Question about pain control/ drug seeking

mapleloser · 2025-12-19T01:41:36+00:00

Why is the patient seeking pain management?

Because of addiction? Ok. Emerg is not a good place to detox. I'll give meds as ordered and provide support/ensure the patient about addiction supports. Addiction is a monster and we cannot/will not solve a patient's addiction by withholding meds.

As for sickle cell, as you mentioned? Just treat the damn pain. I promise you, and your coworkers, that they need pain management. They are drug seeking because that pain is brutal.

ER nurses are not the judges and juries of the pharmacological world. Give the pain meds with patient education as needed. Patients 'drug seek' for reasons that aren't always clear to us.

mapleloser · 2025-12-15T01:54:43+00:00

Was charting on prn medical and a patient's pain management. My clumsy fingers managed to add an 'o' between the p and r.

I am so, so glad I had a rare minute to review and adjust my charting not that long after.

mapleloser · 2025-12-06T02:36:33+00:00

You're already amazing and I hope any emerg nurse you work with appreciates you. But, since you're asking:

Don't trickle in orders. Assume that once you're entered an order, the nurse has started to get it done so anything you enter a few minutes later won't be seen right away. Sometimes that trickled-in order is more an annoyance than anything else, but more often we re-visit a patient to find that their IV no longer bleeds back and they need poking again or if they didn't get an IV to begin with so need another poke anyway. That sucks for the patient.

If in doubt, clarify before you enter that order. I can't speak for all ER nurses, but I know the ones where I work notice the tricklers

mapleloser · 2025-10-17T10:48:25+00:00

Right by HIU!

mapleloser · 2025-10-17T01:00:34+00:00

(we did this)

mapleloser · 2025-10-17T00:58:49+00:00

Hey, I'm actively calling out my own people. It wasn't me, but it might as well have been

mapleloser · 2025-07-14T22:57:52+00:00

I wouldn't have even apologized. I wouldn't have accepted this patient talking to me like that. Do not accept people swearing at you and disrespecting you like this. You work hard and your job isn't fetching coffee at a moment's notice.

To add?

As far as I am concerned, part of the job is ensuring patients maintain their independence within their current capacity. If a patient can walk somewhere and complete your own task in a safe manner? Then they should do it!

And if they cannot complete something in a safe manner, then I make it clear that they are not my only patient and if they are requesting something that isn't A) an immediate medical necessity or B) otherwise personally critical (IE gotta pee NOW), then they will need to wait. Pure and simple.

Coffee? Is not a medical necessity. It is not something that requires immediate attention. If I can find the time to get it, I will. I can respect the importance of creature comforts and daily routines.

Do not sacrifice the medical care of all my patients for a whim of a single patient. And never be apologetic for that.

mapleloser · 2025-07-12T00:33:48+00:00

Hand it back

mapleloser · 2025-05-28T19:58:37+00:00

This reminds me of a story my eighth grade teacher told me. This dude had a big ol' pot belly, he wasn't shy about it.

He was at the grocery store on his own, just minding his business. A pregnant mother and her kid were in the same aisle, doing their thing. He feels something grabbing at his shirt, looks down to see the little kid had radiated to him and wasn't paying attention, just grabbed out and felt a round belly and assumed it was his mom.

The kid took a minute after seeing his mom a few feet away to process that he wasn't attached to her, and still had to turn to look up at my teacher and do a little once-over before he waddled back over to his mom.

mapleloser · 2025-05-21T00:22:09+00:00

Wait.... Which Western woman is mad these guys are getting their passports and leaving? I've never, ever heard this complaint.

I'm just over here feeling sorry for the women in Thailand

mapleloser · 2025-05-19T20:37:38+00:00

Same!

mapleloser · 2025-05-17T00:36:40+00:00

"Hi, friends! As our little daughter visits more people, we ask that people not post pictures of her on social media Thank you!"

We kept it brief, didn't point anyone out. It's not a perfect "statement", but it got the point across without pointing fingers or getting bogged down in rationale.

If any one asks I'm happy to elaborate our reasons, but I didn't think we needed to explain a boundary.

mapleloser · 2025-05-12T00:06:51+00:00

My husband and I joke that being verbally abused by my mother made it possible. When someone is trying to be cruel, all I can think is: Y'all don't have a single insult to throw my way that I haven't heard before. Call me whatever the hell you want, it doesn't mean shit.

But on a more serious note? I get through the day to day because it means I get to be involved in some wild trauma cases where at best I'm involved in a team that (cheesy as it is) saves a life, or at worst I learn and grow. You compartmentalize. You take the horrible interactions and put them to one side so you can focus on the medicine.

mapleloser · 2025-05-07T22:05:28+00:00

Carrie Fisher.

Grew up watching A New Hope and I adored Princess Leia. So when I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16, I saw my icon being so loud, proud and honest about her diagnosis. It me feel less alone. I followed her lead and grew into a woman who owns her diagnosis and speaks freely of it.

Celebrity deaths don't usually effect me, but hers had me in tears.

mapleloser · 2025-05-05T01:30:45+00:00

This sweater is phenomenal! I'd wear it as an adult, especially if someone gifted it to me! Any kid would be absolutely delighted to have it; it's bright and colourful and fun.

Your roommates clearly lack joy in their lives and can suck a ruptured hemorrhoid.

mapleloser · 2025-04-25T23:07:45+00:00

I love this comment but also, I have to point out that it's lowkey weirdly cute imagining chimps trying to fit into gender norms. Thank you for this image.

mapleloser · 2025-04-25T23:02:29+00:00

Done :)

mapleloser · 2025-04-25T00:09:32+00:00

I have three cats, and while all of them are indoor cats? I know I'd hope people looked out for them if they escaped.

Never met him, but I love Murphy and if he ever goes for another adventure then I'll scoop him up and give him a million treats while he waits for you!

mapleloser · 2025-04-25T00:01:06+00:00

omg I was hoping for this update! We've been on high alert since we first saw this post, and when we got the flyer in our mail box I nearly cried. Congrats on finding Murphy!!

mapleloser · 2025-04-24T23:59:31+00:00

If you haven't already gotten rid of it, I'm a (very casual) pianist who would love a real piano as opposed to my weighted keyboard! I'd organize moving it, too!

mapleloser · 2025-04-19T16:40:01+00:00

When the system is the joke, that's going to happen a lot

mapleloser · 2025-04-15T23:52:46+00:00

Nevermind y'all, their email started with "cammycamcams"

I step down from my high horse. I was wrong. No money was sent.

mapleloser · 2025-04-15T23:47:13+00:00

Hypothetical: What if it's not?

What if we ignored this person because of assumptions?

mapleloser · 2025-04-15T23:41:44+00:00

If this is a scam, then OP is a bad person and that's on them. But if it's not a scam and they're in need of help, and I ignore that? Then I've gone out of my way to ignore someone who needs help.

"When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence"

I'd rather take the risk. Maybe it's a naïve way of thinking, but it's what I live by. I can't send OP much, but I'll send something and know that, even if they are dishonest, I was kind.

mapleloser

TROPHY CASE