What are your pet peeves?

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What do you hate to see/hear the most?

Mine:

1. Ambulances for clearly non-emergent conditions (my personal most notables are of dental pain and a "possible UTI" but I know they're used for far more silly complaints than that. Just the two I've seen myself).

2. Chief complaint of fever, yet they have not so much as taken a temp at home, and if so, even taken tylenol or ibuprofen

3. Mom who brings in all 3 kids because they all have colds at the same time.

4. I'm allergic to tylenol, ibuprofen, codeine, aspirin, hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and zofran. All of them have caused anaphylaxis.

5. The patient that claims their police report PROVES their medications were stolen.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

2. Chief complaint of fever, yet they have not so much as taken a temp at home, and if so, even taken tylenol or ibuprofen

This. It drives me crazy when we ask the parents if they gave tylenol or anything and they flat out say "thats what you guys are for". They get started with dosing education at that moment. Plus the whole concept of fevers is a little ridiculous. OMG a slight fever off to the hospital. A fever can be a good thing!

The other night too we had a group of friends that came at the same time. 3 of them. All very random complaints that wanted to be seen. One of them even told me she was just there because her friend was. I swear the ED attracts and interesting population at times.

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#4

and when patiens call in ambulance and use it as a taxi, or so they can get seen sooner, so they think.

and patients who claim to have chest pain in order to get seen quicker!!!

Last one... busy day and no coffee, creamer, or splenda in the break room.

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This. It drives me crazy when we ask the parents if they gave tylenol or anything and they flat out say "thats what you guys are for". They get started with dosing education at that moment. Plus the whole concept of fevers is a little ridiculous. OMG a slight fever off to the hospital. A fever can be a good thing!

The other night too we had a group of friends that came at the same time. 3 of them. All very random complaints that wanted to be seen. One of them even told me she was just there because her friend was. I swear the ED attracts and interesting population at times.

Yeah, I don't get the concept of people giving something for every fever. I think our pediatrician doesn't even really encourage meds until you're at least 102. By treating the fever, you're not allowing the immune system to do what it's supposed to do.

Speaking of meds, it also drives me nuts that we have some doctors who will give scrips for the tylenol and ibuprofen so the patient's "insurance" will pay for it. You just came to the ER for free and you can't so much as dig out $5 out of your own pocket?

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Specializes in Emergency.

My pet peeve is seeing a great 18 gauge IV and then someone is using microbore tubing with it. Doesn't make sense.

I too get many fever complaints, but no verifiable temp taken or meds given. Drives me nuts! I tell the parents that Dollar Tree has both Tylenol and Advil and write out the genetic names for them.

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When pts come in and they have no clue about their medical history or medications (when they are highly capable). I understand when you come in via EMS for a true emergency the last thing on your mind would be to grab a med list. But it drives me CRAZY when people say things, such as, "I take a little white pill, I think it's for my blood pressure"...do they actually think we are supposed to know??? Or...when they no longer have a heart condition, HTN, or high cholesterol because they are on medication for it, therefore they no longer have xyz. Or when asking surgical hx and I get a response like "stomach surgery", or "nothing important" can you please elaborate on that please!!! Too many pet peeves to list them all lol, I could go on for hours.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.
When pts come in and they have no clue about their medical history or medications (when they are highly capable).

I just took hubby to our ER for a slashed finger and I was almost completely baffled by the question about his current meds. I usually print his list when we go to the doc but with the gushing blood and all. Just saying.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I just took hubby to our ER for a slashed finger and I was almost completely baffled by the question about his current meds. I usually print his list when we go to the doc but with the gushing blood and all. Just saying.

No disrespect intended but if you have "a list" of meds so long that it needs to be printed then we really like to know about them. Especially those anti-coagulants. We do a med rec on every patient.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.
No disrespect intended but if you have "a list" of meds so long that it needs to be printed then we really like to know about them. Especially those anti-coagulants. We do a med rec on every patient.

Understood, if the list was 20 long, I'd keep it with me. But no, it's like 5 long and I'm just saying even an educated, 20+ year medical professional such as myself can get rattled.

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Specializes in ER.

"...and I have a really high pain tolerance." You and half the population say that.

"it's that little pink pill..."

"the kind of insulin you get in the pen, I don't know the name..."

"37 is a fever for me, my temp is usually 35."

"they always need a butterfly for me"

"how long is the wait?"

"unbearable...severe...I can't even breathe...get me a wheelchair" from someone who walked in from the parking lot without visible trouble

Anyone who thinks they should go first that has a fresh coffee in their hand.

Family that answer for the patient, especially if the question is "rate your pain from 1 to 10."

Family that pile in the triage booth five at a time, and everyone gives their opinion, at the same time.

"I need to lie down, right now." or "I'm going to pass out" with normal vitals, when there are four people saying the same thing, and ONE triage stretcher that needs to be saved for the nearly dead.

There are exceptions to every single one of these complaints, about 2% of the time. They keep me humble. But 98% of the time...arghh.

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My pet peeves:

-How long is the wait?

-How many people are in front of me?

-I need a medicaid cab back home (after coming to ER via ambulance for toe pain X 1 year)

-I can't breathe! (As they are yelling to the top of their lungs)

-I have 10/10 pain (while on the phone, laughing, chatting with other pts in the waiting room)

-I've been having this issue for 2 months (what makes it an emergency at 0300 AM on a Saturday night?)

-I need a bus pass (after observed outside smoking and buying coffee from the vending machine)

Just the ones from the top of my head right now. But I have plenty.

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Specializes in Emergency.

"Am I going to be admitted?" As patient walks into the room. One of these days I'm going to just say exactly what I'm thinking. Which is. How the hell am I supposed to know? Why don't you tell me what you're doing here.. And we'll just take it from there? Sigh. Also. "I'm diabetic and I need to eat now." How about well.. You just walked in, and your glucose is 400- I think you can afford to wait. If I said everything out loud that goes on in my head I'd probably be out of a job by now. Love my job but I guess there are just some truths that are universal to ERs everywhere- and they can really get on a nurse's last nerve!!

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