The people you meet.......

Published

Hi guy's,

Had a long day I sort of need to vent and get some opinions at the same time. I fairly new to working in the emergency spectrum of things and I know about pain thresh holds but something really ticked me off today! I have recently been working observer shifts with paramedic's and working in a resonably busy ED.

Today I started my shift with the paramedic's and the first call was to a 65 year old femal who had suffered a fall. when we got to her she was calm, orientated, and had no visable signs of shock. She stated that she had fallen over and given her right knee a bit of a "bump" and she had also hurt her right wrist and elbow in the fall. She stated that her pain was about a 2 at rest and went up to a 4 on movment. She had no significant history and we gave her 3 mls of methoxyflurane whilst we transported her. The whole time she was quite calm and rarley used the wistle. Found out later that day that she had # her head of her radius and # her patella (it was in 3 pieces)

The next job was a 27 year old who had an obvious # to his 2nd proximal phlange, it happens when you stick it in a pitt bulls mouth. His history was IV drug use, tattoos, ear rings (4 of them) but he didn't like needles?? By the time we got to him he already had 75 mg of pethadine on board, and by the time we got him to the hospital he had another 15 mg of morphine on board in 2.5 mg doses and yet still complained of pain.

Am I being a bit harsh here or is this bloke a bit of a sook? And is this an every day thing for you guy's? :confused:

Cheers

Bolts

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.
Am I being a bit harsh here or is this bloke a bit of a sook?

uh, what does that mean?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICF/MR, ER.
uh, what does that mean?

It's the equivalent of "is this person trying to 'pull the wool over my eyes"?

In some areas it's more prevalent than others, but many nurses (including myself) do encounter drug-seeking behaviors from patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

LOl...I think if you read into the context... I think it basically means Is this guy a bit of a jerk or something along those lines...lol

QUOTE=HappyNurse2005]uh, what does that mean?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

It probably was a combination of several things. This guy probably had a high tolerance to pain meds because he was a user of other drugs, much stronger than morphine I suspect! He also had an addictive type personality, and did not want to deal with reality, so why not soak it for all it is worth and get legal drugs for a change!

We do see this all the time. The quiet one or one just sobbing but has REAL injuries, and then the screamer who has has "pain for a year". You just try your best to grin and bear it, be in tune with the quiet ones who may really need your attention far more than the screamer. It is just part of day to day life in the ER.

Regarding the "fear of needles", that one made me laugh. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a big burly guy with tattoos, multiple piercings, etc and gives me a hard time when I tell him he needs a tetorifice shot. Oh, yea, you are afraid of needles!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've gotta tell you: my husband spent 6 years in the Marine Corps, the bulk of it in the far East. He had plenty of "needles" during his career. (Thank goodness he never got any tatoos). But, give him a tetorifice shot and he passes out w/in minutes!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

HN,

A sook is someone who thinks they are hurt a lot more than they are, winger is another term. A sexist view would be "he acted like a big girls blouse" Hope that helped?

Bolts

uh, what does that mean?
Up Vote Up Vote ×

HN it sorta was acting like a big kid, it hurt, we knew it hurt but the way he was acting in my opinion was a bit over the top. Sorta like a mommys boy??

hope that helped.

Bolts

uh, what does that mean?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
HN,

A sook is someone who thinks they are hurt a lot more than they are, winger is another term. A sexist view would be "he acted like a big girls blouse" Hope that helped?

Bolts

I like your style! I'm gonna save "he acted like a big girl's blouse" for future use.

Everyone has different pain thresholds - I have seen guys being stoic and guys being sooks. Same with women.

Not sure if it conditioning or they were born with a higher/lower pain threshold.

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I do sometimes think age can be a factor as well. The old lady with a broken hip may do fine with tylenol. A young person who has never really experienced things like childbirth, broken bones, smashed fingers, etc. is shocked at how much something hurts! I do think as well, people do have different pain tolerances built in. Some people feel better yelling with pain, others whimper, all human.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for reading and the replies made me laugh a bit, must remember to dropp the aussi slang now and again, sorry for the confusion folks. And steph it a brilliant saying, rather pointed I think but feel free to use it any time. gotaa go but thanks again.

Bolts :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for reading and the replies made me laugh a bit, must remember to drop the aussi slang now and again, sorry for the confusion folks. And steph it a brilliant saying, rather pointed I think but feel free to use it any time. gotta go but thanks again.

Bolts :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion