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 ?

Okay, I'm not an ED nurse, so I don't have so many of these funny stories, but here's one that our ED was going to admit to our last ICU bed... until someone down there turned on their brain.... :) (My guess is that the doc was going to admit the kid but a good ED RN at least talked them out of an ICU bed for him.) ;)

Anyway, this "kid" - I don't know how old, probably 19 or 20, had been out drinking on Friday and Saturday nights, and Saturday had taken a bunch of Tylenol as well. Sunday his friend who he had been drinking with and who had also taken Tylenol ends up in the hospital with acute liver failure. So on Monday night, even though he felt fine, he and his mom decided that it was time to go to the ED to get checked out. So a full 48 hours after the fact, it was an emergency. His LFT's were normal, vitals rock solid stable - yet they were going to admit him to the ICU. We were already having to turf some other less stable patients to telemetry, because we didn't have beds or staff... so luckily I think they decided that they could send him home - not even admit him to med-surg to watch overnight.

The most ridiculous complaint that I have heard in the ER was when a early 20 year old F came into the ER via squad stating she "stubbed" her toe. Then when I refused to authorize a squad to take her back home she got very angry and started shouting using profanity! She later called a friend to come and get her.:uhoh3:

and do 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 :)

19 y/o no hx constipated for 1 day! No sh&* and no tx from OTC

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

:rotfl: A man who had a fish hook stuck in his finger. Before entering the ER he noticed that his fly was open. He pulled his zipper up and then his finger was hooked in the zipper. He came walking in with his finger stuck in his fly and his face was very red !! We all, including the patient, had a good laugh !!!

Yesterday a girl came if because the ACRYLIC nail had cracked. It was just starting to get into her real nail, no pain. Next thing you know they will be coming in for pedicures!!! :rotfl:

Where I used to work we had a female take an ambulance to the ED for belly pain, exam done (neg), felt better, stated she was hungry, was fed and several hours later walked a short distance to the cinema in time for the movie to start. That's what you can do if you don't have cab fare for both ways I guess.

a hang nail with no c/o pain. he could have at least said it hurt :)

Yesterday a girl came if because the ACRYLIC nail had cracked. It was just starting to get into her real nail, no pain. Next thing you know they will be coming in for pedicures!!! :rotfl:

Where I used to work we had a female take an ambulance to the ED for belly pain, exam done (neg), felt better, stated she was hungry, was fed and several hours later walked a short distance to the cinema in time for the movie to start. That's what you can do if you don't have cab fare for both ways I guess.

a hang nail with no c/o pain. he could have at least said it hurt :)

Young lady called and stated that she was seen over a month ago and had lost her RX for Vicodin. After cussing out the clerk she asked me if I could call her vicodin RX in (guess she was looking for a sucker) I said Nope..she said F%* You!....I just laughed...because we have caller ID with names...

New Years day 19h30. Complaint: "Sr. I have had this cold for three weeks and now I can't take it any more. Please can you help me?"

New Years day 19h30. Complaint: "Sr. I have had this cold for three weeks and now I can't take it any more. Please can you help me?"

How about a 42 yo female with psych hx came in at 0200 for a complaint of "My bones are leaking."

How about a 42 yo female with psych hx came in at 0200 for a complaint of "My bones are leaking."

Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.

This one turned out to be ridiculous, I think, but at the time---------

A friend of my son's came tearing up to the house--my teen-ager had hit a telephone pole riding his bike down a steep hill. I drove over, picked him and his bike up and took him to the ED for a huge splinter in a knuckle. (Left the bike in our yard and nearly gave my dh a heart attack). When the ED doc got out her forceps to determine how deep the splinter went in, it fell out into her lap. I felt a little foolish. :imbar

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