What not to say / do while you are in the ER...

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If you come in to be treated for a STD, don't hit on the nurse

Never ask a nurse when her baby is due, especially if she is NOT pregnant, and is holding a very large needle. :rotfl:

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

This one CP r/o MI was a beaut.

"I had to wait soooooo long in the ER!"

Maybe at Triage, because she was a direct admit who came up so fast she wasn't assigned till after she got into the room.

Got her admitted, fetched her a snack, waited on her hand and foot, did a fantastic teaching on the problem and its treatment options, etc, etc.

"Why can't I have a private room?"

"There are none."

"Why do I have to have an IV?"

"Because the doctor ordered it."

Veins like sewer pipes. I decide to be nice and use a 22 because she really might go home in a.m. and just needs a reseal.

Pt flinches, "Oww!" so I missed the vein--TWICE. :( Second time, I'm ready and somehow manage to keep the IV in, re-aim, stick the vein, and get a good return.

I'm thinking how amazing I am and patting myself on the back.

Pt says, "I think I would like a different nurse next time."

:(

I think of who's working and--not to brag--but I realize that I'm the best IV person on the unit tonight.

Oh, really? Go for it then, Baby.

I just shook my head and said, "You coulda done a lot worse, Lady," and left.

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My DON handed me a complaint to respond to. A "respected member of the community" had come in as an outpatient for a couple of units of blood. I escorted her and her entourage to the only available room, got them all drinks, and a fan because it was a hot day. I started the I.V., gave the blood as ordered and monitored her per protocol. Her statement said "I was taken to some room all the way down the hall by some slovenly orderly (I am an R.N. and she was told this and although scrubs aren't all that flattering, I have never been called slovenly!) Anyway, she went on to say that she was ignored way down there at the end of the hall. Did she not notice all of the other patients on her way down there? :uhoh3:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
My DON handed me a complaint to respond to. A "respected member of the community" had come in as an outpatient for a couple of units of blood. I escorted her and her entourage to the only available room, got them all drinks, and a fan because it was a hot day. I started the I.V., gave the blood as ordered and monitored her per protocol. Her statement said "I was taken to some room all the way down the hall by some slovenly orderly (I am an R.N. and she was told this and although scrubs aren't all that flattering, I have never been called slovenly!) Anyway, she went on to say that she was ignored way down there at the end of the hall. Did she not notice all of the other patients on her way down there? :uhoh3:

I took care of a patient who was a Mayor at that time and they treated me the same way, Needless to say I didnt vote for them again. But then I wouldnt have anyway as they were Republican

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Specializes in emergency nursing-ENPC, CATN, CEN.

one thing you should never say while working in the ed--"oops!"

anne :chuckle

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Got admitted to ER for a suspected DVT while 39 weeks pregnant. Basically sit and wait until they come back from lunch and do the tests. Starving, husband brings me vending machine food, Snickers and Tomato Juice. OK, I'm pregnant.

EMS rushes 85yo male in c/o chest pains, sob, tingling in L arm. Turns out vitals are stable. When asked what prompted symptoms and call to EMS, he replied, "My bowels haven't worked in three days and I thought you'd fix me faster if I made it sound like a heart attack".

Nurse turns and chews me out for eating a Snickers and not asking for food "appropriate to ur condition". Heck, I didn't know u could order food in ER!!

Turns out the male was a frequent flier, they were used to him, and his was p/o that "pregnant thing" is in my spot.

Gee, sorry I might actually have a medical problem.

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The wierd, funny, rude, strange- lets face it, they keep our job interesting.

So many stories to chose from...

30 something FF comes in. Had been obviously huffing some spray paint just prior to entering triage area as evidence by the gold paint around his mouth, nose, and bilat hands. Chief complaint is toothache. Its 0430 in the am- slow night so we bring him back to a room, barely able to keep from laughing directly at him because, lets face it, we all know what he wants. Pt is directed to his room and he immediatly asks to use the bathroom. While in the lue, he is trying franctically to wash the paint off- as though we haven't already seen it (should have thought about that a couple of minutes before). The doc enters the room upon the patients return, aware of the situation and is choice of color that night. The patient has the gall to ask for "30vicodin, 15 percocets, and 15 darvocets". When the doc and myself muffel our laughs and tell him "NO" he starts to yell "How am I to fill all my orders". I quess he was self employeed and needless to say escorted off the property. :rotfl:

Maybe we are as stupid as they think we are? Why else do they keep coming back!?!?!

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
well, in defense of those receiving Rocephin.....IT DOES BURN! Especially if it isn't mixed with lidocaine. I know nurses who use saline instead of lidocaine for IM injections.

