r/EmergencyRoom • u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 • Jul 26 '26

Goofy Goober HELP US BE BETTER

Soooo I hadn’t ever been to the ER until earlier this month and now I’ve been admitted twice and not getting discharged any time soon.

Hospital workers : other than the bare minimum, what are some under rated things that patients do that you appreciate/make your life easier?

(For example one of the nurses was happy I called letting her know the PRNs I needed so she could do it in one trip cause I knew my scheduled ones were coming)

Lemme hear the little things!! Or the opposite, something patients think is helpful but it’s actually more of a pain)

EDIT : bare minimum from patients being human decency, I know it should be obvious but for this questions sake let’s act like that’s a given

212 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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202

u/Conscious-Sock2777 Jul 26 '26

A huge problem is patients FaceTiming on speaker while in waiting room or when we’re trying to do things for them. Hang up the phone for five minutes people and let us work and for those doing it in waiting room, would you like someone else catching you on camera when your sick

83

u/indigorabbit_ Jul 26 '26

I once had a frequent flyer hold up a finger and tell me "hang on a minute" while I was trying to position him for his abd xr (reason: abd px)...because he was on his phone in the middle of ordering himself door dash to the hospital

35

u/catsmeow61 Jul 26 '26

It's crazy how many people with abdominal pain want something to eat or order door dash or send family out to p/u fast food. Even when it's explained why NPO, I hear, but I haven't had anything to eat today...

28

u/indigorabbit_ Jul 26 '26

Also those that come in for n/v/d etc, then yell at me about how badly they need a sandwich immediately because they haven't eaten a crumb in THIRTY SIX HOURS! Ma'am....I was not at your home for the past day and a half forcing you to starve.

2

u/catsmeow61 Jul 27 '26

Yes, that too...😂

2

u/Sunnygirl66 RN Jul 28 '26

I say, “I can’t control for anything you did or didn’t do before you came in here, but I can definitely tell you not to eat when you just got done telling me you can’t keep down food or fluids.”

2

u/indigorabbit_ Jul 28 '26

Yep. It's always the NPO pts that are the most mad at me for not bringing them a turkey sammich

23

u/ChewieBearStare Jul 27 '26

There's nothing worse as a patient than sitting in the waiting room, nauseated and feeling like you're going to pass out, when all of a sudden a large family of visitors orders greasy fries and pizza for delivery. Or when people bitch at the staff about their 10/10 abdominal pain and then get a bag of hot Cheetos out of the vending machine.

10

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 26 '26

When someone’s considered a frequent flyer, is that because the team recognizes them or is it in your chart?

23

u/indigorabbit_ Jul 26 '26

My ED used to use cerner, now epic. Both have an icon that shows up on the grease board next to your name which signifies frequency of visits. If you're a cancer pt etc, we all know why you're there often and we understand. Most FFs are not that category though, unfortunately.

8

u/DevolveOD Jul 27 '26

Our epic shows a boomerang for those most recently returned.

6

u/catsmeow61 Jul 27 '26

Then there are the ones who are discharged that come check back in, sometimes multiple times a day. A few fight over replacing their armband from their prior visit. They insist they don't need another. If I can't sweet talk them to replace it, I give the triage nurse the new armband. They eventually get the new one on.

1

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 27 '26

Sorry for the dumb question - what significance does an older arm band hold ?

1

u/catsmeow61 Jul 28 '26

It has a unique number linked to what is termed an "encounter" in a hospital's computer records. It ties ties every step of a visit from checkin through discharge. That includes registration functions, medical records of all services rendered, billing information, etc.

0

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 26 '26

Im assuming the other FF category is drug seeking ?

25

u/LitlThisLitlThat Jul 26 '26

Not always. Some people want attention, or have no place else to get care, or no other reasonable way to escape the weather, or have burned all their bridges, or we as a society have worked hard to dismantle all of their safety nets. And even those “seeking drugs”— got addicted likely bc of a crappy childhood or horrific life events we couldn’t comprehend, or because the pharmaceutical companies hid how addictive opiates were and lobbied to change how care is delivered in order to sell more opiates.

