Stupidest reason to go to ER

[DachRN]

ER Nurses/MD's etc.

I am currently writing a "paper" on stupidest reason for someone to come to ER.

ANY input you can send me would be much appreciated. IF you'd like a copy of the FINAL draft, let me know.

THANKS in advance!

PS. My winning entry so far is:

A woman who brought 1 month old baby in at 2:30 (AM of course) because "it won't look me in the eye, It doesn't recognize me!"

Not kidding

[Treat et Street]

That is exactly what my ex did. Word for word. The surg's, the alienation of the kids, no sex, and a lot more. This is not a rare phenomenon. People will go to extremes for the craziest things.

One of my patients came in EMS for "itchy toes." Ha Ha Ha.

[rph3664]

I have a relative by marriage who, when she was married to her first husband,would find a way to get admitted to the hospital, usually with a surgical diagnosis, at least once a year. I once asked our mutual relative if her ex-husband was a pervert and she did this to give him a legitimate excuse to not have sex (I have heard of people doing this) and I was told that she probably got more attention this way than she would have by going to a motel or spa.

After the divorce, her ex-husband had to pay the kids' medical bills, so she would do things like take them to the ER when a regular doctor would suffice, just to soak him. The kids want nothing to do with him, and nobody will tell me why, so it must be something really awful considering what she's like.

Treat et Street, are you referring to this post and are you male or female? I'm assuming the former, but when it comes to the kids being estranged from their father, they were old enough to know what was really going on, and all anyone will tell me is that I shouldn't be sorry that they don't want to see him.

I don't think it was sexual abuse, in part because I don't think he's interested enough in the kids to want to abuse them even if he was a pedophile (which in itself speaks volumes). The marriage itself was fraudulent, really, because she wanted to get married and he didn't, so she stopped taking her BCPs and didn't tell him until several years later.

We all know that dysfunctional people certainly have ways of finding each other.

[SDS_RN, RN]

Just had one yesterday bring her son because she said that he had not been voiding. Asked her when he last went she said in the waiting room just before they got into their room. OMG what??? We were slammed and she was just taking up space & a room that someone else could have used. Had so many of those types in yesterday. Oh another one for you pt had vag bleeding since the 10th of the month started on BC pills Fri by her doc to help control the bleeding but no results in x1 day so why not make a trip to the overcrowed ED and ask why it hasn't helped yet. Had a frequent flyer in w/ nausea this time has been out of Klonpin for 2wks but just had to have it yest couldn't wait 24 more hours to see her regular doc. Needless to say I was relieved to get home to talk to some sane people.

[share1507]

Did she try to perform the abortion herself, and wanted the ER to complete it? Just curious.

Yes. according to the patient, but after a while as we keep on asking her it turned out that she's been to an illegal abortionist....:angryfire

[runawaytrain]

Here's one from the other night:

"My baby was on her back and I left the room just for a minute and when I came back, she was on her belly, crying!"

15min later...

"My baby needs to see a doctor NOW! Something is wrong with her!" (baby is sleeping quietly and in no signs of distress)

30min later, after the doctor got the ruptured AAA to surgery that he was

wasting his time with when there was such-a-critical baby in the other room...

"Your baby is fine. She just rolled over. This is a normal part of development of a child her age."

She went home.

The end.

I also got a guy that "shot himself in the hand" (there was no evidence of a gunshot wound) and managed to score 2mg Dilaudid and 1mg Lortab. He was there earlier and the NP wouldn't give him narcs. Before the end of my shift, this same guy was found passed out in the women's bathroom in the front lobby, drunk. I don't even want to know how he got there...

[Knoodsen]

A few normal people end up in the ED with emergencies. They provide a nice break in the routine. For the most part, though, we are "caring" for those that I refer to as "ER people". I have been at it long enough that I can spot them anywhere. The things that bring them in provide us endless entertainment, but it all comes down to ignorance or stupidity, a desire to be sick or fear that one is sick. ERs attract nuts.

[01103130]

an 17 year old lady, alcoholic breath, hyperventilating and crying, brought in by 911 ambulance at 3 AM; her watcher later came and volunteered info that the lady was dumped by her boyfriend ( good!)

how about a fully conscious, comfortable well-dressed lady who came to ER ( despite the chaos in the dept attending to more critical patients) and demanded that she be seen by the doctor right away for a disturbing cough of 2 months!

[bassmasterangler]

i know it is memorial day week-end, but my rx for viagra has run out, and i need a refill for my wifes b-day. how much do you think the doc can prescibe me; a years worth? since i have to pay so much for this er visit.

lol.

[bassmasterangler]

The ER is a common:uhoh3: ground for loonies.

[littleRNthatcould]

Not neccesarily a stupid reason to come to the ER, but: Had a woman a couple weeks ago who brought her 3 year old son in for eval due to ear pain and cough. We had just recieved 3 Level One Trauma's (we are a level 3 facility, so imagine that scramble if you will) Anyway she had been waiting less than 10 minutes in the triage area and demands to our security officer that if her son is not seen and treated within the next 20 minutes that she would sue our hospital for "abuse and neglect"

Hmm really?

So the doc goes in and says to her. "How about I just call CPS for the "abuse and neglect" of bringing your child to the ER at 3am for a raging ear infection that he has clearly had for quite some time."

NOT the most appropriate thing to say, but it seemed to simmer her down a bit. When I got to the room she was nothing but cordial and he was such a sweet baby too.

The thing is, I would have gladly taken the time to treat and care for this little boy without the threats. It's unfortunate that people feel they need to puff out thier chests and make demeaning comments and demands in order to get us to do "our jobs"

One of the many reasons that I am moving on from the ER soon:tbsk:

[uniquenurse, BSN, RN]

20 year old lady brought in by ambulance with complaint of bunion on both feet for years and years. No severe pain or infection whatsover....

Just last night,a 54 year old lady, "BIBA" (Brought in by ambulance) has taken OD of 1 big bottle oramorph, 60 capsules of tramadol, 50 paracetamol tablets. On arrival to ED, her partner said to me: "She seems to be in so much pain, can you give her some pain-killer please....."

[Coffee_Tea_Milk]

Three guys in a local rehab were talking amongst each other, when they discovered that they all had previous diagnostic hx of Hep C. On this particular day, they decided to come to ER to have their liver enzymes checked. (I don't find it stupid to know how your liver is doing, but ER is not the place to have a routine check up.)