore have no right to criticize.

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2008

Glad to hear its not just the UK and that you guys stateside get the same inappropriate ER patients as we do, does anyone else hate it when you are the assigned Triage nurse and a patient uses the term "get checked out"!! the injury happened 6 months ago but now seems a good time to get it "checked out" aarrr... which part of Emergency Department are you having a problem with! Keep smiling ER nurses everywhere

hi your also in Manchester I'm a about to qualify st/n. what hospital trust are you at did a placement in a&e.

what i observed was trips and falls, pain for greatar than 2 weeks being treated by gp and pt not feeling like things were progessing enough.

psych issue

a particular frequent flyer

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jul 26, 2008

i love foot "emergencies". do we reeeeeeeally need a bunionectomy at 0300?

and the STD tests. i had a patient sign in at triage once with "bugs in my cookie". the nurse i was working with was trying to be professional and said "well maim, what vending machine did you get it out of?".... she had crabs.