I had a pleasant conversation with a lovely patient the other night shift I worked. She is a frequenter of every ER in my county - well known to be addicted to herculean doses of Dilaudid and Fentanyl for a myriad of chronic pain conditions. It went something like this:
Patient: “I need pain medication NOW”.
Me: “Sorry Ma’am, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
Patient: “But my abdomen is percolating!!!!”
Me: “Sorry Ma’am, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
Patient: “But look at my feet!!!”
Me: “Sorry Ma’am, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
Patient: “Fuck you!”
Me: “Sorry, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
Patient: “Your career is finished!”
Me: “Sorry Ma’am, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
Patient: “You fucking suck!”
Me: “Sorry Ma’am, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
Patient: “I am going to wait here for the next doctor to come on duty who will give me pain medication! You are abusing me!”
Me: “Sorry Ma’am, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
Patient: “Fuck your mother!!!!” (also directed to the nurse who was trying to discharge her
Me: “Sorry Ma’am, I cannot give you any narcotics, you need to see your pain management doctor”
The patient finally left after calling an ambulette for herself. Another small battle won.
I would have paid good money to watch that show! Good work!
There are patients in real pain being deprived of appropriate pain management because of addicts, such as this one.
They abuse the staff. They abuse other patients. And they do it over and over.
Then some ignorant self-appointed manipulator watchdog will come along and accuse you of being insensitive to the needs of the manipulators. No concern for those in real pain. No concern for those having their care delayed by this ED abuse. No concern for those trying to take care of real patients.
This is very frustrating.
Oh no! A percolating abdomen!
It’s time for the percolator!
thats funny I was sent to the ER yesterday by the army doctor because he suspected appendicitis and before I went I got a shot of toradol 60 mg( great drug for kidney stones )when we got to the ER they took me right back apperently the doc called in and mentioned I was on my way and his suspicions I asked for more toradol but they said no have some dilaudid which knocked me out. I laughed at the doc cause the pt in the next room wanted narcotics and the doc said no you need to see your doctor for that but I asked for toradol and was told no more have a narcotic. lol he said if I wanted toradol over narcotics I must not be a drug seeker but for me toradol is a great pain med!!
When working this long in an ED or Hospital, I think that you doc’s can pretty much sniff out who is faking it and who really is in pain, that’s what medical records are for!!! oh and of course to be able to obtain a patient’s medical History as well as allergies to certain medications! but you all know that once in a blue moon you will get a patient who avoids your radar system, only because of their Oscar worthy performance.and maybe elevated HBP, which would justify their pain!! Stacy
I would have stopped with the “Ma’am” stuff at the first “fuck.”
Actually, as someone who is now getting called Ma’am; I find it quite insulting =)
you are angering the press-ganey gods.
“That’s true. You’re absolutely right”.
(If anyone else recognizes that quote, congrats. I’m impressed).
trade tricks!!:)
I want to see you try and use some of Nurse K’s passive aggressive treatment for scribes in your routine! Post results!
Dr. Grumpy: that would be from the esteemed Dr. Ross, who suffers from quintlexia.
Ok…I cheated & googled it because my memory is terrible, but I can’t pass up the challenge. :-/ My husband can pull obscure quotes from any movie or show he’s ever seen. I can’t remember what we had for dinner last night.
I seriously don’t understand how you’re expected to take that abuse. Call the bitch out on her habit, how everyone in the greater county knows it.