What to do: ED physician brought dog to work

Nurses Safety

Published

I am a student completing my clinical hours in the ED. There is a "box" that the MD sit in to chart" This is pretty open for all to see.I noticed that the physician brought a dog crate in and kept the dog a small terrier with him all day.. The dog was very good and never once barked, and everyone was picking her up.. It was pet therapy for staff, but my concern is for any patient who may be allergic to dogs and violation of the infection control policy. What would you do?

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
As a guest in their ED, I would do nothing. Actually, I would probably see if I could play with the dog, if I'm being honest.

Me too!!! :)

Anne, RNC

I don't know the ins-and-outs of this, so there is a good chance I am wrong…what about service dogs meant to "predict" a seizure by its owner? Do they have to be on a leash or is it sufficient to have them in a crate at the owner's side?

How could a service dog "predict" a seizure if it is in a crate?

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
:cat: Best laugh I've had all day. Pup probably a helluva lot cleaner and more well-behaved than half of what else saunters through that ED. Hey, maybe the guy had to either bring pup or would have had to call off. He came to work, be grateful for small favors.

In a previous ER the MD used to bring his 7 yr old grandson with him. He was on "autopilot" at the MD and nurses desk, running amuck - I ended up getting stuck cleaning up behind him all shift.

It would have been more pleasant cleaning up behind a dog :)

Anne, RNC

This is why we can't have nice things. I'd be very happy having a dog nearby. I find them comforting and often find kids are more dirty and less well behaved than dogs are, yet we accept them everywhere..x.x

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
How could a service dog "predict" a seizure if it is in a crate?

If the crate is next to the owner. Do they not predict it by smell? As I said, I don't know a whole lot about this--just conjecturing.

Specializes in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery.
How could a service dog "predict" a seizure if it is in a crate?

"Seizure dogs" are trained in a couple of ways. Some predict/recognize seizures, and some also respond to seizures. Any seizure dog could predict or recognize a seizure from within a crate, since they use their senses (eyes, ears, nose, and some special dog sense that we don't have). A seizure predictor dog is trained to bark and carry on, to alert the patient's family members. So in the case of the OP, the only way this would work is if the other staff in the area knew the situation and would respond if the dog barked. This crated dog could not respond and protect its owner in case of seizure, like protecting him if he fell. However, I have a hunch that this dog is not a service dog, but rather a well-behaved, crated pet that the doctor brought to work for whatever reason. A service dog would not be crated, because he is trained not to leave its owners side. However, the OP does not know the situation, and therefore shouldn't be judging. I don't see anything wrong with this small dog sitting quietly in a crate in an area away from patient care.

Specializes in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery.
I would mind my own damn business and not carry on like an officious prat.

This is my new favorite sentence in all the lands.

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I have to wonder about coworkers that would bring their newborns onto a immunosuppression floor or infectious disease unit. Or they will have toddlers with them, playing on the floor or going through trash cans/linen drops, while coworker is blithely chitchatting away.

Oh my god, yes! Today I had a patient whose visitor brought her litle toddler. He was crawling all over the disgusting flooring, putting his hands in his mouth...a little part of me died on the inside.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
And how do you know this wasn't a therapy dog? Just because the rationale wasn't shared with the OP doesn't mean there wasn't a legit reason for the dog to be there.

I don't. Notice that my post made an exception on service and therapy dogs. But, as a PP said, a dog kept in a crate all day doesn't point to service or therapy...it points to "pet."

Specializes in Oncology.
And do you realize what/who they are coming in contact with in the waiting room? Who used the bathroom right before them? A dog, in a crate, separated from them is one of the least of their concerns.

Yeah, I do realize that. This is why our patients are priority for private rooms in the ED and to be admitted to the BMTU as quickly as possible, or discharged as quickly as possible in the extremely unlikely event that they came to the ED and didn't need to be admitted.

Specializes in Cardiac Step down/ LTC.

I would be more worried about the dog catching something nasty and getting sick from being in the ER. Hopefully the Doc wiped down the carrier after he left.

I loved it when volunteers would bring dogs to visit patient's and I could play with them for a few minutes!

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
This is a little off topic but involves a dog in my old ER. In the middle of the night, a woman came into our ER frantically crying because her dog was choking, it was a big lab mix and she was caring it in her arms like a baby. It happened to be a slow night so we brought the dog into a trauma room, suctioned and removed a plastic toy with forceps and gave the dog some o2 via mask. We saved that dog, all the patients in the ER were applauding lol.

I don't think it's that big of a deal that he brought his dog. It was in a crate, and well behaved. It's not like it followed him into each patients room. Agree with others that there are far dirtier things that crawl around an ER. If it becomes frequent, then it should be discussed further but I would just try and get over it. Maybe there was a staffing shortage and he agreed to cover if he could bring his dog?

LOVE this! U guys rock saving that dog!!

Anne, RNC

+ Add a Comment