LeahJet

Excellent point!

All due respect, but I think that by the time a patient goes to the cath lab or to ICU, they are truly in need of medical care. Walk a few miles in our shoes and be expected to give "high energy skill and attention" to the MASSES of NON urgent patients.... and often expected (by the NON urgents) to give more high energy skill than our really sick patients. It wears on you after a while. But thank goodness we ER BattleAxes perservere.... and if a little bit of venting and fussing keeps us sane on the front lines, then so be it. Sure, there are many that complain how we didn't give them "good service" when they had the sniffles. But you know, at risk of living down to my ER nurse reputation, I don't give a rodent's gluteus. What I AM proud of and what makes me LOVE my job are the thousands that are walking around today because of us. And many times it was because we focused our priorities and didn't get bogged down in the BS and we were on top of our game for the ones that needed us. So if anyone feels like they need to chastise us or try to teach us some sympathy for every person that walks through the door, whether they are truly sick or not..... go right ahead.... I'm sure it will make you feel better. Because to be honest, an ER nurse's skin is so thick, we won't be able to feel the jabs.

We have been doing the exact same thing for the past month now and I've gotta tell you.........I LOVE IT!!! There are two other hospitals in town and I've heard that they are feeling it. (All of our non-emergent abusers are going over to them) I don't think it will be long before the other two facilities will start doing it as well. Like I said, it's only been a month, but I'm a fan.

I'm sorry for your health problems and misdiagnosis. However, I still stand by my opinion. I really couldn't tell from the wording in your post, but I think you may have been trying to convey that I may have not had compassion for my 86 year old vet. Although your illness is unfortunate, I doubt it gives you any special ability or insight to judge each and every one of us that works in the ER. Make no mistake. I LOVE my patients that truly need me and the ER. I have and will continue to give them my blood, sweat, and tears. I have and I will continue to go above and beyond for those that need me. Do I still get aggravated by the overwhelming sense of entitlement and whining of those that abuse the ER? You betcha. I get really amused that those (and I venture to say.... non-ER nurses) that say "well, they are there anyway and they need you, so suck it up and do your job...yadayada...." If you worked at a grocery store and saw blatent abuse and misuse of food stamps, would you still think that way? They are there anyway, so just suck it up and do your job. I know that analogy may be a bit off, but the idea is the same. Abuse is abuse. And abuse is really what we are talking about here. "Whiners" are people with NON emergent conditions that tend to be the loudest of all the patients. Again, I'm sorry for your misdiagnosis and health problems. Maybe someone reading here will be helped by this. If you are not happy with what you perceive as an "ER doc with an attitude"'s diagnosis and treatment, follow up with your family MD. He/she can truly follow you and give contining care.

Call me insensitive, but I totally agree with the whole "whiner" thing. People don't seem to realize that life is not perfect..... ya DO get sick every once and a while. The last I heard, there is no cure for the Flu or the common cold yet. Do they expect us to give them our Magic Motrin or sprinkle fairy dust on them?? I had the mess a couple of weeks ago. I stayed home and rode it out, treating my symptoms..... and guess what?..... I made it. The "flu people" are clogging up the ER even more than it already is. ughhhh. We need more WW11 generation type people. They are TOUGH. I had a 86 year old vet bleeding out of his eyes and was he whining? Nooooo.

Just updating my previous post..... We've been doing the "medical screening" process for a couple of weeks now and I have to say, I REALLY like it. We are collecting three times as much as before and an average of about 15-20 non-emergent pts. a day are chosing not to be seen. I think the word is getting out. There are three large hospitals in our city and I've heard the other two will be following our lead. I LOVE IT!!

I tend to give them a blank stare for a few seconds and then go back to what I was doing. That usually gets my point across better than any words I could say.

Oh yes, we are a Medicaid heavy area. But you see, they have only so many "punches" on their card. And to be honest, just making them pay 3 dollars is good for our morale!

We are starting something in our ED next week that everyone is really excited about. If the patient is triaged a 4 or 5, they go to a small exam room with a nurse practitioner for their medical screening. If the NP agrees this pt. is non-urgent, they will be promptly sent to the Financial Person. We will be glad to see non-urgent patients but they have to PAY first!! This is supposed to decrease our volumes by 20-30%. I don't really think it will be that much..... more like 10-15%.... but it really does help knowing that they can't just waltz in and out without a care in the world! I hope word of mouth gets out that the free ride is OVER!

Fair (pale), Fat, Forty-ish, Female.......... "Fibro" Not saying ALL Fibro patients fit this demographic, but does anyone else notice the trend? I had a patient once that was "end stage Fibromyalgia". Drama.

