What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

And did you have to treat them?

I am just curious. Your stories always seem to either crack me up or shake my head in amazement.

Thanks for sharing ?

Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

:rotfl::rotfl:Good idea. :D

Specializes in Telemetry/IMC.

I haven't spent a whole lot of time in the ER, but the one that stands out the as the most ridiculous was the man who brought his child in because (s)he was dirty and wanted it documented that (s)he was dirty. But he had already bathed and groomed said child, so the child wasn't dirty. Not that there was anything we could've done about it anyway...

Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
I haven't spent a whole lot of time in the ER, but the one that stands out the as the most ridiculous was the man who brought his child in because (s)he was dirty and wanted it documented that (s)he was dirty. But he had already bathed and groomed said child, so the child wasn't dirty. Not that there was anything we could've done about it anyway...
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
I haven't spent a whole lot of time in the ER, but the one that stands out the as the most ridiculous was the man who brought his child in because (s)he was dirty and wanted it documented that (s)he was dirty. But he had already bathed and groomed said child, so the child wasn't dirty. Not that there was anything we could've done about it anyway...

Was there a custody case involved? We once had a mom bring her three boys in so we could count, document, and photograph their mosquito bites. Dad had taken them camping and she was mad about it...and was trying to get full custody.

Pregnancy tests cost $1.00 at the dollar tree store (retail). Maybe someone could get the pregnancy crisis people to pitch a tent in front of the ER to catch these folks.

Pregnancy tests cost $1.00 at the dollar tree store (retail). Maybe someone could get the pregnancy crisis people to pitch a tent in front of the ER to catch these folks.

You can't take a home pregnancy test down to the medicaid office as "proof" that you, indeed, do not believe in using any sort of birth control.

One must have your pregnancy documented by a physician in order to start collecting checks. This is why they come to pee in the cup again and again and again. If they come to the ER, their existing medicaid will pay for the test and the free van ride home. Otherwise, they'd likely have to make an appointment to see an OB-GYN and pay a co-pay, and that would just be absurd.

:p

I've mentioned this already here, but I believe that some women come to the ER for a pregnancy test because they believe they can get an abortion there if they are indeed pregnant.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I've mentioned this already here, but I believe that some women come to the ER for a pregnancy test because they believe they can get an abortion there if they are indeed pregnant.

I don't see why or how that they get that idea.

Even when I was a teen, when people were less conservative, I knew a lot of young women with "conception issues" and none of them would have gone to ER for that reason...even then, they knew better. Plus it was much easier to get a free pregnancy test at a place that did provide that. And I was not the most savvy teen.

It is pretty noised about that ERs, especially being hospitals do not generally provide that. Now D&C post a botched home or illegal attempt, maybe. But those indeed are emergency issues for hemmorhage or sepsis.

Specializes in ER.

Some turkey came in to triage complaining that his inner thighs had been chafing for two weeks. This was 1am. It was just too painful to bear.

Liposuction or diaper rash cream- we don't provide either one, so I don't know what he ended up doing.

Specializes in ER.

Chief complaint: Saw Santa, Became Scared

(As in Santa Claus!!!)

Specializes in ICU & LTAC as RN. FNP.
A mother bringing in an 15yo boy who had been playing on the escalator in the local shopping mall. He claimed to have gotten the bottom of his pant leg material stuck in the escalator, bent down and ripped it out with a hard pull. Nothing happened, no injury, no problem. She wanted a 'medical record' so that she could sue the shopping centre. When questioned the little *%$* admitted that he and his friends had been thrown out of the shopping centre by security officers many times for playing on he escalator.

Another time we had a mother bring in 3 little snotty nose brats to be "checked for snake bite". Nothing had happened, nobody had seen a snake. No symptoms. She had read a report in the local paper that it was snake season in the area.

I know this is an old post, but the snake bite one made me bust out laughing.

I had a pt come in because she swallowed her pills and had a bad taste in her mouth....

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