Stupidest reason to go to ER

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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 ER, Cardiology, and GYN long ago.

OK here is my top 3 list:

1. Via ambulance at 0300 for an ingrown toenail X 2 years ... "I just couldn't stand it anymore."

2. Via ambulance at 2300 (teenager) for a pregnancy test secondary to "broken rubber TONIGHT."

3. Ambulatory for treatment to remove the clothes hanger protruding from pts' rectum (used to try to retreive the "lost" bottle in the rectum)..... Actually, that was a good reason to come to the ER... just a stupid thing to do....

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Not working in ER I have nothing to contribute but am LOVING this thread and put me on the list of people who want a copy of that paper when you're finished!

Thanks everyone for the RL entertainment....you can't make up better stuff, real life provides more surprises and stupidity than the average person can conjure LOL

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infection Control.

True story - I swear. Area doc called me and told me a patient was coming in with a severe laceration from his office - and to lay her down, give her a Sprite, take off the TOURNIQUET - YES TOURNIQUET, and put a pressure dressing on it and set up for sutures. OK - I took off the rubber band tourniquet and removed the dressing and found - what do you think? A PAPER CUT! I did all he requested - he was a big dog doc and ALWAYS very polite, refined and always a gentleman - never yelled or insulted a nurse EVER! For real!! When he came into the ER at night he came in a freshly ironed shirt and suit! AND he always came in to see his patients instead of having the ER doc see them. Just to say she got a stitch or two and a "technical" shot (another common reason to come to the ER - esp when the Health Unit offered them for FIVE DOLLARS MAX!). SOOOOO, if his patients wanted a suture, they got one.

:uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infection Control.

Another one - - -

inserted candles into her urethra, well IT WAS her birthday!

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Specializes in Retired NICU.
another one - - -

inserted candles into her urethra, well it was her birthday!

:uhoh3: ouch!

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Specializes in ER/ medical telemetry.

did you say the urethra, my my my...

what are people thinking!!!!

:uhoh3: ouch!
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I've seen a lot of really dumb c/o in the ER. But, I think the worst was the mother who brought her 10 yr old son in a 2am because "he woke me up to tell me he had had a really bad dream & asked to be taken to the ER. He never said anything like that before & so I was worried." Um, ok....

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
did you say the urethra, my my my...

what are people thinking!!!!

that was my thought as well ... i've seen a number of party goods in a lady parts, but to actually have inserted in the urethra?? was she too drunk to notice the *slight* uncomfortable sensation??? and why come to the er to have it removed? you got it in there honey ... now just pull ... :nono::trout:

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People that call 911 for something like a stubbed toe because they think they can get seen in the ER quicker (because they came in by ambulance).

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The latest stupid reason was "my boyfriend said that I was looser than usual, so I must have been raped". After a 5 minute discussion with the doctor, the girl changed her mind.:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.
The latest stupid reason was my boyfriend said that I was looser than usual, so I must have been raped. After a 5 minute discussion with the doctor, the girl changed her mind.:uhoh3:

umm..you might wanna use quotation marks (" ") next time, LOL..I thought you were talking about YOUR boyfriend and I was very confused...HAHA:lol2:

(not trying to offend!)

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OB patients coming by ambulance for stupid things -

Once we had someone come by ambulance because she lost her mucous plug. No contractions, water didn't break, no bleeding, nada. Then her visitors started to arrive a little later. She couldn't just have gotten a ride from one of them? We sent her home. (hope nobody died while she had that ambulance out of service)

We often have this type stuff come by ambulance. It's a real shame that the EMTs aren't trained more in OB stuff. Some of these ladies come in with leads and O2 on! (with no good reason) You should see the surprised looks on the EMTs' faces when the L&D nurse (after a brief assessment) takes all that stuff off & tells the patient to get down off the stretcher and walk to a room. The EMTs insist they can wheel them to the room. They look almost shocked as the L&D nurse insists, "No. She can walk."

(No offense to all the great EMTs who save lives every day - some crews just don't get the OB stuff at all.)

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