Ok, it's been quite a while, but this ER nurse has something to say. An emergency room is not a family doctors office. If you come in for something as simple as a mole or a stubbed toe, don't get pissed off if you aren't our first priority. Just because you may have to wait to be seen does not mean that you have the right to throw objects at ER nurses when we inform you that there currently aren't any beds. If you tell me that you are allergic to Tylenol, Motrin, Ibuprofen, and Toradol, I will assume that you are a drug seeker. If you visit the ER more that once per month, week, or even day, and are never admitted into the hospital, you probably don't have a physiological problem, but instead a psychological one. The ER does not operate as a first come, first serve service. If you're not really sick, we will put you at the bottom of the list. If you are deathly ill (cardiac arrest, possible stroke, possible heart attack, etc..) you will be our first priority. Actually, a two hour visit to the ER is not that bad. Don't come to the ER, and then whine when we need to start an iv or draw blood, get labs, or do other tests that may be less than enjoyable. You came to us for help, so shut up and let us do our jobs, otherwise stay home. The ER is not a vacation spa. Nurses are not waiters, so constant requests for refreshments for you and your visitors are not appreciated. MRSA, regardless of what you have seen on the news or read in the paper, is NOT new! I don't know why the media is making such a big deal. If you get a pimple, please don't come to the ER because you think it's MRSA. I like to run my triage like Judge Judy runs her court. Please just answer my questions directly. I really am not interested in your life story. I just want to know why are are coming to my ER today. If you pull your IV out on purpose, I will restart the IV using a larger needle. You won't get much sympathy from me when you say that you are getting a little hungry when I haven't had time to eat my entire 16 hour shift. Parents..... it isn't an emergency if your child has a fever. You CAN give them tylenol to treat that. You should know what medicine you take on a daily basis. Saying to me, "it's a little blue pill" does not help. The ER is not a drive through. It is not appropriate to say at check-in, "I'm coming in today because I need my Xanax and Vicodin prescriptions renewed." It is extremely rude and inconsiderate to, upon discovering there is a wait to be seen, leave the ER and call an ambulance so you can be seen immediately. To answer your question, "No, you may not leave with your IV left in." Yes, some drug addicts have asked before. When you say that you have no idea how barbie doll heads, screw drivers, and/or other foreign objects ended up in you ass, we don't believe you. Oh...... and you can't have those objects back once we get them out. I feel better now. | 
