So I was waiting in the ER (I just had surgery a week ago on an ovarian cyst & my lower back was killing me) & this lovely couple with huge Big Gulp cups walk in & proceed to fill out the questionnaire for the triage nurse.
The husband had sat down & the wife was filling out the paper work for herself. The wife yells over to her husband, so he comes over. She asks him, "How do I fill this out so them bring me back faster?". I don't know how far my eyes popped out of my head. But she turned in the sheet & told the woman that her doctor sent her over & she's having "chest pains" & might have a blood clot.
Well this woman who is having "chest pains" & a supposed blood clot then went outside & paced back & forth on the phone.
This behavior irritates me. My grandpa fell in the kitchen and we (myself and my grandma) couldn't get him up. I'm not strong enough to lift 190 pounds of dead weight off the floor and my brother was at work. He was perfectly fine, he just needed a lift. I called 911 and told them that we needed help. No ambulance, just a helping hand. The dispatcher told me that they were shorthanded, and since it was not emergent, we would have to wait about 10 minutes. When I hung up and told my grandma this she said I should have told them we weren't sure if he needed medical attention. I told her no, because what if someone actually needed emergency services, and since they were short handed, we would be taking that away from someone else who could actually need it. We waited for barely 5 minutes and a cop showed up to help.
Thankfully once I raised that point of taking emergency services away from those who really need it, she understood. I just think that people who don't work in the medical field don't always think about things like that.
Thankfully once I raised that point of taking emergency services away from those who really need it, she understood. I just think that people who don't work in the medical field don't always think about things like that.
Many don't care. I had a mother with her 17 year old daughter with abdominal pain who had been in the ER for a total of about 2 hours. All tests had been done, just waiting for dispo/discharge paperwork. I told her it would be delayed for about 15 minutes because the Dr was in a room with a critical patient and would get to them as soon as he was done. Her response was "I don't care what else is going on, somebody needs to get us out of here".
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Many don't care. I had a mother with her 17 year old daughter with abdominal pain who had been in the ER for a total of about 2 hours. All tests had been done, just waiting for dispo/discharge paperwork. I told her it would be delayed for about 15 minutes because the Dr was in a room with a critical patient and would get to them as soon as he was done. Her response was "I don't care what else is going on, somebody needs to get us out of here".
Wow. Talk about a sense of entitlement! I know being in the hospital is never fun but that attitude has got to go.
I went to the ER one time when I was pregnant with my daughter because I had been vomiting for almost 12 hours and unable to keep even bile down and my OB told me I had to go in for an evaluation. I arrived with a bucket in case I couldn't make it to the bathroom in time and of course the waiting room was busy. I made it to the restroom the first few times but when one episode came on I couldn't make it and had to use the bucket, I had never been rushed into the ER to wait behind a curtain in essentially another holding area so quickly. Apparently the same thing happened when I was a toddler. I guess potentially infectious GI bugs freak out other people waiting and they want the patient out of view. I understand there are much worse things coming through the ER that have priority and I totally understand the need to wait. I just found it a little amusing that I was hidden from the other patients in the ER once it was obvious why I was there.
The sad part is that any E.R. nurse can tell you that we're used to it. That's why so many of us are unfazed by people's "emergencies".
Mb0382..
It could also be that they saw you as one of the rarest of patients... an actual sick patient.
This.
Usually when I go to the ED, I'm having uncontrollable vomiting from a migraine or my symptoms from my complex regional pain syndrome flare-up happens I know it's due to dehydration and they want to stabilize the pain somewhat so I do get rushed to the back and fluids are started; I don't mind being ignored after that until I'm stable to go home.
While working in my ED, I'm new and can say I don't get fazed by the minor stuff-probably due to my many years of honing skills with pts and families that deflect and project and have some form of maladjusted coping skills, so I have no expectations of people, and I don't usually engage in their thought process-however, I like to throw back the "I don't care" situations enlightening people that we can be absolved from being sued due to impatience, and also injecting positivity by reminding them that their loved ones are stable enough not to have as many people in their face and a step away from the upper room.
I made it to the restroom the first few times but when one episode came on I couldn't make it and had to use the bucket, I had never been rushed into the ER to wait behind a curtain in essentially another holding area so quickly. Apparently the same thing happened when I was a toddler. I guess potentially infectious GI bugs freak out other people waiting and they want the patient out of view. I understand there are much worse things coming through the ER that have priority and I totally understand the need to wait. I just found it a little amusing that I was hidden from the other patients in the ER once it was obvious why I was there.
Not quite sure what you're saying here ... that you would rather have continued to vomit in public view?
Not at all. Sorry I didn't clarify. I was just surprised that they would let me keep running to the public bathroom (and contaminate it) rather that place me in another area to begin with. I know that they were short staffed and I wouldn't be seen any faster, but constantly trying to make it there and the movement alone increased the urge. It's just my husband had been asking how long it would be until we were taken back and kept getting "we will call you when it's your turn"...but then as soon as it was in public we get called back. No complaining, just noticing a coincidence.
Let me tell you, this happens everywhere. I had a pt some in for angina and then ask for sodas, food, and I had to ask her to quit talking on the phone so I could check her BP. But when it came time for the dreaded "Can you rate your pain from 1-10?" OF COURSE her's is a 10! Someone break out the nitro and the morphine!
Had an EMS call in today with a 18 year old patient complaining of a headache...(hx of HA's with no report of blurred vision/visual changes) who had been in the lobby all night, decided to go home. Then called an ambulance thinking they would get back faster. Not the charge nurse (he stepped away from the desk) but an "executive decision" was made for the patient to be put out at triage. If looks coulda killed I'd be dead. Hahahaha it was great. She didn't wait long but it was hilarious.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I was at the same ER a different time & a guy was brought in by ambulance. I don't know what for but they wheeled him into the waiting room to sign in. Hahaha!
I was at the same ER a different time & a guy was brought in by ambulance. I don't know what for but they wheeled him into the waiting room to sign in. Hahaha!
The ambulance is not a sure fire way to reserve a room in the local ER anymore.
blah_blah_blah
339 Posts
This behavior irritates me. My grandpa fell in the kitchen and we (myself and my grandma) couldn't get him up. I'm not strong enough to lift 190 pounds of dead weight off the floor and my brother was at work. He was perfectly fine, he just needed a lift. I called 911 and told them that we needed help. No ambulance, just a helping hand. The dispatcher told me that they were shorthanded, and since it was not emergent, we would have to wait about 10 minutes. When I hung up and told my grandma this she said I should have told them we weren't sure if he needed medical attention. I told her no, because what if someone actually needed emergency services, and since they were short handed, we would be taking that away from someone else who could actually need it. We waited for barely 5 minutes and a cop showed up to help.
Thankfully once I raised that point of taking emergency services away from those who really need it, she understood. I just think that people who don't work in the medical field don't always think about things like that.