My doctor's office staff sent me out....

[MrsWampthang, BSN, RN]

Frustrating reasons why people go to the ER (mild rant):

My doctor's office sent me out because they close at 5pm and it is now 3:45, so they don't have any more openings. (Funny how when our ER doc calls that particular doctor will tell them the staff never even told them about the patient's call, or that the patient never called at all.)

I can't go my FMD because I owe them money and they won't see me. (oh, and you think this is free?!?!)

I have an appointment at my doctor this afternoon but I didn't want to feel bad that long. (so now our ER docs are miracle workers that will wave a magic wand and cure what ails ya instantly)

I'm tired of feeling this way and I want to find out what's wrong with me. (again, our ER docs are miracle workers that can wave a magic wand over you and find out instantly what months of tests by FMD and specialists haven't been able to find out)

I am between doctors right now because I just got back on medicaid. (do you realize that medicaid is only going to reimburse the hospital pennies on the dollar for your visit here today to diagnose and treat your rash?)

My doctor's office is closed now. (why no, I didn't know I could call him/her 24/7 through the hospital answering service.)

I don't have a doctor for my 3month old baby. (WTF?!?!?)

I go to the local free clinic and it takes weeks to get an appointment there. (so instead you come here, because, afterall, this is free clinic west)

We were sent here by the FMD to meet the surgeon because my child has side pain. (cause after all, we are the surgeon's out patient clinic)

The ortho surgeon wants to bring a patient down to ER to do a conscious sedation closed reduction (never mind that three ambulances are out on a five car pile-up, and we can spare neither the room nor the nurse)

The ER doc has just told an out of town doc that, sure she would be glad to see a patient he is sending out for a blood transfusion. (at same time the three ambulances are out on the five car pile up. I guess it's easier than calling a doctor with admitting priveleges so the patient can be a direct admit to a holding bed. Nevermind that we still don't have the rooms or the nurses to take care of such a patient.)

I went to work and just didn't feel good enough to stay so I came here. (so all you really want is a work statement? Come on, be honest now.)

I have a bad tooth and the pain is killing me (better that than the meth that caused your teeth to rot in the first place)

Sorry so long, but it was a long day and got really frustrating toward the end of the shift. Just had to let off some steam!

Pam:zzzzz

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Been there had days like that

So put your feet up and chill - glass of something soothing should fit the bill.

[flashpoint]

LOL...

[Medic946RN]

My wife had a minor cough, irritating, but not troubling. My wife puts up with things I wouldn't. I would see a doc or one of the PA's I work with if my cough lasted more than few days. My wife finally after a month says to me. " I guess I should see the doctor." So she calls the office on a Friday and asks for an appt on Saturday. Our Doc has had Sat hours for years, but she was told that they stopped having them this year. My wife asks if he can squeeze her in Friday night she is told no but if it's really bothering her to go to the ER. My sweet bride, god bless her soul, proceeds to lay into the clerk. "You want me to go to a Level 1 trauma center for a cough that I've had a month? My husband's an ER nurse, and he'd never let me hear the end of it if I did that." The clerk sputtered and mumbled "Well its only a suggestion." More proof that I married the right woman.

On the opposite end of the spectrum when I was at triage last night a mother and grandmother bring in a 4 yr old that had just been to the peditricians office two hours prior for a cough. The doc diagnosed the kid; wrote scripts. They gave the kids her first dose of the meds and you know what....? She didn't stop coughing, so they brought her straight to the ED. Of course they wanted to know how long it would take because they had plans for dinner.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm the night charge RN in level one trauma center. Triage nurse a couple of weeks ago has three members from a family come in:

1. Adult female in 40's - "I have a runny nose and my ear hurts"

2. Child in teens - "I have a rash"

Adult female in 40's than casually states, "Oh by the way, I can't get grandma to drink her chocolate milk". Grandma in wheelchair is a tiny little thing with rigor mortis!!!! Absolutely true story. Family boo-hoo'd real good when told "Grandma is dead!"

[JedsMom, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by traumaRUs

I'm the night charge RN in level one trauma center. Triage nurse a couple of weeks ago has three members from a family come in:

1. Adult female in 40's - "I have a runny nose and my ear hurts"

2. Child in teens - "I have a rash"

Adult female in 40's than casually states, "Oh by the way, I can't get grandma to drink her chocolate milk". Grandma in wheelchair is a tiny little thing with rigor mortis!!!! Absolutely true story. Family boo-hoo'd real good when told "Grandma is dead!"

Now I remember why I left the ER about 10 years ago:rolleyes: But ya know what, lately I've been REALLY thinking about going back. I still miss it. But I know you're going have days;)

[alittleunwell]

I have an appointment at my doctor this afternoon but I didn't want to feel bad that long. (so now our ER docs are miracle workers that will wave a magic wand and cure what ails ya instantly)

I actually had a lady come to the hospital because she thought we could force her physician to come see her that morning (it was about 1000 hrs) so she would not have to wait until her late afternoon appointment.

Problem was, the physician was in surgery at another hospital and I wasn't willing to call him in the O.R. to tell him his patient wanted to see him NOW! She was pretty miffed that we couldn't make him come see her between his surgeries.

BTW, she wasn't in pain or any physical distress, it was just a more convenient time for her.

[cannoli]

I hope he told her to find another doctor. Some people have all the nerve.

[RN Rotten Nurse]

It appears ER's are the same all over.

[Scis]

Don't you every wonder how the conversation goes in these families who turn up in the ER as a group for minor, nonemergent complaints? I mean, it's usually in the evening, mostly weekends, maybe a Friday night....and what do they do? Do they sit around and say, "we don't want to go walk around a mall, there's no good movies out, nothing on TV, so let's go to the ER, I mean,

I HAVE had this cough for a month now, and Dad's pulled his back out a month ago and it still hurts him, and baby Sally hasn't pooped yet today...." I mean, is there NOWHERE else these

people want to be but here, in the ER, for not-even-close life-

threatening events!

Sorry-had to vent!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Since ER the TV show we have regular rubberneckers with sore throats or toothaches that walk up and down the halls glancing in every room.

[NurseJacqui]

I like it when a mom brings in son for a sprained ankle, but then figures well, since I am already here I may as well have this back pain I have had for 6 years checked out, and my daughter's nose is running and the baby spit up so why not get everyone checked out? And then of course, all of the children have different last names and she doesn't know their birthdates or their weight or if they have had all their shots. And then of course, " Do you know how many minutes this is going to take?"