Priorities.....

A mother calls 911 on her cell phone this weekend at 3 am because her daughter has a fever and she can not afford ibuprofen or Tylenol. 911 arrives and explains that they do not carry those medications on the ambulance.. she then demands to be transported to my hospital so she can get the medication.

She arrives with child whose Temp was 99.1 and sound asleep. She immediately demands the medications and also a PRESCRIPTION for more ibuprofen and Tylenol. Why the prescription? Because here in this state welfare will pay for it if it is written on a prescription pad.

Of course as she is making these demands she is rummaging thru her Gucci purse with her manicured nails for her cell phone! And people wonder why ER nurses are so cranky...

I can't imagine....

Illinois child badly hurt, hit by ambulance

Story Published: Apr 20, 2008 at 1:17 PM PDT
By Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A 7-year-old boy is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries in Springfield, Illinois, after being hit by an ambulance. Springfield police say the child was riding his bike Saturday night when he was struck. The ambulance was not on a call at the time. The crew stopped, administered first aid and rushed the boy to the hospital.

Boys vs Girls

Last weekend was drunk teens in the ER.

Most of the males I get a kick out of.. usually the boys are full of bravado one minute, flirting with any female breathing the next, to at some point wanting their moms . These young studs throw out under-developed come on lines, and display those innocent trying to be the player smiles.. I really don't mind taking care of them and they usually are able to get a smile out of me with their antics.

On the other hand drunk teenage girls are a nightmare... their erratic behavior runs the gamut from hysterical emotional crying, to hair pulling, spitting, name calling, possessed brats. They want to fight anyone and everything. They want everything their way and if not they like to threaten and throw out that infamous line "You don't know who my dad/mom is.... your going to pay for this.." To which I usually respond that they are right I don't know who their parents are, nor do I care and it is her parents that are going to pay..and pay big cause an ER visit is not cheap.

Most teens don't realize that once they cross my ER doors their parents can't save them. If they are deemed at risk for self harm or threaten harm to others we as healthcare workers are bound by law to keep them and everyone else safe.. whether that is with chemical or physical restraints or with the assistance of law enforcement.

But as I always say ER nurses always get even with those patients that push too far or make the big mistake of attempting to dictate their care with threats.. nothing feels better than cutting off $150 jeans ... necessary of course in order to do a thorough physical exam.. and I am always thorough!

Out of the mouth of babes...

My son asked me one time how many penises I had seen

in my career as a nurse.....

Yep that sounds about right...

You blog also?

So I recently found out that one of our ER Drs also has a blog...

Not a bad thing except he blogs while he works. He sees a patient and then runs back to his laptop. He is even worse when the pt complaint is benign like a headache, toothache or generally is a gomer.

I don't think we are suppose to know that he has one.. as there have been several postings with critical comments about certain nurses. None yet about me, but I am not fooling myself that my day isn't coming.

Until then I debate whether I should tell him I know about his hobby and that he should do a better job concealing the ID of the people he complains about... or just keep it to myself until I need leverage??

Hmm evil ER nurse what do you think?

Ticket anyone?

This weekend we generously provided entertainment for our ER guests in the form of Meth Heads.

Meth users (Tweakers) are a whole different type of patient than the usual gomers that clog my beds. Meth users are usually brought in by police after their paranoid behavior has scared your Average Joe and they called 911 to get them dealt with. Or by families that are in fear of losing their loved one from the extreme weight loss, physical deterioration,depression or during one of their crimes sprees that support their habit.

Tweakers are not easy patients to take care of. Almost 100% end up in restraints for their own safety and ours. They are extremely paranoid, psychotic, have gone days without sleep, are aggressive and confused. They are convinced that everyone is out to get them, including the patients next to them. They hide behind the curtains and doors to their rooms and skittish when you make a movement towards them. They hear voices and see the boogy man around every corner.

There is nothing I can give a tweaker to reverse their symptoms except time. Don't get me wrong I can always sedate them,but by the time they cross my ER threshold they are in the advanced stages of addiction and the damage they have done to their brains is permanent, not to mention what they have done to their appearance..meth mouth, mite-bites all over their skin, and the dramatic weight loss.


Even if I were to sedate them, when it wore off they would still be in the same condition. It can take months to years for their dopamine and other neurotransmitters to start working again. They will spend that time in severe depression,have parkinson's like symptom, at high risk for suicide and relapse.

