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

Specialties Emergency Nursing Q/A

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 ER.
A guy who had stomach pain upon xray we saw 12 oddly shaped things in abd. He then told us he liked to swallow barbie heads cause the hair felt good on the way out and he had obstructed. I swear some people have just lost their minds![/quote']

This is way way way to close to the Grey's scenario. Actually, it's identical, except they added 2 doll heads. I smell fishy fishy!

Specializes in ER.

I had a guy when I worked obs who had stuck a tube into his urethra and sprayed WD-40 down Into it. He also self pierced his nipples during the same session. There were other oddities but those are the parts I remember.

When a nursing home takes a vs, such as a spo2 or bp with a robo nurse, gets a really off reading, freaks out, calls 911 and doc to get em to ER.

Of course, taking the vs more than once or manually would have saved the unneeded visit.

Bp 72/63.... And the 'annoying' pt wants pain meds... Never been able to duplicate that result.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
When a nursing home takes a vs, such as a spo2 or bp with a robo nurse, gets a really off reading, freaks out, calls 911 and doc to get em to ER.

Of course, taking the vs more than once or manually would have saved the unneeded visit.

Bp 72/63.... And the 'annoying' pt wants pain meds... Never been able to duplicate that result.

Or in my case the little old lady is sent to the ED from the nursing home for hypotension x 8 hrs, BP 80's/40's on arrival. While she was actually sick, no one at the nursing home had thought to take off her Clonopine patch...

Specializes in Hospice.
Or in my case the little old lady is sent to the ED from the nursing home for hypotension x 8 hrs, BP 80's/40's on arrival. While she was actually sick, no one at the nursing home had thought to take off her Clonopine patch...

Do you mean "clonodine"? (LTC nurse here)

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Do you mean "clonodine"? (LTC nurse here)

Yep..

.sometimes used to treat anxiety

Yep..
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
.sometimes used to treat anxiety

Are you thinking of Klonopin (Clonazepam)?

Clonodine is for blood pressure although it's also used for drug withdrawal.

nope.

http://www.drugs.com/comments/clonidine/

Are you thinking of Klonopin (Clonazepam)?

Clonodine is for blood pressure although it's also used for drug withdrawal.

I love these stories. I'm about to go into my last semester of nursing school, and bless your hearts.........I just couldn't take the ED. LOL

I'm on medicaid for the moment and I've made two ER runs in the last year. One for me, and one for my 3 year old. Mine was a toothache. Now, before you jump me about it, let me tell you that an ordinary toothache well......I can deal with that. But not this monstrosity. I had broken a tooth and stupidly hadn't had it taken care of. Well, of course it abscessed on me about midnight on a friday night. My dentist didn't open til Monday. I tried every OTC pain med and home remedy I could think of, but when I developed a big lump along my jaw that saturday night, off to the ER I went. I was so thankful for the Vicodin and Amoxicillin, and I had that thing yanked monday morning but wow........so completely miserable. The second trip.....well my darling daughter stuck a bead up her nose, from a necklace she had broken. Why? "Cause." I tried everything....tweezers, superglue on toothpick...it was up too far to squeeze out. And she hasn't gotten the hang of blowing out of her nose yet, so she just kept sniffling it higher. ER run at 9pm on a Saturday night, of course. Because she can't do that when her ped is open, or even the convenient care. I felt awful, but I was worried she was going to snorkel that thing into her lungs, and she was so scared. They had this awesome little suction cup thing that attaches to the wall suction and got that bead right out in a second. I was just thankful it wasn't a busy night and we weren't taking up time for anyone else. Unfortunately, the ER staff was so sweet to my daughter that she now asks to go to the hospital every time she gets a bump or scratch. *sigh* SO........from those of us who have stupid, silly reasons to go to the ER....thank you all so much for everything you do!

Specializes in Med-Surg.
I love these stories. I'm about to go into my last semester of nursing school, and bless your hearts.........I just couldn't take the ED. LOL

I'm on medicaid for the moment and I've made two ER runs in the last year. One for me, and one for my 3 year old. Mine was a toothache. Now, before you jump me about it, let me tell you that an ordinary toothache well......I can deal with that. But not this monstrosity. I had broken a tooth and stupidly hadn't had it taken care of. Well, of course it abscessed on me about midnight on a friday night. My dentist didn't open til Monday. I tried every OTC pain med and home remedy I could think of, but when I developed a big lump along my jaw that saturday night, off to the ER I went. I was so thankful for the Vicodin and Amoxicillin, and I had that thing yanked monday morning but wow........so completely miserable. The second trip.....well my darling daughter stuck a bead up her nose, from a necklace she had broken. Why? "Cause." I tried everything....tweezers, superglue on toothpick...it was up too far to squeeze out. And she hasn't gotten the hang of blowing out of her nose yet, so she just kept sniffling it higher. ER run at 9pm on a Saturday night, of course. Because she can't do that when her ped is open, or even the convenient care. I felt awful, but I was worried she was going to snorkel that thing into her lungs, and she was so scared. They had this awesome little suction cup thing that attaches to the wall suction and got that bead right out in a second. I was just thankful it wasn't a busy night and we weren't taking up time for anyone else. Unfortunately, the ER staff was so sweet to my daughter that she now asks to go to the hospital every time she gets a bump or scratch. *sigh* SO........from those of us who have stupid, silly reasons to go to the ER....thank you all so much for everything you do!

I don't think your reasons are silly. Now, if you had taken EMS to get to the ER, that might be a different story lol.

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
I had a guy when I worked obs who had stuck a tube into his urethra and sprayed WD-40 down Into it. He also self pierced his nipples during the same session. There were other oddities but those are the parts I remember.

Oh NO!!! I hate to even wonder why the WD40??

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