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

then why doesn't that patient have to pay up front for the pregnancy test....which I am sure she will leave when told how much th ER will charge.....she has been triaged and determined to be stable. I just don't get it....but I love the stories:)

I wish some people would find out that Dollar Tree/Dollar General (and the like) carry pregnancy tests... for a $1! But I guess that $1 would not be affordable because it would cut into the $200 shoe budget per month, the smoke budget, the cell phone budget, the hair and nail budget, but I guess that some people don't know what the term "budget" means, so it's off to the ED for a pregnancy test! :uhoh3:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
i wish some people would find out that dollar tree/dollar general (and the like) carry pregnancy tests... for a $1! but i guess that $1 would not be affordable because it would cut into the $200 shoe budget per month, the smoke budget, the cell phone budget, the hair and nail budget, but i guess that some people don't know what the term "budget" means, so it's off to the ed for a pregnancy test! :uhoh3:

part of the issue is that wic requires a "real" pregnancy test -- an ept from walgreens won't suffice.

of course, wic does not require an er pregnancy test -- one from planned parenthood or the doctor's office will do just fine.

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Specializes in Emergnecy, Research.

This is no lie...Female came into triage with the complaint every time she laughs, she farts.....is there anything we can do for this...

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Specializes in ER Occ Health Urgent Care.

I gave my child the medicine 4x a day for 10 days but there is still some left in the bottle what do I do?

Migraine via ambulance.

I need a sonogram to find out how far along I am

I have a cold that started a couple hours ago

I fell and want to get checkout. Do you have pain anywhere? No

I have have a cut and need a doctors note for work tomorrow because thats what my wok requires if i'm off. Cut net even worthy of a paper cut no work note.

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part of the issue is that wic requires a "real" pregnancy test -- an ept from walgreens won't suffice.

of course, wic does not require an er pregnancy test -- one from planned parenthood or the doctor's office will do just fine.

i guess i should have clarified between going to the ed vs. the doctor's office. i was also thinking about those who go to the ed at 11pm wanting a pregnancy test right now because they didn't want to wait for an appointment in the office.

i worked in a crisis pregnancy center eons of years ago. i can understand the frustration of those working in ed because we had women who used us for a "testing station" once a month. we did free pregnancy testing on a walk-in basis and there were some who didn't want to wait for an appointment to see their pcp. they'd come in every month requesting their pregnancy test. once it was negative, they'd run out and we'd see them the next month. it's sad because we, too, had limited resources that had to be shared between two groups: those who really wanted help, and those who wanted to know if they could go out and drink over the weekend. this has got to sound familiar to those working ed.

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I need a sonogram to find out how far along I am

Sorry for the double post, but I didn't see this one. I'm sure this one has got to be annoying as well. I've been on a few pregnancy boards lately and I've seen several posts along the line of:

"I can't wait to see my little baby through ultrasound because my doctor doesn't see pregnant women until 8 weeks. I think I'm going to fake cramps so I can go to the ED and I'll have an u/s." This makes me cringe every time I see it posted. :angryfire I've heard that there are some places that won't let the mother see the u/s screen while the exam is being performed in order crack down on abuse like this. :up:

Either I heard that here or somewhere else.

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This one just happened.

0200, 25 yo male via 911

CC. Walking and fell down

No fall, no twisted ankle, no knee gave out. Just walking and fell down.

When questioned as to whether or not he had injuries, he replied. "No, but you don't think it's weird that I was just walking and fell down??"

To which I replied, "Were you chewing gum at the time because I understand that's sometimes a problem"?

Went right over his head:roll

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Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.

"I can't wait to see my little baby through ultrasound because my doctor doesn't see pregnant women until 8 weeks. I think I'm going to fake cramps so I can go to the ED and I'll have an u/s." This makes me cringe every time I see it posted. :angryfire I've heard that there are some places that won't let the mother see the u/s screen while the exam is being performed in order crack down on abuse like this. :up:

Either I heard that here or somewhere else.

I have worked in an ER where they did not allow mothers to see the screen, and would not make printed copies of the ultrasound pictures for mothers for this exact reason- it irritated a lot of mothers, but we would just tell them- "you'll need to see your OB-GYN to get an ultrasound with printed pictures."

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the local medicaide clinics and county hospital prenatal clinics do not sono their patients with out a clinical indication.....so a routine pregnancy measuring well does not get a sono....so when they drop in c/o cramping/spotting/abd pain/fell down...ect and demand a sono they get one....and when they ask if they are having a boy/girl the sono tech does not tell them.....stating "I am taking measurements of the baby, bones and organs, fluid, and looking at the placenta....I have no reason to even look at that part of the body"

if they truely have a problem....like I can actually see the blood or are having ctx ect they usually tell them. I think it all depends on of you are "demanding a sono" or not.

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I have worked in an ER where they did not allow mothers to see the screen, and would not make printed copies of the ultrasound pictures for mothers for this exact reason- it irritated a lot of mothers, but we would just tell them- "you'll need to see your OB-GYN to get an ultrasound with printed pictures."

From these last few posts (ER sono), by purposely not showing/divulging results, I gather that the hospitals (read: docs, nurses, at al) are waving a giant "no-no" finger at these (soon to be) moms...

Seems like it's a control/punishment issue for a lot of nurses...

It seems like an ER game I quit playing a long time ago...

Two things I learned long ago:

1)ER patients are untrainable

2) No matter what we do (or don't do) they will always come back...

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Specializes in ER/ medical telemetry.

Yep,

I can agree with that... :o

quote=hogan4736;2355908]From these last few posts (ER sono), by purposely not showing/divulging results, I gather that the hospitals (read: docs, nurses, at al) are waving a giant "no-no" finger at these (soon to be) moms...

Seems like it's a control/punishment issue for a lot of nurses...

It seems like an ER game I quit playing a long time ago...

Two things I learned long ago:

1)ER patients are untrainable

2) No matter what we do (or don't do) they will always come back...

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Specializes in ER, L&D, Interventional Radiology.

My all time favorite is if they come walking in to the ER with coffee fresh from 7-11, or McDonalds, and demand that they be seen NOW because this is an emergency. But I want to say sooooo bad....."But you stopped for coffee?"

Janine

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