Now, I totally agree with the "if you had kept your pants up in the first place I wouldn't be giving you this shot" statement. But maybe they know it burns!

Again, if they had kept their pants up, how would they know it burns? How many other times had pt been seen for same? -A

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I occasionally float to the ER. I usually get the old and broken, waiting for a bed on Ortho. One night, I was asked to assist with an internal on a woman with pelvic pain. BF in the room. (Did I say that all pelvics make me nevous? I had a few women deliver 20 weekers on me). So I am helping the doc get everything ready. A bit of a funny smell in the room, but OK here goes. Undies off, legs up!!!

GROSS.......

Huge purulent drainage, yellow green goo coming out. The worst smell ever. IM abx, teaching about wearing cotton undies and good pericare etc...

As they were leaving BF asks when can they get intimate again!!!!

I'm like, excuse me??? You want to stick what, where???

He goes on about how the only reason that they came in was that she was having pain while sharing an intimate moment. He didn't mind the smell so much, she has had them before.

Gag Moi with a spoon.

I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I just about puked right there.

Ohmigod! And that happened here? Ick. :chuckle

I'll PM you on Tuesday to catch you up! :D

Z

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Talk about wanting to just tell someone to get the hell out. People forget that they will soon be old like that to and hopefully they will not get sick all the time. I love the ED so much but I really hate some people. I understand that people mare nervous and dont know what the hell is going on, but come on. I remember that I had this 11/f c/o n/v and I felt bad because she was vomiting alot, everone in the world was either having an asthma attack or a heartattack, it was so busy I had no where to put her. Her mother thought that it would be a good idea to sit her right by the entrance doors, thinking that would get her in faster. I had to tell her numerous times to please move your daughter away from the door. Finally after 2 hours and calling me numerous names, I brought them back. Her mother was still cussing me out when I left and went back up to triage. I think it was like 2 weeks later and was working part time teaching a medical assisting program, can you belive that her mother was one of my new students. HAHAHAHA You know the first thing I said was people make sure that you always respect each other, we all know that people dont like to be treated badly when they are doing thier job:chuckle This is the kind of thing that happens when you live in a small town

I was involved in a code and this women burst into the room demanding food for her husband. Her husband was already seen treated admitted and awaiting a bed on the floor. When we told her to leave as we were really busy right now trying to save a life she yelled "I don't care if that person is dying, my husband is hungry" go figure :rolleyes:

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Talk about wanting to just tell someone to get the hell out. People forget that they will soon be old like that to and hopefully they will not get sick all the time. I love the ED so much but I really hate some people. I understand that people mare nervous and dont know what the hell is going on, but come on. I remember that I had this 11/f c/o n/v and I felt bad because she was vomiting alot, everone in the world was either having an asthma attack or a heartattack, it was so busy I had no where to put her. Her mother thought that it would be a good idea to sit her right by the entrance doors, thinking that would get her in faster. I had to tell her numerous times to please move your daughter away from the door. Finally after 2 hours and calling me numerous names, I brought them back. Her mother was still cussing me out when I left and went back up to triage. I think it was like 2 weeks later and was working part time teaching a medical assisting program, can you belive that her mother was one of my new students. HAHAHAHA You know the first thing I said was people make sure that you always respect each other, we all know that people dont like to be treated badly when they are doing thier job:chuckle This is the kind of thing that happens when you live in a small town

I was involved in a code and this women burst into the room demanding food for her husband. Her husband was already seen treated admitted and awaiting a bed on the floor. When we told her to leave as we were really busy right now trying to save a life she yelled "I don't care if that person is dying, my husband is hungry" go figure :rolleyes:

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Leaving would have been a bonus!!

We could not get them to go!!!!!

:crying2:

These people are the most frustrating.

I know they have the coping skills of a flea.

I know they have extremely limited reosurces.

We have given them every resource known to man...

Outpatient social worker set up medications to be brought to their apartment

Family Services set up counseling

Meals delivered daily...free

And they STILL KEEP COMNG BACK!!!

They did NOT get their narcs though (YEA)

:uhoh21:

Ok...I will try to stop venting...

Thanks

I have only begun to vent...I know pain patients are frustrating, and I know the drug-seekers are a pain, but sometimes it seems like both groups are lumped together. The previous post mentioned a patient leaving after hearing what dr. was working, now in that case it might be for the stated reason, but I know there are other reasons that this happens. I've left an ED after finding out which dr. is on because he's simply a jerk. In a small town where it's hard to get good doctors the ED, we have too many doctors who should have gave it up years ago. I left the ED that night because of this dr. who had previously seen my son in the ER after a football injury, refused to x-ray his hand which turned out to be broken. I literally put my own health at risk rather than be seen by a dr. I consider highly incompetent.

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