What makes this drug so hideous is that people get hooked from the first hit because of the huge rush/high they get. But what is used to make this drug destroys the pleasure center in the brain. Plummenting these addicts into deep despair, causing them to use more and more Meth more often to try and achieve that first high and pull themselves out of the hell they find themselves in. A viscious cycle that goes round and round.

It is during this cycle that they come to our ER, and sadly entertain my other patients. I wish during these shows I could gather together the communities youth so they can see how glamorous and cool this drug is. Line up the chairs and hand out the popcorn.. I guarantee the drug use would go down.

Methamphetamine Ingredients

Lye-Ether-Iodine-Draino-Ephedrine-Battery Acid-Paint Thinner-Brake/Lighter Fluid-Acetone-Amnonia-Red Phosphorous(road flares)-Lithium Batteries-Cold Medicine

911-What is your emergency?

When you call 911 because Grandma is having a heart attack you expect Paramedics/FF to be there within minutes. That is not always the case... The reason... because someone is having DENTAL PAIN and has called 911 to transport them to my ER!

I wish I was kidding but I am not. I have seen this time and time again, people calling 911 for the most stupid reasons. Most of the times these patients also fall within the same demographics.. state assistance, a litter of kids, unemployed, alcohol and drug issues and lacking in both common sense and education . Basically those mucking up the gene pool.

Some of the reasons I have seen people call 911 and get brought in....

*Dental Pain *Constipation *Ingrown Nail

*Ear Pain (in a child) *Cold symptoms *STD check

*Sore Throat * Hiccups *Boils/Wound Check

I have also seen people call 911 with a "medical issue", get transported in and the minute they cross the ER doors hop off the gurney stating all better and walk out. They simply wanted a ride to this part of town, this happens alot when the county fair is happening.

It is the policy of the local fire department to transport anyone that calls to the ER if that is their request no matter how minor or stupid the medical complaint even during the day when walk in clinics are open, and all on the tax payers dime!!

There lies the problem.. there are no consequences to abusing 911. They can't be penalized for being lazy or moronic. But if we started charging them for transporting of non medical emergencies to the hospital I think it would drastically reduce these calls.

And that is a win win situation all around. Grandma will get immediate care and transport. The tax payers will be saved money and there will be less idiots in my ER beds, meaning I can finally get my breaks... I wonder if 911 does meal runs?

Broken Trust...

Girl dies of treatable illness after parents
pick prayer over medicine.

By ROBERT IMRIE, Associated Press Writer
WESTON, Wis. (AP) - Police are investigating an 11-year-old girl's death from an undiagnosed, treatable form of diabetes after her parents chose to pray for her rather than take her to a doctor.An autopsy showed Madeline Neumann died Sunday from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that left too little insulin in her body, Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said.She had probably been ill for about a month, suffering symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness, the chief said Wednesday, noting that he expects to complete the investigation by Friday and forward the results to the district attorney.The girl's mother, Leilani Neumann, said the family believes in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but she said they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors.

Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic nun "It's the greatest poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."

As I read this story I immediately was flooded with so many emotions. Anger at the parents for not getting their baby help with a disease that is so easily dealt with. Angry that family members did not call 911 sooner. The paramedics could have started her treatment right there in the house and transported her to the ER with the help of the Weston police. Frustrated that another child died because their care was in the hands of adults who put their own beliefs above the interests and rights of the child. Sadness for the family/parents of Madeline for having to deal with her loss, and know that they are responsible. And of course immense heartbreak for the loss of innocent sick Madeline who had all her trust in these adults to protect her and keep her safe and died knowing they failed her.

While I myself do not believe in organized religion or God, I respect that others do. I understand that when it comes to healthcare there are various ideas in the role religion and God play. I respect and understand that there are various types of healing based on faith, culture and traditions. I believe that they all can go hand in hand with modern medicine but not in place of it. We have seen this scenario play out time and time again and in the majority of cases the end result has been fatal. In most of these cases it has involved children in the hands of fanatical parents. At what point does society say enough and step in and protect these children's lives and rights? Since when does the parent's right to freedom of religion super cede the child's right to live?

Two questions that need answering soon, because in not having those answers we as a society are responsible for this broken trust and these lost lives.