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 ?

[Balder_LPN, LPN]

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?

[ernurse728, LPN]

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!

[Jerico, BSN, RN]

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?????

[scampi710]

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

[Fraggle]

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.

[Molly_RN, BSN, RN]

yes, we get all the stupid complaints, but the worst is from our local "skilled" nursing facility......no offense to those who work LTC but..

got the call from the charge nurse mid afternoon that they were sending over a pt who is "lethargic" pt is a DNR

pt arrived by EMS seconds later(as facility is across parking lot) apparently lethargic is another term for dead!!!!!

[atmrn]

How 'bout an EMS ride for a "herpes outbreak"!!, or another EMS ride because her car broke down as she was on her way to the pharmacy to get her narcotics refilled (so she called EMS on her cellphone to take her to the ER so she could get drugs here), or coming to the ER for being suicidal for 26 years, or having a foreign body to your foot for 3 years, or "my baby cries when I put her down", or erectile dysfunction for 6 months....just to name a few. whew......now I feel better....

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

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.

Whats life in the ER without all those little Drama Queens and Drama Kings

[dogsrbarking]

What do you all know about blood bank nursing? Please do share. Thanks, The Dogs are screaming

[Jerico, BSN, RN]

A woman brought her 8 year old son in because he had "smashed his fingernail". The end of this kid's finger was barely blanched and reddened .

Of course I could have been a bit "biased" BECAUSE:

At the time, my left middle finger nail was BLACK because I'd been putting some metal shelves together about six weeks before and managed to get my finger between two of the metal shelves when I was whacking the living HELL (when I say whacking the living HELL I mean FULL arm swings with all the muscle I have in my upper body) out of the connectors of the shelves with a hammer. The PAIN was so bad I staggered over to my bed and fell over sideways because I thought I was going to pass out!

:crying2:

I held up my finger to the Mom and said: "THIS is a mashed finger...THIS - (indicating the son's finger) - is NOT and a visit to this ER to have a doctor look at it is going to cost you about $600." She said she'd "wait and see the pediatrician the next day...."

[Jerico, BSN, RN]

I love it when someone comes in and says:

"I've had this or that....for about two weeks....".

Oh, PLEEEAASSSEE - did you NOT have time for your EMERGENCY until NOW??

[EDValerieRN, ASN, RN]

I had a nursing home send a patient to me for "High K."

The K was 4.0.