I work in a large, urban ED. I absolutely love emergency medicine, and like many of you, cannot imagine myself doing anything else. However, I have recently been left feeling burnt out with all the non-emergent cases we see. Its as if treating and caring for a patient who is actually sick, critical or unstable just doesn't happen anymore. What happened to these patients? Where did they all go? We are so bogged down with low acuity patients, who also seem to be the most entitled, mean, and in-your-face. It is discouraging to say the least, but I'm not sure where to turn from here. Emergency nursing is my passion. Are any of you experiencing this as well? What are you doing about it? What happened to the "emergency" in "emergency medicine?"
I actually have had an extreme UTI when I was 26 (28 now) years old. It was awful. Feeling like I was peeing glass. Very uncomfortable. Not to undermine your decision to go to the ER, but I went to my PCP 2 days later when an appointment was available and was prescribed antibiotics. Going to the ER would have cost me a 75$ copayment plus bills to follow. I apologize, but a UTI is not an emergency. While it is uncomfortable (such as an extreme sore throat or a cough) it is not an emergency. There are urgent cares and minute clinics (i.e. CVS,Walgreens Ect.) open on the weekend if need be. The big problem is what one person thinks is an emergent vs another. I would certainly not go to the ER and spend 75$ (at the minimum) for a UTI.
Uncomfortable is not the word. The burn of a thousand suns is more like it. Luckily here in south jersey we have after hours care through by doctors office. So that is a more immediate option than waiting 2 days to get it taken care. If you are not brought down by the pain then more power to you for being able to wait that long.
I actually described it as "feeling like I was peeing glass". Maybe I have a high pain tolerance, or maybe I didn't want to spend 500$ at the ER. However, if we are still discussing "emergency", a UTI is not an emergency. Sorry
With all respect, how do we as nurses explain that to them...
Well, pretty much as I stated, except without the part about not dragging them in off the street. That doesn't look too good on those customer satisfaction surveys.
But seriously, I just politely and professionally inform waiting patients that we see the sickest people first. I have recently taken to telling them that I can't say how long the wait is going to be, but the person who has been in the waiting room the longest has been here X amount of time, and that they are currently at X place in line, unless someone sicker comes in.
I've found that people respond pretty well to this, because it gives them an idea of whether they have time to go out for a smoke or go to the bathroom, or if they should stay close in case their turn comes up.
Seeing them is a WHOLE nother matter. Mines booking out 6-7 was right now. Suggests you see a colleague or the WIC if it can't wait.
Great. That covers everything M-F, 0800-1700.
That's helpful.
In our neck of the woods, a lot of PCP's offices don't even triage the person over the phone - they immediately refer them to our ED regardless of what is going on. Call your PCP for a stubbed toe? Go to the ED! Call your PCP for postnasal drip? Go to the ED! It's frustrating sometimes.
ArrowRN, BSN, RN
4 Articles; 1,153 Posts
YMMV??