Perhaps I'm not meant to work in the ER?
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Anonymous
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ER provider here. I am very compassionate and loving, however I am so tired of working the ER. It's just nonstop BS coming in day in and day out. Complaints of things like sniffles/body aches, intoxication and general medical exams are basically what I do all day. No one is appreciative at all and the ER is constantly busy because it's pretty much operating as a primary care facility. I completely understand that some people come to the ER as a result of not having insurance, but a lot of people seem to come just for the hell of it. I see a true emergency (appendicitis, OD, heart attack, stroke, severe burn or broken bone etc) about once every 3 shifts. Would I be happier working in ICU or maybe just as a primary doctor so at least I would work on a normal 9-5 schedule and not have to deal with the 5th case of sniffles at 4 am.
Vent over. This is all stuff I can't say in real life because I would sound inconsiderate but my job is seriously dragging me down most days. |
Anonymous
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I went to the ER during a thyroid storm last year. My husband worked in the ER decades ago.
I'm SO glad your days are filled with non-life-threatening issues. |
Anonymous
| Move to another hospital with more action. Are you working at Sibley? That's snoozer-ville. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
| I was just at the ER for a possible stroke. They got me in for a CT within 60 seconds of walking in. Not a stroke, but I am very grateful for the care I got. |
Anonymous
What does this have to do with anything? You utilized an ER for an emergency condition. This post was not aimed at you. |
Anonymous
| OP, I get it. I'm debating primary care vs ER. I have the same questions/concerns as you. |
Anonymous
Do I really have to spell it out to you? If an ER doc wishes for more emergencies, that means he or she wishes for more suffering people in mortal danger. Having been in that uncomfortable predicament, I don't wish that on anyone. My husband, having been on the medical side, has never once uttered such a wish as OP's. And he got all the druggies as well. I was trying not to express how disgraceful it is for a doctor to say the ER is boring, but hey, you asked for it. |
Anonymous
| Sometimes you get sick when doctor's offices are not open. Our insurance pays for ER but not urgent care (well, recently they started to but we cannot figure out how to get it covered and were stuck with large bill). That is the nature of the job. Maybe if doc's moved faster and all staff were not on slow mode, it would be better for everyone. |
Anonymous
| Why would anyone go to the ER for 'sniffles' or 'general medical exams'? My urgent care copay is like $30. What idiots. |
Anonymous
ER is free for us. If something happens, it is the fast track to a specialist appointment. You can get a specialist appointment within days vs. weeks with a regular doctor appointment. |
Anonymous
PP here: hmm, interesting. Sounds like an issue more with insurance then. |
Anonymous
No one is wishing for more life threatening emergencies to occur. We only would like that people not having emergencies would not clog up the waiting room for people like the PPs in thyroid storm and possible CVA. When I say "not having emergencies" I'm referring to people who come in for a pregnancy test or a second opinion of a diagnosis and wonder when we aren't bending heaven and earth to get them seen first. |
Anonymous
Very much. I'd rather go to an urgent care but I sent my husband once to one on their list and we got a huge bill and they wouldn't cover it. We did everything we were supposed to and called in. So, easier to go to the ER, which is closer anyway. Our ER is great. They try to get the sick folks in/out and have special kids rooms. They encourage you to come back if you are unsure of something and know its hard to get regular doctor's appointments or the regular docs give you the blow off. |
Anonymous
| ER gets tiring when the same drunk patients come in every 2 days and have to stay for 8+ hours until they wake up and are able to walk around. |