Rant.....why I'm not thankful........work.......

***Disclaimer***  IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY HEALTH CARE WORKERS GRIPING ABOUT STUPID PATIENTS DON'T READ THIS..................I am normally a VERY caring and empathetic health care provider......and I would never say anything I'm about to say to you guys right now to my patients.....

So I have to complain a little.......I'm dreading thanksgiving.  I am on call starting 11pm Wednesday until 10 pm Thursday when I start my regular 81/2 hour shift.  The first part of my call shift should be easy I may not even be called in however starting at about 1pm the morons who stuff themselves silly during thanksgiving dinner start showing up in the ER. 
This is the scenario that plays out for me ALL NIGHT LONG:

Me "Can you tell me what kind of symptoms your having?"
Patient "I think I'm dying, I have gallbladder issues......I don't understand why it had to act up today on the holiday"

Me "when did your abdominal pain start?" 
Patient "About an hour after I ate"

My favorite response to this question is usually followed with this:
"I don't understand why it had to act up today on the holiday"

I'd like to just say.....duh ..... you just shoveled in half a turkey a pound of mashed potatoes and gravy and half a pumpkin pie...what did you think your belly would feel like???  But don't sweat it I'm happy to drive in and miss my time with my family to radiate you so the Dr can tell you that you probably just ate to much.

Sometimes I just wish people would stop and think before they get in their car and drive to the ER with abdominal pain after gorging themselves.....or even worse call an ambulance because they don't want to inconvenience their family members.

Now with that said I do feel sorry for the people who come in with REAL problems, appendicitis (I can't believe how many of those suckers get angry on Thanksgiving), ileus, small bowel obstructions.......but these are few and far between.  I'm really not a bad person I just HATE WORKING THANKSGIVING!

I can't believe people would come to the ER with stomach pains on Thanksgiving. That is so funny (not for heathcare workers that have to deal with them).

yeah......I will probably do 20 abdomen CT's from 1pm-630am......with maybe 3-5 having something wrong.  It's boggles the mind!

First of all, I love your acronym/play on words screen name.  It took me a little while to get it but... very clever.

Secondly, I work in the ancillary side of health care (medical transcription and editing) and I have transcribed and/or edited the reports from some of the silly ER visits.  I have been dumbfounded WAY more than once over peoples' stupidity.  (Let's just say I was astonished at the use one male patient tried to make of a crayon in the days before Viagra... among many others).

Anyway, hope you will have a relatively calm day, all things considered and I don't blame you in the slightest for wishing to be off on Thanksgiving Day.

Kat70

Thanks Kat.......I always thought it would be fun to be a transcriptionist!  I've seen some pretty amazing things put in some pretty strange places with some even stranger "excuses"......LOL  I also work at an inner city level one trauma center so I have some great stories......

Kat!  I never got that!  You and Heather are so clever!

And thank you for your work over the holidays.  Besides the frustrations, there's also the issue of not being able to be where you've chosen to be.  Thanks for your hard work despite that!

My hospital work is as a chaplain.  I haven't done it for a few years, but when I got called in, it was usually just before (or after) someone died.  I actually found the less serious cases a welcome relief!

No credit due here this year.  I am not working on the holiday but I remember what it is like.  Being a chaplain is a truly noble calling and I commend you for that.   One group of largely unsung heroes, I believe, are ALL the folks involved in hospice care.  I learned a lot during the time my mother was in their care and with the exception of only 1 caregiver who I dismissed quickly, they were the most humble, caring, and considerate group of people I have ever met.  

For all of you health care workers, emergency personnel, police officers and anyone who must adjust for the rest of our country on holidays, I commend you!!

Kat70  

I certainly understand your issues with stupid folks.

I used to love it when I was director of 5 autistic group homes.  We would have all the clients who didn't or couldn't go home for the holiday come to one home and I would cook.  The agency paid for it, everyone loved whatever I cooked, no one watched football and they cleaned up the kitchen.  My idea of a great Thanksgiving.

I'm gonna need to get some tips for when my youngest gets older.......LOL  She's autistic and right now she doesn't do ANYTHING I ask her to.....I chalk it up to being at home in her "comfort zone".....she is a VERY different child when she goes to ECSE......calm....patient....I wish!

Being in health care for over 20 years, I get it.

I am off for thanksgiving, but will be working christmas day. Taking care of those who ate and drank too much.

I feel your pain!