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 ?

Had a mom bring her son in today with 4 mosquito bites on her arm. And she knew they were mosquito bites....

I once had a whole family come into triage when I was a student during my ER rotation. They all complained of very benign things.

Minor back pain for the past 4 weeks for mom, fatigue around the menstrual cycle for the daughter, and dad came because he thought his BP was too high. It wasn't.

Mind you, they all requested to be triaged at the same time as the others, even when we asked them to leave to allow privacy. They all took turns in the chair, and then just stood by in the tiny triage area while the next family member reported their minor complaints.

I'm assuming they also expected the doctor to see them at the same time as well. Who knows. They left after only waiting 3 hours in the waiting room.

Specializes in Nurse Résumés, Emergency Medicine.

November 2nd...patient comes to the ED with vampire teeth prosthetics still adhered to her teeth! She threw away the package and could not release the adhesive.

Earring removal. Not recently pierced, not infected, no obvious trauma or problem. Just apparently could not get said earring off ear.

treatment in triage-

me: can you try to show me what happens if you try to take it off

her: *slips earring off*

me: ok, so it looks like the problem is fixed.

..... smh

My favorite has to do with me. I was in the ER twice in 3 days for anaphylaxis. No problems there. Very valid reason to go, and they couldn't triage me fast enough. Nope, the problem was my job trying to say it wasn't an anaphylactic reaction ignoring the paperwork from 2 ER visits and my pcp saying it was.

Mosquito bites, bug bites, toe pain, feeling tired and sleepy...

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, ER.

My fav for stupidity was this: 18 year old female shows up -her chief complaint is "my tongue is black" It was about 0300 and after I put her in a room she hands me card and asked me call her parole officer and let him know she was in the ED. I go back out to the desk and tell the other nurse evidently louder than I should of "you are not going to believe this one"! I did attempt to call the P.O. with no answer About this time she comes to the desk and said since you don't believe me I am leaving! I handed her the P.O. 's card back I said sorry no answer.

"We can't fix stupid but we can sedate it'. My favorite

We had a frequent flyer who came in per EMS on a back board for "severe back pain." Took 4 of us to lift her onto the cart. Told her I'd be back in a few minutes gave a call light and went back to my patient in room next to her. In about three minutes she managed to get the neck brace and all the straps off walked into the room I am in and says "could you get me a glass of ice and a soda? I wanted so bad to say it took four people to lift your fat ass off the cart and you want a fricking soda! And after while she asks for a snack. It is amazing they come in by EMS but can always find a way home. Oh well life goes on when you have "the magic card".

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, ER.

Probably get one at Dollar General for $2.00

A paper cut, demanding sutures.

Had a pt brought in by ambulance for a hemorrhoid. Even dragged her adult son out of bed so she wouldn't have to walk home alone afterwards

Young male pt came in complaining of bilat cyanotic hands. No poor circulation or cold or anything, just...blue.

Turns out he just got new jeans and the dye was rubbing onto his hands.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Scrub_in_scrubs said:
Young male pt came in complaining of bilat cyanotic hands. No poor circulation or cold or anything, just...blue.

Turns out he just got new jeans and the dye was rubbing onto his hands.

Did he come back after he took his jeans off with cyanotic legs?

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