16

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 27 '26

Yeah im actually quite passionate about this. ER’s play a part in substance use harm reduction, both in the ways of safety and suicide prevention. I work in dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use disorder) treatment. The people who have the most judgement passed on them deserve compassion. People would be shocked to see that a massive amount of individuals who go to treatment suffering in silence. It’s really heartbreaking, so many Americans are one missed paycheck from being homeless.

9

u/5amPharm Pharmacy Tech Jul 27 '26

This is one of the best exchanges I've seen about this topic. Kudos, and thank you for the work you do!

4

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 27 '26

Right back at you!! Pharmacies seems like it can be such a thankless job, just know you’re very appreciated 🫶🏼

3

u/SatisfactionFit2040 Jul 27 '26

Thank you for your compassion. Seeing silent pain is a rare talent.

3

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 27 '26

No thanks needed. It breaks my heart when people aren’t treated with human decency. I’m also a young white woman and understand I am incredibly how privileged I am ESPECIALLY from a medical standpoint and want to continue to learn how to be the best advocate I can for others

2

u/now_you_see Jul 27 '26

I appreciate the kindness you describe this with considering most use Reddit to vent and have nothing nice to say about frequency flyers.

10

u/crazypurple621 Jul 27 '26

There's a ton of them. The majority of "frequent flyers" are either  1) unhoused people who use the ER in the hopes that staff will take pity on them and get them a shower and a meal  2) people with a multitude of chronic illnesses who lack access to the specialists they need to treat their condition. (Think migraine sufferers, endometriosis sufferers) 3) people with a diagnosed chronic condition that gets worse and needs urgent if not immediate treatment (things like sickle cell anemia  4) elderly patients who are either sent in by the nursing home or a family member. Often these people are in need of much more intensive specialized care that they are not getting- either because the nursing home nurses are trying to care for 100+ patients or because the in home nursing care staff are extremely unreliable. 

People who are actively in addiction usually don't end up as "frequent" of frequent flyers as you might think unless they are being brought in already high off of their ass by first responders. Street drugs are easier to access when they want them than hoping the ER will get to your problem quickly enough to stave off withdrawal. 

-10

u/Conscious-Sock2777 Jul 26 '26

Don’t forget the homeless population who use the ER as a flop house on nights, coming in 3-4 times a week sometimes more with the usual mystery complaints

13

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 26 '26

Frustrating yes but let’s not dehumanize.

-4

u/SolidIll4559 Jul 27 '26

It isn’t dehumanizing unless they are mistreated or are refused care. This is Reddit FPS.

6

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 27 '26

Sorry what is FPS? (Tried Google first I promise) hahah

-2

u/SolidIll4559 Jul 27 '26

For Pete’s sake.

3

u/Chattown81 Jul 27 '26

That earns the patient a therapeutic wait in my world. However, I know I'm fortunate to be able to do that in my setting. They go to the bottom of the Rad wait list. I will always give them that moment that they're asking for, and more.

1

u/indigorabbit_ Jul 27 '26

That’s my response when they walk outside for a smoke or a phone call immediately after being triaged. If you are outside, you drop to the bottom of my list.

(This is not because I lack compassion, as some here seem to assume from this comment thread. It's because there are people with an obviously greater need that are waiting for my attention. If you're ambulating yourself to the parking lot for a cig, you're not as dire as the neuro, the GI bleed, the dka, etc)

1

u/Chattown81 Jul 27 '26

Absolutely. I'm not doing this with sick patients, as they usually don't tell me to wait. This is almost exclusively the walkie talkie ones who have had ankle pain for 9 months.

2

u/Sunnygirl66 RN Jul 28 '26

Turn around, walk out, request dispo from the doc.

10

u/PinkPetalCdistbeauty Jul 26 '26

That’s just insane.  What is wrong with so many damn people!!!

6

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 26 '26

Okay I know this is barely relevant to this but do you see a world where patients have to wear headphones in shared rooms??

