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 ?

It's a half giggle/half face palm at the amount of girls that come in thinking we're dumb. They just can't be pregnant cuz they don't have sex.

Ill never forget the female that came in, said she was a 'stud'. Lumbar xr ordered. There was her full term baby in her xr. Spent an hour trying to 'convince' her she was preg, and her gf, and her mother.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

A patient who "thought" she was pregnant and swore she could feel the baby move. And of course, N/V.

Her LMP was a little over a month ago at that time. HCG urine and serum were negative. HCG quant was neglible.

Someone came in in the wee hours of the morning for constipation.

Specializes in Public Health.

I groan every time I see a patient in one of my rooms with "multiple complaints".

Specializes in ER.

patient took an ambulance to the ER for chapped lips.....GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Isn't there some sort of guideline where EMS can refuse transport? Chapped lips? But I guess in the same instance, everybody would have chest pains then lol

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Isn't there some sort of guideline where EMS can refuse transport? Chapped lips? But I guess in the same instance, everybody would have chest pains then lol

Nope. You'd think so, but (ours anyway) is required to transport anyone who calls 911. Did a paper on it one time, there have been trials in the UK and in the US. In the UK, the time it took to call in and get permission not to transport was too great of a delay in come cases or they were arriving before the phone triage could be done. In the US, the study just asked afterwards which pts EMS would have refused, and they missed significant stuff in about 10% of the cases looked at. (I thought that number was too high, but that is what the conclusion was).

I had a guy come in because his mother was in the hospital and he wanted to be near her; so wanted the ER to admit him too.

I could have given all kinds of resources to pts like this but the BIG thing is they just dont want to pay. Most people are aware thay we can not refuse care, so they come to the ER for silly things. EX: missed period for 3 mon. ... you ask them why they are coming in.. they say i need a pregnancy test..silly :sarcastic:

Specializes in Critical Care, Neuro-trauma.

I don't work in the ER, but I have one of those silly things that I have came into the ER for. It was about 4 in the morning and I had went outside because my SO who was in Afghanistan called me so I went to talk. I was mid conversation and felt something by my ear. I smacked it and thought I killed it but a few minutes later I felt it in my ear and then heard it buzzing. I FREAKED out. So I went to the ER, after 2 nurses and a doctor looked into my ear and "could maybe see something moving." They flushed my ear out. A few seconds later, out comes a tiny little fly. Man, did I feel stupid. Haha

Yesterday had a pt. come in with a chief complaint of hiccups...which stopped 1 hour PTA, denies all other complaints. What are we supposed to do exactly???

A paper cut. Literally.

A spot on the nose that could only be seen by the patient. Probably a freckle.

Really.

Everyone has a different opinion on what constitutes an emergency...but really, people, a little first aid couldn't hurt. With a dash of common sense. Coming from an RN with 43 yrs. experience and still love my profession!

Specializes in ER.

Meanwhile, at 4 AM, a 20 something year old pt comes in with an entourage of concerned friends and family members.

"My belly button moved - and I'm talking moved!"

When we asked her what she meant, she said "I don't know, it moved."

Didn't hurt, no nausea. not pregnant. no masses. she said it wasn't the same as her abdominal aortic pulsations (which, yes, I was bored enough to point out to her), normoactive bowel sounds, nothing at all.

probably peristalsis. And what was she sitting there watching her belly button at 330 AM? And why call everyone you know so they can go with you during this medical crisis? :-)

Whenever I see weird chief complaints I try my darndest to put those patients in my rooms. I love weird stories.

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
Meanwhile, at 4 AM, a 20 something year old pt comes in with an entourage of concerned friends and family members.

"My belly button moved - and I'm talking moved!"

When we asked her what she meant, she said "I don't know, it moved."

Didn't hurt, no nausea. not pregnant. no masses. she said it wasn't the same as her abdominal aortic pulsations (which, yes, I was bored enough to point out to her), normoactive bowel sounds, nothing at all.

probably peristalsis. And what was she sitting there watching her belly button at 330 AM? And why call everyone you know so they can go with you during this medical crisis? :-)

Whenever I see weird chief complaints I try my darndest to put those patients in my rooms. I love weird stories.

Sounds stoned. Did you tell her stoner friends to buy some pizza next time?

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