First, I'd like to say I usually like working in the ED, but last night was just unbelievable. 13.5hours without so much as a 10 minute break. Up to 9 patients at one time (one came in as a stroke alert, to top it off..)
So pt #1 is sitting on the bed, watching TV when I walk in- I introduce myself, move her food tray out of the way..Ask her how she is? "Terrible! I'm so anxious and I need some more Ativan...the last dose isn't working!" I explained to pt. that she had only gotten the med 10 minutes ago, and it needs a bit of time to work (duh..)
As I am telling this to pt 1, pt #2 chimes in..while watching TV, texting on her phone, and shoveling food in from her tray "Yea, I NEED some more Ativan too....I'm really anxious cause I have to wait!!!" I vital her, while she is going on and on and on about how "anxious" she is....okay then.
Pt #3 is a person who came from a drug/alcohol treatment center. This pt. threatened to "hurt" one of the nurses because the pt. didn't get meds fast enough. When the staff informed this person that they were welcome to leave, all of a sudden there were "Thoughts of suicide!" So into the ED this person comes. FIRST words out as I walk into the room??? "You have to go get me something for my nerves, and I'm on Opana and Norco...and x, y, and z...If I don't get it I'm going to go through withdrawl!" This was said in a VERY nasty way...I explained to the pt that I was just coming on, and have to find out what the MDs "game plan" is...This immediatly causes said pt. to start swearing and complaining about the ED...as I walk out of the room...the last thing I hear??? "AND GET ME SOME MORE EFFIN TURKEY SANDWICHES!!!!"
Pt #4? 33yo who claims is in for ETOH withdrawl (again...) looking for Librium and...wait for it....wait...here it comes....ATIVAN!!!!!" This pt. proceeds to torture me every 5 minutes, is noncompliant with my requests to leave monitor on, ect ect...Is SERIOUSLY faking symptoms in an attempt to obtain the sought after meds.
WHAT is wrong with all of these people? When did our society decide life was "too icky" and decide that medicating themselves into oblivion was a good idea? WHY does our society allow this foolishness?
My next pt. comes in..a super sweet, a/o x 3 87 yo with ESRD, on dialysis, who just isn't feeling well. Did I forget to mention the top of his head, extending into his eye, is basically a giant red gaping hole? 2 types of CA made it impossible to treat, so this poor man has a giant bleeding, stinking, painful mass eating it's way into his head. He and his family just can't understand WHY he feels so tired? They are SHOCKED when I take the time to do some education about the side effects of Hemodialysis...how it can progressively make you feel tired and "bleah" all of the time. They had no clue. WOW. I spent 20 minutes trying to dress this head mess, and wrapped a towel around it because the family was concerned...they saw a fly buzzing around, and didn't want another maggot infestation of his wound:uhoh3:...I took a med list from him...he takes an "Aleve" once a day for the pain- he tells me he really should take the narcs ordered for him, but they make him so loopy he doesn't want to sleep his time away (Would LOVE to drag the drug seekers in to view this poor man..)
Spent the rest of the shift listening to multiple nast, stupid complaints from family members of other patients....The usual..."Why is it taking so long, what are we waiting for, ect ect ect." I left work this AM, feeling so disgusted. Beaten up mentally. I sometimes wonder how I don't end up having a stroke d/t the stress of not telling these peole what I'm actually thinking. Sorry for the vent, I usually try not to let stuff get to me...but sometimes this stuff is hard to drop at the door, and as much as I love my husband, he just wouldn't "get" why this stuff grates on you. Heading in for the next 13 hr shift soon...sigh....
