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Its just amazing that no matter where our stories come from, they are all the same. This whole thread could be about my ER. People are the same everywhere. Big City, Small Town, Rural, Urban...idiots everywhere!! And on a similar note...You know what makes me mad...people who are not nurses posting and commenting on things they have no knowledge or experience about...If you haven't been in our shoes, you are not qualified to speak.

An ER doc once ordered a "Coumadin level." I quickly stated "don't you mean a PT/INR?" He threw a fit and said he wanted a "Coumadin level! And I better order it." He's still waiting for the results somewhere...but Not In My ER!!!!

We have TV's in most of our ED rooms and we cannot keep a remote. Thermometers and dopplers are big movers too. Once had a patient elope with all the monitor cables still attached. Just unplugged them from the tram and slipped out the back door. We sent the police to his house to retrieve them.

You know you are a real ER Nurse if your only allergy is to "bleeomyacin" When I take it, I want to tell crude ER jokes!

Take the "Triage First" course if you can. Err on the side of caution. Have your facility implement standing orders if not already done. Don't take crap from the folks in the back about your decisions.

It always amazes me when people who are so "educated" act so "stupid." She's the one that wanted to be a doctor! If she doesn't want to be around sick people then she should "go to the house, get in bed and pull the covers up over her head!" I wouldn't feel bad one bit...matter of fact...I'd see if I couldn't find her a TB patient or some MRSA to play in.

I have the utmost sympathy and respect for all my patients in true pain. I live with aches and pains myself and have suffered in the past few years with a back injury. But, as far as "fibromyalgia" goes, I have never seen a "Fibro" patient who wasn't "as crazy as a run over dog." Pain is one thing, but the drama that goes along with "Fibromyalgia" is just ridiculous. But this is just my "observation."

We see 100 to 120 patients daily. About 10 to 20 percent c/o "Chest pain." Those arriving after say 2pm are usually placed in the CP Center for serial labs and EKGs and are stress tested the next AM. If they arrive prior to 2pm they usually have thier stress done that afternoon. Very few, I mean less than 1 percent turn out to have disease. And I agree with JessicRN about the patient saying he has chest pain just to go straight back and be seen, then only to say that was last month, his gout in his foot is what bothers him today. I guess its universal.

Go to: http://www.drugs.com/pill_identification.html I use this at work at to identify "unknowns." Click the "I agree" option to take you to the next page where you can enter imprint, shape and color. Good luck.

I'm hurting in my arm and I think I have coppertone. Thought he had carpal tunnel syndrome. A guy with abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting presented to triage one evening and stated "I ate at the Chinese restaurant and I've got toe-nail poisoning! "ptomaine poisoning" Couldn't keep a straight face on that one....:rotfl:

Personally, I'm looking for a career as a "Rock Star". Me and the guys I played in "da Band" with some 35 years ago, got back together. If this cubital tunnel syndrome that plagues my left hand doesn't do me in, I think I'll be able to play guitar for at least another 20 years. I'm almost 54 now. But seriously, I now work in a very busy ED as Charge on night shift and to tell you the truth, I'm in worse shape than a lot of my patients. I've done it for the past 10 years and I have my doubts if I will be able to make it to retirement age doing what I do. Maybe some type of managerial position will come open that I could fall into. I've made some connections along the way and may need to call in a favor. But as far as continuing to do bedside care for another 10 years, I think I have a better chance at the "Rock Star" thing. Come to think of it, I don't know any 65 year old nurses...do you?!?