June 2, 2011 with 22 Comments

355.

Things I don’t want to Hear in the ER

People wonder about my life in the ER.

What kinds of patients do I see? Is it anything like TV? Do I ever get scared?

The truth is that most ER doctors don’t get scared very much. We like to think of ourselves as cowboys. Throw anything at us – we’ll fix it, keep it, or kick it.

But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to concede that there are in fact a handful of things that do scare the daylights out of every ER doctor.

Here’s my list of things I never want to hear when I’m in the ER.

1. The oxygen machine is not working.

2. We can’t find the neurosurgeon on call.

3. I can’t see the airway.

4. Doctor, did I mention I’m an attorney? A malpractice attorney?

5. Doctor, how do you spell your name again?

6. Oops. (Doesn’t matter who says it when, it’s always bad).

7. Doc, remember that patient you saw earlier? She’s back.

8. Doctor – Patient relations wants to speak to you on line 2.

9. My pain? I’ve had it for at least 2 years.

10. Nothing personal Doc, but I want plastic surgery for my kid’s 1 cm cut.

Ok now it’s your turn. Is there anything you hate to hear as a patient?

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  • http://sweetfloweret.blogspot.com HotMama

    Yea. And I’ve heard it.
    I went to the ER for a weird infection on my face and the doctor said, “Hey guys, come check THIS out!” to his doctor friends.
    Wow. Thanks for making me feel like a freak show.

  • Gina

    Morning. 1. Never wanted 2 hear that 4 MT family or friends. 2. Thankful that hasn’t happened. 3.n/a 4.an ex attorney in family.that’s some lawyers trying to throw their weight around when their just scared like we All get.what I hate which is a strong word. Ihate G.your grandmother passed we couldn’t do anything.your Moms condition is getting worse.your sisters MS IS progressing.

  • Becky H

    I got a shot in the end of my toe – and just before he did it he said “This is going to really hurt and it’s not good to kick the doctor”. He was right!

  • Gi

    That same “oops” comment is equally noxious for patients too. That’s what a nurse said when she ‘blew’ a vein in my arm trying to put in an IV. Seems like she was new and it worked out when she got the vein in my other arm but when you’re already scared and/or hurting it’s probably not the most relaxing word to hear. Overall though, medical personnel at the hospital are kind and caring, or at worst, simply businesslike. And it looks nothing like the scene on Grey’s Anatomy!

  • http://Z Milo

    Doctor is on vacation. no way to reach him. those are funny but true.zz

  • Gina

    Doctors,Nurses are so important. You know a good 1 when they pull you aside to explain what has happened or what is going 2 happen.you know their busy but yet some take the time 2 sitand explain. And keep the eye contact. I cant wait 2 see which area my is going in.nursing

  • deborah

    Yes. When doctors call me “Sweetie, Honey, Champ, Trooper”, etc., especially when they are young enough to be my daughter or son. Doctors should treat their patients with dignity and respect and should maintain an appropriate degree of professionalism when working with adults.

    • Sue

      Super agree with this!

  • Gina

    Those names doctors say last thing you want 2 hear when someone you love is struggling 2 live .but their trying to make to your family comfortable. My niece lil-G.is going to be a nurse!

  • jackie

    “Just go home and rest – it will get better on its own” (Only to return for emergency surgery a few hours later . .. ) I hate hearing that from any doctdor – I think they think it is funny.

  • Sue

    “It’ll be just a few more minutes” ~ once I waited for 4 hours!

  • Katie

    As a nurse it cracks me up when people tell me “I’m really afraid of needles” as I”m about to start their IV. Really? I’d be worried about you if you were a huge fan of needles…

  • http://www.joyinthisjourney.com WritingJoy

    I’m a former special-needs mama, with a motherhood-minor in pediatric cardiology (translation: two of my four kids were born with congenital heart defects), so we’ve done some time in the ED.