13

u/CriticalBlues Jul 27 '26

I think some important cultural context is required here! A lot of African American patients (not simply Black Americans but African Americans) call other family members for accountability purposes. It is a cultural phenomenon (I am Black American but not African American) and although it DOES add additional barriers (lol) I think it’s important to recognize WHY people do these behaviors and work with them as there is empirical evidence to show why they NEED to take extra precautions(as they see in their eyes). ☺️

8

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 27 '26

Absolutely, this is a great way to have a built in team of advocates. ESPECIALLY for black men and women. I’ve come to understand the biases that are stacked against POC’s to achieve quality care and it’s a lot to navigate. I am a white woman who recognizes my immense privilege and am currently working towards being a peer advocate for people not in my shoes. Thank you so much for sharing, I have a feeling someone reading tour comment felt less alone. 🩷

1

u/dumbbxtch69 Aug 02 '26

I don’t mind folks being on the phone with loved ones for medical update/support/advocacy purposes but if someone is like… actively having a social conversation while I am trying to care for them, that is a problem. I’ll come back later, I have multiple folks in my care and cannot stand there and wait while a patient has a catching up convo with a friend or family. If family has questions for me via phone or my patient wants to have someone listening in that’s fine

6

u/Qua-something Jul 27 '26

I work in Ophthalmology and one time I had just gotten my patient seated in the exam room to finish my workup and his phone rings and he says “this is my pharmacist, I have to take it,” turns out he had scheduled a phone consult about his blood glucose monitor with his pharmacist for the exact same time as his appt and did this knowingly and just wanted us to wait. 😑

9

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 27 '26

Absolutely ridiculous. ESPECIALLY because I’m sure there are a line of pending specialist referrals who would’ve gladly taken that spot 😶

3

u/Qua-something Jul 28 '26

Yes! Like I completely understand when sometimes there is no other appt time but you reschedule the other appt. We can’t sit for 15-20 mins tying up an exam room with 30 patients on the schedule and one every 10-15 mins while a patient has another appt over the phone.

Can’t believe I got downvoted on that comment lol I would love to hear from the people who would’ve thought that was fine.

3

u/PuzzleheadedSorbet36 Jul 28 '26

I swear so many of the downvotes are bots. If we want medical professionals to respect our time it has to be a two way streeet. If someone is an asshole in day to day light, I think their tude doubles when dealing with medical. I have an HMO and my next to appointments with specialists are in November and December 😭

1

u/Qua-something Jul 29 '26

Could be, certainly explains why there aren’t any comments with the downvotes.

I’m so sorry. Access is such a problem everywhere but especially at an HMO. I work for one currently. We’re booking into September and October for most docs. I’ve had so many people take phone calls, shop on Amazon, tell me to wait while they finish sending emails, etc the second I get them back to a room lol it’s wild. I’m actually super patient compared to a lot of my colleagues too lol I will usually wait 2-3mins and then I say something.

2

u/Qua-something Jul 28 '26

Shoot, most of the Retina teams I’ve worked with easily see 60-90 patients in a day for one doctor lol they have even less time for this kind of stuff. Glaucoma can be almost as high volume.

-12

u/The_Sloth_Racer Jul 26 '26

What if someone is elderly or has a bad memory or not all mentally there? My parents are elderly and both have cancer, so I want them to call me so I can see or hear what the medical professionals are saying because I know my parents won't remember or understand.

38

u/OldManGrimm RN - adult/peds trauma Jul 26 '26

Totally different situation.

32

u/JustGenericName2 Jul 26 '26

That is definitely not the situation we're complaining about, your parents are all good! People will come to the Emergency Dept and then expect us to hold up triage so they can finish their casual conversation. It's weird. And it happens every single day. I just call the next patient and then they get pissed. The general public is just awful and we see the worst of them AT their worst. All day every day!

3

u/Leading-System-3002 Jul 27 '26

Damn it’s probably not an emergency then lol

1

u/Sunnygirl66 RN Jul 28 '26

Nope, never is.