Ha ha, last patient of the night was a young woman brought in by her stepmother at around 3 AM. Step Mom reeked of cigarettes and seemed a bit tweeky. Patient was 19, was "jumped" at 2 AM two nights ago and "beat up by a bunch of Mexican girls" because "I was wearing red". She was complaining of abd pain increasing where, supposedly they kicked her. No bruises anywhere. She got some Percs, a full work up, turns out she had a raging UTI.
So, I gave the DC instructions. They were packing up to go and the Doc glanced over (we have sliding glass doors) and mentioned to me that they seemed to be taking chux from the drawer in the room. I went in and point blank asked "Are you guys taking things from the cupboards?" I glanced over and saw a patient belonging bag filled with stuff. They admitted to taking a box of Kleenex because "I have a cold and need Kleenex" Step Mom said "We know they charge us for everything we get here after all" I laughed to myself, thinking that the only bill that woman ever paid on time was to her drug dealer.
I just told her to take the Kleenex and please leave. They left with a lot more than they came with, stuffed in their bag. Not worth making a scene and good for a laugh!
Years ago, some director of the local ambulance services decided that all locals ERs needed a large TV screen displaying the location of all their vehicles, kinda like an air traffic control display system.
One night, a crew came in to us, just falling about laughing saying that the screen from the other ER across town had been stolen. Some guy had gone in claiming to be a technician from the ambulance company, needed to take the TV back to modify it.
THEY BELIEVED HIM.
And they even helped him take it down off the wall and into his truck.
Couple of hours later it occurred to the staff that it might just be a little strange that a technician turns up at 2am.
They called the ambulance base,and sure enough, the ambulance company knew nothing about it.
So the nurses there told every ambulance crew that came in the rest of the night to keep it quiet.
And of course after that instruction every crew duly came racing round to us saying"You'll never guess what just happened at downtown ER".
Priceless.
Because it was that time of night when we all go a little crazy,we assigned a CNA to cut up a newspaper from the waiting room, to make a ransom note, and we duly faxed it to the other ER, "Pay up now or your TV gets it".
Sure enough,when we arrived for the next night, we were all in trouble, but somehow it was worth it : )
Years ago, some director of the local ambulance services decided that all locals ERs needed a large TV screen displaying the location of all their vehicles, kinda like an air traffic control display system.
One night, a crew came in to us, just falling about laughing saying that the screen from the other ER across town had been stolen. Some guy had gone in claiming to be a technician from the ambulance company, needed to take the TV back to modify it.
THEY BELIEVED HIM.
And they even helped him take it down off the wall and into his truck.
Couple of hours later it occurred to the staff that it might just be a little strange that a technician turns up at 2am.
They called the ambulance base,and sure enough, the ambulance company knew nothing about it.
So the nurses there told every ambulance crew that came in the rest of the night to keep it quiet.
And of course after that instruction every crew duly came racing round to us saying"You'll never guess what just happened at downtown ER".
Priceless.
Because it was that time of night when we all go a little crazy,we assigned a CNA to cut up a newspaper from the waiting room, to make a ransom note, and we duly faxed it to the other ER, "Pay up now or your TV gets it".
Sure enough,when we arrived for the next night, we were all in trouble, but somehow it was worth it : )
That is hilarious. I've never heard of an EMS service putting up screens so that hospitals could tell where there units are.
I hadn't either and haven't since, I think it was some director wanting to make am impression.
We never saw the point of it, and eventually found it was more useful when set it with a rolling message on the screensaver, we could post waiting times etc that way.
We had a spoiled adult take the room TV right off the wall. We have had TV remotes and our cheap room phones taken. Also a couple of times people have taken off with our portable telemetry monitors. Don't know what they were thinking, unless they have stolen a cardiac monitor!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
We had a spoiled adult take the room TV right off the wall. We have had TV remotes and our cheap room phones taken. Also a couple of times people have taken off with our portable telemetry monitors. Don't know what they were thinking, unless they have stolen a cardiac monitor!
I had a patient steal a cardiac monitor once. I've always wondered what he did with it.
Oh goodness. Smartnurse, I really hope you have no identifying information on here. Because this is the second time I'm seeing you post stuff that is unethical and/or illegal.
If you and your patients really need those things, why not just ask? Personally, I'm glad to send my patients off with a 'care package' of sorts if they really need it. But for them to steal things? Makes me mad as hell.
If you feel you aren't getting help with your patients when you bring them in, address it with staff. Don't think that this gives you the green light to clear out the linens or chux pads.
How is it unethical when the pt needs it AT THAT TIME?
We don't have time to bring diapers,chux,and suction catheters with us.
Most times,we have nothing because its an Eemergency.
Can you not pop your head out into the hall, use the call bell, or approach the nurses station and say, "she needs to be changed - can someone help me turn her?"
If the suction supplies in the room have been used for your patient while in the ED and you feel it's an appropriate option to take them with you upon discharge for the trip home -- have you asked about that?
Are you not following procedures to attempt to obtain more supplies for your home care patients, before treating an ED visit as a Walmart shopping trip?
Most times the kids get admitted.
I think you guys misunderstood.
What I mean by taking is going to the cart,getting a diaper and some pads,and placing it under the kids.
If the staff nurses don't see that I need help with a trach/vent client,then I really don't know what to say.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
How is it unethical when the pt needs it AT THAT TIME? We don't have time to bring diaperschux,and suction catheters with us. Most times,we have nothing because its an Eemergency.[/quote']
Why not ask nursing first rather than help yourself? Common courtesy. I seriously doubt they would say no. They can't read minds and won't know you need help if you don't ask. When I worked ED we were happy to help with a few extra supplies within reason.... If asked.
Why don't you have diapers, chux, suction catheters, extra meds, extra trach & GT in the child's go bag as is the standard in PDN. What if there was an emergency evacuation order or a house fire ? you should be able to grab the go bag and be set for 2-3 days. Assuring a patient has an appropriate go bag is part of start of care and semi-annual case reviews. Go bags are to be checked daily in both of my agencies
I agree on the go bag. My patient has one. Just 2 days ago we had a power failure and had to evacuate. I was grateful that her suction machine was fully charged and that she has a stocked to go bag. Fortuneantly it was daylight. However if it had been dark we still would be ready to roll.You never know when an emergency might happen.
What I mean by taking is going to the cart,getting a diaper and some pads,and placing it under the kids.
If the staff nurses don't see that I need help with a trach/vent client,then I really don't know what to say.
Most times the kids get admitted.
I think you guys misunderstood.
What I mean by taking is going to the cart,getting a diaper and some pads,and placing it under the kids.
If the staff nurses don't see that I need help with a trach/vent client,then I really don't know what to say.
Well if we all misunderstood the same thing, it's probably that you post indicated something bad. You did not state in your post that you took things while in the hospital. And the OP was referring to patients who steal stuff to take home. So yes, very logical to 'misunderstand' the way we did.
And here's another logical thing to think of. If you bring in a PDN kid on a vent with trach to the ER, but you are all by yourself doing so, why is it so crazy that the ER nurse assumes you can care for this child on your own?
zmansc, ASN, RN
867 Posts
Seriously? You guys have meds in an unlocked fridge? Is that common? I've never seen where meds are in an unlocked location.