strange request in the ER

beth66335, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2007

I would like to start off by saying that I LOVE reading all the funny ER stories.....at sometime in the future I would like to do ER.(but I still love OB right now)
So here is my questions.....when I read these posts about all these strange/unusual requests....how are they dealt with??
*I want you to exam my 15yo and tell me if she is still a virgin...
*I want you to drug test my child....
I have also heard stories about the homeless coming in and their chief complaint is "I'm hungry"
I am curious to hear your answers...
Also....horrible story and I would like to here some ER nurse imput.
My brother has his 2 children all summer and usually hires a high school girl to babysit for him.....on this ocassion he had found a lady who was going to watch them at her house (not sure of the details but I think she ran a day care out of her house) On their 2nd or 3rd day there he picked them up and while driving home his 5yo daughter stated "so and so touched my tee-tee" This so and so was a teenaged son of the babysitting lady. So he is trying to remain calm....which is difficult...and he is thinking Do I call 911 when I get home? Do I take her up to the police station? Do I turn around and go kill that kid this instant....at the moment he said he felt he might be able to get off on that charge....So he calmly called our mother (remaining calm in front of the children) and mom told him to take her to the ER....that they could call the police/social services or at least direct him to what he needs to do....I didn't think this was bad advice. So he drives to the ER places the kids in waiting room chairs and walks up to the triage desk and states "I think my daughter has been molested and I need some help" I am now feeling sorry for the triage nurse...The triage nurse takes him behind the window...gets the story them has him bring the kids back to a room....another nurse comes in...gets the story from by bro and statements from the daughter...and says I will make a social services consult...they or the police should be contacting you soon....the child was never examined (although all she would say was that she was touched once and that she did not have any pain) but still I think she sould have been examined by someone with experience in this area. The nurse asked the daughter 2 questions...what happened? and do you have any pain right now? and did this with her dad and older brother in the room....
This was well over 6 months ago....and he has never been contacted by the police or social services....
What is normal protocol for this type of chief complaint??

I don't know but I would call the police, I'm sure the statute of limitations is not up yet and he may be doing this to other kids. There should be some documentation in that E.R of the visit that the police could obtain, I wouldn't let this go!:angryfire

Katnip, RN · Aug 22, 2007

I wouldn't let it go. Have him call the police-not 911 at this point. Even if there had been no penetration or damage it is not cool that this kid is around young ones.

Not all hospitals have SAFE/SANE programs and really don't deal well with sexual assault. At my last hospital we did have a SANE program but even then, the ED nurses goofed and bagged clothing in plastic, or gave oral meds or food before the SANE nurse came in.

The hospital should have at least been able to refer the child to a sexual assault center, or her pediatrican could have referrals, though from the sound of it, there wouldn't have been much to find, thank goodness.

bigsyis · Aug 22, 2007

When I was in ER this case would have merited a talk with the Father and child by the MD, and an exam by a Certified Nurse Rape Expert, who is specially trained how to interact with and examine children. Based upon her findings along with the ERP's, the proper authorities would then have been notified. :madface:

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2007

Strangest request

Pt with a contused toe, requesting a note for 2 weeks off from work

I gave him the note

PedsER-RN, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2007

i would like to start off by saying that i love reading all the funny er stories.....at sometime in the future i would like to do er.(but i still love ob right now)
so here is my questions.....when i read these posts about all these strange/unusual requests....how are they dealt with??
*i want you to exam my 15yo and tell me if she is still a virgin...
*i want you to drug test my child....
i have also heard stories about the homeless coming in and their chief complaint is "i'm hungry"
i am curious to hear your answers...
also....horrible story and i would like to here some er nurse imput.
my brother has his 2 children all summer and usually hires a high school girl to babysit for him.....on this ocassion he had found a lady who was going to watch them at her house (not sure of the details but i think she ran a day care out of her house) on their 2nd or 3rd day there he picked them up and while driving home his 5yo daughter stated "so and so touched my tee-tee" this so and so was a teenaged son of the babysitting lady. so he is trying to remain calm....which is difficult...and he is thinking do i call 911 when i get home? do i take her up to the police station? do i turn around and go kill that kid this instant....at the moment he said he felt he might be able to get off on that charge....so he calmly called our mother (remaining calm in front of the children) and mom told him to take her to the er....that they could call the police/social services or at least direct him to what he needs to do....i didn't think this was bad advice. so he drives to the er places the kids in waiting room chairs and walks up to the triage desk and states "i think my daughter has been molested and i need some help" i am now feeling sorry for the triage nurse...the triage nurse takes him behind the window...gets the story them has him bring the kids back to a room....another nurse comes in...gets the story from by bro and statements from the daughter...and says i will make a social services consult...they or the police should be contacting you soon....the child was never examined (although all she would say was that she was touched once and that she did not have any pain) but still i think she sould have been examined by someone with experience in this area. the nurse asked the daughter 2 questions...what happened? and do you have any pain right now? and did this with her dad and older brother in the room....
this was well over 6 months ago....and he has never been contacted by the police or social services....
what is normal protocol for this type of chief complaint??

in our er it depends on the time between the alleged abuse and when the pt presents to the er. if it's been >72 hours, they are referred to the care center (a seperate clinic that performs culposcopic exams on kids); if it's been

to answer your 1st questions:

we do not do virgin exams. period.

drug testing will be performed on an individual basis and at the discretion of the md. if he feels there's a need for it, then it's done.

being a pedi er, we don't get too many homeless that come in, and none have stated hunger as their c/c. if they did, of course we'd get them something.