and the problem is..........?

flashpoint · Jan 21, 2004

I am trying very hard to be more patient with patients. I am trying not to get annoyed when people come in and tell me, "You need to check him for strep and give him an antibiotic." rather than, "He has a fever and a sore throat." I am trying very hard not to get annoyed or laugh at people who come screeching into the ER screaming hysterically for help when they simply have a cold or a small laceration...with that said...

Saturday, we had a quiet moment in the ER when a lady came in dragging her 11 year old son by the collar of his shirt. Even though we were sitting right there, she started banging on the counter with one hand and dinging the bell like a maniac. We thought someone was fixing to die. "What can we help you with?" we asked. "He couldn't find his shoes!" she yells back. I looked at the boy's feet and saw one shoe on each foot..."I'm confused," I said. "He couldn't find his shoes, so I chewed his *** and he started crying and getting all upset. He cried so hard he quit breathing and now I want him checked out." The boy is now in the waiting room climbing over the chairs, laughing, and throwing Legos...so of course, we got him checked in... Lungs were clear, resp rate 20, SpO2 100% with a pulse rate of 84. No apparent distress. Mother wanted a chest x-ray, doctor told her, "No." Discharge instructions were, "Home to clean room. Put shoes in the same spot every time you take them off. Behave yourself. Warm soaks in soapy water once daily." (Everyone in the family needed a bath). Two hours later, we get a call from a hospital in a town about 60 miles from here wanting to know what was going on...mother took the kid there becasue he needed a chest x-ray! Sigh...

rdhdnrs · Jan 21, 2004

I was charge one day on our OB floor and another nurse was passing lunch trays. She paused outside one room (14 year old pregnant) and said "Is this girl now antepartum?" to see if she could eat. The pts sister (15 year old pregnant) was passing by and answered, "No, she's not Annie Pardum, she's Sherry Green!"

I thought we would die before she got in the room and got the door shut.

By the way, for HIPPA police, Sherry Green was NOT the girl's real name; I made it up.

Stitchie · Jan 21, 2004

True Story, I swear.

One night very early in my health care career, even before nursing school began, I worked as a registrar in a very busy community hospital ED.

We had a patient come in c/o that there was a worm "where the sun don't shine".

Turns out he had an earthworm "where the sun don't shine". :eek: And could not explain how it got there.

No doc, PA or veteran ED nurse was able to keep a straight face the entire day after that one.:chuckle

EWWWWwwww

Stitchie · Jan 21, 2004

True Story, I swear.

One night very early in my health care career, even before nursing school began, I worked as a registrar in a very busy community hospital ED.

We had a patient come in c/o that there was a worm "where the sun don't shine".

Turns out he had an earthworm "where the sun don't shine". :eek:

No doc, PA or veteran ED nurse was able to keep a straight face the entire day after that one.:chuckle

EWWWWwwww

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2004

Originally posted by rdhdnrs
By the way, for HIPPA police, Sherry Green was NOT the girl's real name; I made it up.

NICE!!!!!!

you know some posters were ready to pounce on you!!!!

:roll

RNin92 · Jan 22, 2004

Where ever those HIPAA Police are....

PLEASE GOD...Keep them!

:eek: :eek: :eek:

RMH · Jan 23, 2004

How about...I've had this "problem" for 2 weeks and it isn't getting any better.

Are you taking any medications?.....Yes the doctor put me on Keflex.

When?.....yesterday

You saw him yesterday?...Yes, but I'm not better

Duh!!!!

Or...I have this "problem" (nothing severe)

Did you try to make an appt. with your doctor?..Yes, but he couldn't see me until 2:30.

(It is now 12:45!!!!)

Duh:confused:

RNin92 · Jan 24, 2004

Originally posted by RMH
How about...I've had this "problem" for 2 weeks and it isn't getting any better.
Are you taking any medications?.....Yes the doctor put me on Keflex.
When?.....yesterday
You saw him yesterday?...Yes, but I'm not better
Duh!!!!

Or...I have this "problem" (nothing severe)
Did you try to make an appt. with your doctor?..Yes, but he couldn't see me until 2:30.
(It is now 12:45!!!!)
Duh:confused:

HOPE YOU MAKE THE GUY WAIT UNTIL AFTER 230 TO BE SEEN!!!

flashpoint · Jan 24, 2004

The ER here does not have a full time physician. The providers respond from their clinics...if it is an appropriate ER visit, their clinic patients will have to wait or reschedule...if it is a clinic level visit, the patient in the ER will have to wait until the provider goes to lunch, has time in between patients, or until the clinic closes...

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2004

me: "who is your primary doctor"

patient: "dr. scott"

me: holding back a big sigh... "an ER physician is NOT a PCP"

sean

7 months out of the ER, NOT MISSING IT ONE BIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Grant Morgan · Jan 25, 2004

ONLY IN AMERICA!!!![/b

Thank God I don't live there.....the stupidity there seems to be contagious!

LisaRN2B · Jan 25, 2004

Originally posted by Grant Morgan
ONLY IN AMERICA!!!![/b

Thank God I don't live there.....the stupidity there seems to be contagious!

Ooops...you've been infected already it seems!

I think things like these can and do happen everywhere. JMO