Nonsense "stat" orders

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Specializes in ED.

I don't understand why some residents feel the need to write a bunch of "stat" orders while the patient is in the ED. Now, I know I'm not a super-smart resident who went to medical school, but sometimes tells me that the urine drug screen on the 90 year old here because she fell and broke her arm should not be "stat". Why does a routine patient need "stat" Crestor at 11 in the morning? Seriously? Does anyone else have this problem or is it just my hospital? Oh, and I don't understand why every patient who goes to the ICU, regardless of the reason, needs a stat head CT and stat chest CT with IV contrast...

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

We get those too... "Fleet enema stat" Yeah ok, does it really matter the this lady came to the ER at 2am (with her bag packed and rollers in her hair) and stated that she hasn't had a BM for the last 40 days??? Seriously, it can wait another 30 minutes??? :smackingf

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
We get those too... "Fleet enema stat" Yeah ok, does it really matter the this lady came to the ER at 2am (with her bag packed and rollers in her hair) and stated that she hasn't had a BM for the last 40 days??? Seriously, it can wait another 30 minutes??? :smackingf

Oh, yes. I have to agree with you two on this. Our ER staff sees a lot of those kinds of goofy stat orders. And if it's a stat enema for the little lady that had her bags packed and needs the enema stat refuses to get the enema until after she eats a full regular tray. We even had one that would order some of these "super stat", or "super duper stat". WHAT??????????

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

you forgot "ooper super duper pooper stat"

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
you forgot "ooper super duper pooper stat"

I know!!! :yeah::yeah: As a nurse new to the ER at the time, another of the nurses saw the look on my face when I read the order and then it being ordered "super stat", and of course, laughed at me. It wasn't for anything earth shattering for a trauma patient or anything, one of the "frequent flyers" we all knew really well.

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in MSP, Informatics.

Our Pharmacy has a "Wall of shame" where they copy orders like that and pin them to the pharmacy wall.... the Colace Stat went up there... as well as odd ball orders.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

No way!! Too funny! We do too, and it gets quite congested at times!!! :D:D

Anne, RNC

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Hmmm...the best way we avoid "stat" nonsense orders is to have already had a bed rqstd upstairs and the second the resident whips their measley orders off their order set we can say, "sorry...these will have to be implemented upstairs since this patient has a clean and ready bed...admin doesn't want us to hold patients in the ED." Gotta play the game!

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Oh, yes. I have to agree with you two on this. Our ER staff sees a lot of those kinds of goofy stat orders. And if it's a stat enema for the little lady that had her bags packed and needs the enema stat refuses to get the enema until after she eats a full regular tray. We even had one that would order some of these "super stat", or "super duper stat". WHAT??????????

Anne, RNC

Super duper stat? Really? LMAO!:rotfl:

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Specializes in ED.
Super duper stat? Really? LMAO!:rotfl:

I can't believe people actually write that. If I ever saw an adjective in front of the word "STAT" I would be on the phone with the resident's MOD before the ink dried.

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Specializes in EMERGENCY - TRAUMA.

Oh yeah get those a lot. That and the ever present "now" order. reason: "Well if I write it for the floor it won't get done in a timely manner" Seriously? Sure just add to my &@^$&@!!! workload! Sure anything to make it easier on the floor. Christ i already have to start all antibiotics plus fill out a med rec sheet complete and make sure the doc checks of what he wants to keep, modify, and or d/c. All the while hell is breaking loose. Yeah great sparky. Appreciate you. :angryfire

GOMERNATOR:smokin:

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Oh, and I don't understand why every patient who goes to the ICU, regardless of the reason, needs a stat head CT and stat chest CT with IV contrast...

Well, that's the way they do it on "TRAUMA - Life in the ER" so OBVIOUSLY that's the way it's supposed to be done! (Ever notice how shows like that don't show the "hangnail emergency that came via ambulance" cases?)

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