    Things I don’t want to hear in the ED:

    1. We forgot to check for the test result. It’s been back for an hour. (I plan on waiting for hours in the ED, but unnecessary delays and being forgotten is a tough pill to swallow. If a trauma comes in, or another child codes, I totally understand. It’s the being forgotten that I hate.)
    2. They don’t have a bed for your child yet. (Waiting in the ED, especially in the middle of the night, is a special kind of torture).
    3. Where does this go? (Overheard from two docs looking at my child’s heart via ECHO)
    4. I know you said she’s a hard stick and asked for the Transport Team to get the i.v. in your daughter, but I’m going to try to get it.
    5. We need to transfer her downtown (when we tried to go to the ED nearest our home) to be admitted.
    6. I’m sorry but there’s nothing more we can do. (When our daughter passed away.)

    #6 puts it all into perspective, doesn’t it?

    • lina

      that’s a great summary and a good word joy. i’m sorry for your loss and i am sorry on behalf of the ER docs who may have said/done the wrong things along the way.
      thanks for the tips moving forward.

      • http://www.joyinthisjourney.com WritingJoy

        I just reread this and I think I may have sounded super-negative. I didn’t mean it that way. Some of those things are outside of your (the doctor’s) control — you don’t have a choice to NOT say them because of the system or the circumstances. They’re just hard to hear. We’ve been blessed by many incredible doctors and nurses and our daughter lived 8 1/2 years in large part because of the care she received at our local hospital. So we’re thankful — though it may not have seemed like it at 3am when we were finally getting into a room! :)

  • Gina

    Doctor Lina. This is why im doing my other ride. For kids.Doctors /Nurses. This gave me more inspiration to kick it up a notch. Thanks.

  • Amber

    Well having been the family member on the side waiting and not he patient.

    1. How many times do you need to let them know about food allegers? Once should be good right, when my mom was sick I don’t know how many time I told them. And they still gave her something with SOY!

    2. You are lucky they came when they did, I don’t believe in lucky. I believe in miracles by God. God has a plan for everything even when it come down to maybe losing someone. I’m praising God for evey day I have my mom :-)

    3. In ICU they are the nicest. They take their time with you and the doc talks to you for hours. Then you get moved and their is a doc that is in for 2sec then he is gone!

    4.We are not sure if she will make it. The next 24hrs are …….

    5. Why is it when your are waiting for your family that they say “we will come and get you”, but they don’t even know your name. That just hurts, I remember when they did that to my dad and I.

    6.We are not sure when the doc is going to come he is making his rounds. I can understand this when we were in ICU but, when your not and then they do come for 2sec.

    7. Are you ok, do they really need to ask that. I started to cry when I saw my mom hooked up to everything and they asked that. NO, I was not ok!

    To end a good note (cause this brought up member from my mom being sick this past christmas) after spending two weeks strait in the hospital with my mom.This is song is totally how I feel. Its new by rebecca st james
    Joy comes in the morning
    The sun is rising
    And I wait for You
    Streams flow in the desert
    There’s an oasis
    And I wait for You

    Whatever the storm
    Whatever is lost
    Whatever it takes
    Whatever the cost
    I will praise You
    I will praise You

    Faith, faith is the substance
    Of things we hope for
    So I wait for You
    Hope, hope and the future
    Are Your plans for me
    So I wait for You

    I see the waters rising
    I feel the coming storm
    When fear is overwhelming
    I hear, “Peace, be still”

  • emily

    I like answers/solutions/conclusions so I hate… “I have no idea what to tell you”

  • Jaclyn Hunt

    I don’t like it when You (as a mom) know what your child is dealing with, cause they have had it their whole life, and the doctors don’t believe you. They see my child once, or maybe a couple of times a year. I see them every day. (Not that I know everything, but some things you just know.)

  • Gina

    I agree. All 3 are important. This was big today for me.rereading these are important. Im going 2 keep rereading this its going 2 help in every area of my life! And make me train harder .Ride harder. Thanks 4 creating this site.

  • Gina

    Say a prayer for the people in train crash.Bless our Doctors nurses firefighters police.their or finest.

  • Gina

    Say a prayer for the people in train crash.Bless our Doctors nurses firefighters police.their our finest.