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 ?

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".

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 Trauma, Teaching.

"I started antibiotics last night but I don't feel any better".

"I was at urgent care for my (skin rash), they gave me a steroid prescription but said not to fill it right away. My rash is worse." Didn't get the steroids. Did have a progression of sxs that ended up with IV steroids etc.

Specializes in ED.

It never ceases to amaze me what people think is an emergency!!!

early 20f....signs in for "sleepy"

It is almost midnight. She says her mom told her to come in because she is falling asleep while driving and she is 10-ish weeks pregnant and it isn't normal to be that sleepy while pregnant.

Wait.... WHUT?

I kinda went tough love with her and said that maybe she should be at home sleeping at 11:30 at night and not driving tonight or when she is too drowsy. She drove herself by the way. She also said she had to drive herself to work. I asked her if driving sleepy is a risk worth taking to put her life, my life and that of her unborn child in danger.

I was probably a bit snarky and definitely in "mom mode" but this girl wanted us to do something so she wasn't so sleepy.

That's pretty much allllll up to you, sweetie. All you!

Specializes in ER.

I thought I had heard it all, but this week I got the winner.

Man comes into the ER, with a letter. His wife had been to an immediate care center and they had referred her for a CT of whatever injury it was she had.

The letter was sensible, and clear, stating the imaging already done and the reason for referral.

Just one thing missing though.

"Sir, where is your wife?"

"Oh, she's at home, she's tired so she sent me instead."

:roflmao:

Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Pediatrics.

Pt and his adult daughter came to ED. Pt was stung by a bee prior to arriving, approx 30-45 min. Daughter encouraged him to let her bring him in so they could "find out if he's allergic to bees."

Gee...I think if you were, you would've had some type of symptoms by now?

Here's a few I can remember from the last FEW WEEKS:

- "My girl is having problems getting pregnant and she said my member smells so I'm here to see if I have sperm problems"

- "I cut my finger while cutting onions"... had what looked like the most superficial paper cut I've ever seen, no blood, nothing... the doctor literally put a bandaid on it. She waited almost 3 hours since we were drowning.

- Every female patient who comes in complaining of something and then casually adds "oh and if we could check if I'm pregnant that would be good" (when in reality that's probably the real reason they came in)

- "I've been coughing for at least 6 years" (smokes a pack a day)

- "My jaw has been locked for over 24 hours" (asks for a sandwich within 30 mins of getting there)

- Guy put a LOCK (the ones you used for your high school locker) around his member.... forgot the code and couldn't get it off. Ended up needing surgery.

- Girl said she noticed a "few drops of blood" when she wiped after urinating. When asked her LMP, she said "it started yesterday"... UMMM..... ?????

Specializes in ER.

This isn't a "ridiculous reason" story, but its the most entertainment I have had a on Tuesday afternoon for ages, so I'm sharing.

 

I was working the triage front desk yesterday, and just after lunch I noticed an elderly lady slowly making her way in through the doors to the ER.

I went to greet her and see how I could help. It turned out that she had just been discharged from the floor, and there was some confusion over her ride home, so she had been hanging out in the transport lounge for a couple hours and now wanted a nurse to find out what was happening.

She was a sweet little old lady, bent over her walker, and shuffling slowly along. Several phone calls later I sorted out her ride. I found a wheelchair and took it to her, saying that I would take her back to the transport lounge as soon as I found another nurse to cover triage while I was gone.

All of a sudden there is a driveby dropoff of two GSWs, two cars swoop by and dump two barely alive gentlemen in the driveway outside the ER. 

As is standard here, we call cops in case there is still a 'situation' and we might get caught in crossfire when we go out to retrieve them.

(Yes it happens, the last lot of bullet holes in the front door just got painted over last week,)

So I'm focused on keeping people away from doors and windows, while preparing two carts to go out and scoop.

Then the cops arrive. Loads of them.

 

Somewhere in the midst of all this, grandma saw the cops approaching and took off. The sweet little old lady who could barely shuffle along with her walker suddenly stood up, threw her walker over her shoulder and bolted out of the door and down the street. Like Olympic sprinter style bolting.

She never came back.

 

I guess grandma got warrants.

?????

 

Specializes in ER.

I had a patient come to ER for a broken toenail from stubbing her toe. 

I had someone come in for hurt feelings. 

Just kidding but I wouldn't be surprised. 

Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

"Pt states her boyfriend convinced her to 'eat his butthole' and has been having an itching sensation since 'maybe cause my boyfriends dirty or something.’ Pt did not wash face, came straight to ER. Pt also has a broken tooth she fears may be infected from boyfriends butthole. Pt got out of jail yesterday."

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