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 ?

a women who decided to have anal sex with her husband for the first time. she wa sore.

Hi Rainbow,

I don't think that it's a cynical attitude at all, but a realistic one. Yes we have created a dependent society w/no personal responsiblity encourage. Really, calling 911 for head lice is such an abuse of the system and such a downright stupid reason that the paramedics should have the right to refuse something if it isn't truly life threatening. Phone calls to the ER's are still free and any nurse would rather answer a nurse advice call rather than putting up with a head lice 'emergency'. Part of the problem, IMO, is this McDonald's mentality that TV shows, etc., have created. I want what I want when I want it, and I want it all now. It isn't fair to the kid who got hit by a car or the grandmother of 12 who's having a silent MI or that person who walked in to Triage and gasped "I think I'm having a heart attack". And codes on the ER cart faster than you can say "EKG".

And it's really not fair to the Triage nurse, who has to listen to these people who c/o 'waiting' too long for their head lice emergency in the Triage area. That's why security is there in front -- since the fine folks who utilize our McER have been known to be violent when 'precious' is c/o vomiting once yet running around in bare feet eating chips and drinking coke.

There's a running joke in our ER about the sickest people being the most considerate. The ones who are well enough to complain about every little thing are too healthy to be in the hospital in the first place and must be there to serve some other purpose, whether it's entertainment or a mental health issue or drug-seeking.

I'm not talking about those who have become among the many w/o health care. I'm talking about healthy people who aren't sick in the first place. It doesn't appear to be a regional problem but truly an issue that has a large impact on all of us, since our tax money is paying for this nonsense. We have our own collection of FF and just plain abuse the system folks here in Chicago, too.

OK, back to your regularly scheduled post. Didn't mean to hijack, just vent a little.

I recently started reading this thread. Most hospitals I have been in recently (I am a traveler) prohibit any phone advice, ergo we are deluged with ridiculous complaints spread amongst serious emergencies. Crazy system.:rolleyes:

Specializes in ER, Peds, Charge RN.

OK, so I finally have one. It's horrible.

My patient came to the ER because he almost fell, and almost twisted his leg. Almost. He tripped on the carpet in his house. Not the slightest injury, no pain at all.

His discharge instructions said for him to "be careful on carpeted areas."

Amazing.

You know, I just might be able to clear this one up for you all because when I worked in social services, I had a client tell me this. If you are pregnant and plan on applying for welfare, you have to have written proof that you are pregnant. So, these girls go to the ED, have the test done, get a note if it isn't already written on the discharge sheet, and turn it in with the application for aid. And since medi-cal/medicaid is usually retroactive for at least 30 days, the ED visit is covered.

what about planned parenthood, pregnancy resource center and plenty of other community resources that cen do it for free?!? and mostly on a walk in basis.

A couple enjoying some romance had a rough night many years ago in NYC. She had vaginismus and he had priapism.. Not funny in reality, dangerous for the man for sure, but surely not an everyday occurance!

:specs: :specs: I saw the same thing back in the early 80's. Called it "pelvic lock". Was having a horrible night in the ER and when this came in via ambulance it was almost impossible to keep a professional non-judgemental front. (It was TOTALLY BLACK HUMOR)....used valium to relieve the pelvic muscles. Haven't ever seen it again. We did manage to maintain pt. dignity though!:nurse:

"I s--t my pants"

Triage nurses response--" You dont know what a toilet is."

Rj:uhoh21:

How about this??? Get this guy in who says "I have a paper clip in my member". Says I "how did it get there?" Answer "I swallowed it". :chuckle :chuckle The stories are so crazy it sometimes makes everything else that happens tolerable.

Specializes in Rehab.
Here's another one...

20 y/o "Buffy" type sorority girl at an area university, comes in with the c/o "A bump down there and its tender", hx present x 2 mos.

External exam by the doc reveals nothing unusual or abnormal, as he palpates around she suddenly says "that's IT!"

He palpates again. "this?" he asked, with a slight flitter with his finger to make sure he was correct (never mind the WAY that happened)..

"yes, that" was the answer

He sat back, removed his gloves, took a deep breath, and said with every amount of composure he could muster...

"that's your privy parts. That's SUPPOSED to be there."

All I could think was...God bless her, some poor guy finally found it.

:rotfl:

:roll :roll :roll :roll :roll :roll

The first words out of half of patients with abdominal pain have to be, "Can I have something to eat?" And of course the hospital is all about patient satisfaction, so now we have a variety of meal trays delivered 3 times a day. Some of these patients even have the nerve to call dietary and order a special tray if they don't like what we have. We moved into a new ER about 2 years ago. All the rooms have TVs and phones. It's hard as hell to get some of these people to leave.

My son passed out at school 2 years ago from dehydration (poor thing was sick and din't say anything because it was finals week). He got an ambulance ride to the ER because it was school policy. I was pleasantly surprised to find the ER waiting room had a big screen TV and chairs that folded out. Once we were in the ER each bed had a small TV and a volunteer came around with sack lunches for the people who were waiting with the sick patients. Very nice indeed.

Specializes in Urgent Care.

Worst weirdest was a person that drank a cup of abrasive substance that wasn't supposed to be drank. Can't tell ya any more than that without violating HIPPA.

Not a HIPAA violation if you dont include pt identifying information. I am curious what was drunk?

Stupidest complaint I have ever seen was "hole in lady parts"...when we got a mirror so she could show us what she was talking about....it was her urethra!

Specializes in ER, NICU.

This may not seem ridiculous - but I think it is ridiculous to have a person

who has smoked 27 years, been diagnosed with emphysema and then come in and say: "I can't breathe".

Or a person who weighs 450 pounds come in and say: "I can't breathe when you lay me on my back".

Heelllloooo?????:crying2:

Stupidest complaint I have ever seen was "hole in lady parts"...when we got a mirror so she could show us what she was talking about....it was her urethra!

:banghead: :banghead: Too many people need an anatomy lesson....:o :o :o

I loved Burned Finger Lady last week. She was screaming and crying bloody murder b/c she touched a hot pan. Then she proceeeds to point out all of her burned fingers to me in triage. I was squinting and getting close and I still couldn't see any burn. Not a bit of redness or blanching and I know, I've burned myself a few too many times. :imbar

"and this one. this one. and this one here." I'm usually really sympathetic, but that drama was a little much for me.

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