One day in our ER, a male co-worker asked me to go straight cath the lady in Minor 2. When I looked at her chart, I saw it was my boyfriend's Ex-wife!! Ew. Didn't EVEN want to go there!!:uhoh21:

Oh man...I have SO had that same idea.

Sorry for your bad experience. If I weren't busy, I would have gladly helped you. And if I were busy, I would have asked one of my co-workers to help you out. I have been an ER/ICU nurse for 10 years and in 4 states. I have learned a few things over the years. Usually....mean, rude nurses are that way because they are either lazy or incompetent. They use their attitude to try to keep people from asking for their help.

A little bit of this....a little bit of that....nothing lasts too long. Suits me to a tee.:)

You are exactly right, Tom. I once triaged someone that said she was in "end stage Fibromyalgia". No joke.

All ER nurses are mean, tough, and jaded.

I'm one of the strange people that like triage. I just don't let people get to me, plain and simple. I don't want another individual to have that much control over me. Especially the winners we see come through the ER. They can be ranting and raving and I'm just in a monotone zone. It drives them crazy.

When I am in Triage and taking a patient to one of your rooms.... do not yell across the ER asking me what is wrong with the patient so you can yell back a reason why the patient needs to go to another room. A room that is not yours. It is obvious that you are being lazy and trying to get out of getting a patient. Everyone notices when you come up missing about 3 minutes after an ambulance call with a 4 min ETA. (going to your room)

Oh.... one more thing.......... We have a room that is specifically for the application of splints. There is a huge sink with a stupid faucet head that is loose. I swear I think someone goes along and points that thing up. ANYway, I wasn't paying attention and turned the water on full force and got sprayed right in the face. I was SOAKED. Oh, the patient and family members laughed and laughed........ one even tossed a quarter in the plastic basin on the counter next to me. I better not tell management my pt/family had such a great time or they will be requiring a slapstick routine with each ER visit.

I was trying to get a wire from under a pt's head (that had a huge GSW) and flicked blood all over the RT that was bagging. I still got a dirty look after a sheepish grin, an "oopss", and a sincere apology.....lol. Then, about an hour after that, I bumped the leg of a pt. with an ankle injury.... felt really bad about that. I hate it when I am having a Klutsy night!!

My sentiments exactly. I don't do the martyr thing very well. Make no mistake, I can and I WILL take care of my needs before I run around trying to take care of frivoulous requests. Does that make me a bad nurse? No. Does that make me a tad selfish as a human being? Maybe. But here come the huge news flash..... Nurses are indeed Human. I don't get all up in arms over this asinine Customer Service bullcrap. I just go to work, do my job, act professionally, and take care of myself along the way. I don't do "scripts" and I don't lie to people and tell them that "I have the time". I just do my thing. It seems to work for me and my patients.

Honestly, I don't know why people have a problem with the advice to develop "thick skin". It just simply means, deal with conflict in the best way you know how.... choosing battles, working it out...whatever. Just don't be all weepy and whimpy and moan about it. That is counter-productive and adds even more to the negative workplace. So substitute the term(s) of your choice for "thick skin" if that is offensive or disagreeable to anyone. If, for any reason, this post offends anyone..... please accept my most humble apology. Sometimes I may be too straight forward for the delicate sensitive types. (yes, I'm rolling my eyes over here)

I agree. I hope that the student/new nurses aren't getting their feelings hurt here but are actually understanding the point we are trying to make. If you go into nursing wearing your feelings on your sleeve then you are setting yourself up for a burn out. You will be manipulated and taken advantage of. And I am not really talking about your co-workers. Maybe it's 10 years in the ER speaking here but trust me, most patients/family members adhere to the "squeaky wheel" theory. They will take all of your time away from your really sick pts that need you. Nursing is all about priorities. Period. My sick pt that cannot speak up needs me so much more than that nasty family member that may be hurting my feelings if I don't comply. If I am all upset over what Nurse so-and-so said to me in the med room, my pts may suffer. Fortunately, with experience, my skin has become thicker and my backbone stronger. My heart has stayed the same. That's what matters.

I apologize for my insensitive comments earlier in this thread. I was just having a bit of fun with an old cliche that all nurses have heard ad nauseum. I am sympathetic to the plight of new nurses for once upon a time, I, as well as every one else was a new nurse also. I had some of the same problems 10 years ago. I had to walk that fine line between being humble and being assertive. You have to find a happy medium between the new nurse that knows it all and rubs every one the wrong way and a doormat. It's not easy. But I have news for you...... Nursing isn't for the weak.

Perhaps some fava beans and a nice chianti?