Stupidest reason to go to ER

Published

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

Specializes in ED staff.

Not get off topic but... If someone comes in with a headache I always ask if this is the worst headache they've ever had. We had a coworker (not a nurse) that had a terrible headache and although we urged her to come to the ER she wouldn't. She had a massive stroke and died.

Now back to topic.... 18 year old 6 weeks pregnant 3rd visit to the ER with abd pain, no bleeding. It was an awful day, everyone had chest pain and I had no where to put her. She waited an hour, left, went to Arby's... next door to the hospital, called an ambulance thinking she would get seen faster. Off of the stretcher back to the waiting room, retriaged, waited thirty minutes before she went to a bed. Might AS WELL STAY PUT WHEN oops you come to the ER.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Not get off topic but... If someone comes in with a headache I always ask if this is the worst headache they've ever had. We had a coworker (not a nurse) that had a terrible headache and although we urged her to come to the ER she wouldn't. She had a massive stroke and died.

Not to get off the point either, but LilgirlRN makes an excellent point. This happened to my mother's coworker. They were RN's working on the same floor. My mom's friend came into work with the worst headache she ever had. Before the end of the shift, she was in ICU with a massive bleed and passed away a few days later. Very sad as she was relatively young - 42y.o. if I'm not mistaken.

Getting this back on track: However as you probably have experienced, if you ask people at triage if this is the worst headache they've had, some may say "yes" automatically. This may happen until they learn that this probably buys them an LP once they get back there. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......

Have one that might be a contender. BIBA with...... Get this.......c/o mosquito bite! "Really itches". Local EMS not allowed to not transport. Of course, the patient couldn't have tried any OTCs like Benadryl or Calamine lotion! Did I forget to mention, it was 2 a.m.? Did I mention it "really itches"?:banghead::up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......

OK here's my migraine story; actually, my introduction to the truth about them. I was a young NCOIC of a Medical Clinic at Ft. Riley, Kansas. One afternoon as the PA and I were about to close, we got a call from one of the nearby units and asked if we could see one of their soldiers who was experiencing a severe migraine. OK, another weak-minded person who can't handle a little stress in their life. The PA said , Sure , send him over and we'll see him and see what we can do. May have to send to the Hospital if it's too severe for us . The Company First Sergeant brought this rather large trooper in, doubled over and pasty white. Put him in the Treatment room with the curtains pulled on a gurney, did vitals and told the PA he was here and I was ready for him. About that time, he turns to me and says, "Doc (all Medics are 'Doc' to the troops), I think I'm going to be sick!" I ran for the emesis basin (silly me!) and reached him just in time to see a green stream hit the opposite wall of the room, about 25 feet away! The Excorcist had nothing on this soldier! Took the PA and I about 30 minutes to stablize this guy for the duty ambulance to take to the ER at the Hospital. Became a believer that day, and from then on, never treated a migraine patient like I had before my Epiphany ! Never had seen anything like that before, and haven't since, thank God! Have had several family members and Co-Workers who have had them, and I'm very grateful that I don't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rescue+Medic+ER ER ER ER.

They are not just a migraine till the bad stuff is ruled out. Nor is an arrogant drunk just a drunk till all else is ruled out. How about "just a kidney stone" that was an AAA? Now that one really taught me! Incidentally, the AAA ruptured and by gosh and by golly this man walked out of the hospital 2 weeks later.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......
i was at a sex show in amsterdam and one of the girl's performances involved birthday candles in the same way. hahah ( it was part of the tour package:p):bugeyes:

I'm sure it wasn't Perillo tours!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Without going into strokes, puking projectile green, or other co-morbitities....Sometimes a migraine is just a migraine....and sometimes.....calling EMS for a migraine is just abuse of the EMS system. I thought this thread was stupid reasons to come to the ER

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, OP, PACU & ICU.

One of my favorite er visits was a person with back pain from a slip and fall in a K-Mart 25 years earlier. My question was, "and what was the deciding factor in coming in TODAY?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.

I was working the fast track area at our ER a few weeks ago a day or two after a tornado hit the area. I pulled the next chart to find the triage nurse had written the patient's cc as "back hurting due to tornado." I was like, "What?" When I read the triage nurses inital assessment, I find that the patient had no obvious injury, denied any trauma. The patient--who had been triaged only 30 min prior to me calling them the first time--left without being seen. I actually kinda almost wish he would have answered so I could have gotten the whole story. I bet he was no where near where the tornado hit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Angry couple enters triage,

Triage nurse: What's your emergency today ma'am

Patient (looking annoyed): Ask him, he made me come.

Traige nurse:Sir??

Boyfriend of Patient: Look lady, It just don't taste right anymore.

Gotta love ER nursing

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Angry couple enters triage,

Triage nurse: What's your emergency today ma'am

Patient (looking annoyed): Ask him, he made me come.

Traige nurse:Sir??

Boyfriend of Patient: Look lady, It just don't taste right anymore.

Gotta love ER nursing

All I can say is WOW

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I may have already posted this, but I have a relative whose ex-husband had to pay for the kids' uninsured medical expenses as part of their divorce agreement.

You can guess the rest.

:banghead:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion