Nights like last night make me understand why some nurses are so jaded. Back to back we had narc seekers check in. One had neck pain x 10 years who had recently checked in 6 times over the last month. She had a CT of her neck two days ago and was sent home with a percocet prescription, which the pharmacy refused to fill because she had many narcotic prescriptions, including oxycodone that she had filled 3 days prior. Luckily she didn’t fake having chest pain, so we got to QMP her and send her out since she couldn’t pay the $140 up front. Her insurance wouldn’t cover another neck pain visit this month, thankfully.
My favorite was this half blind (?) lady who calls 911 every other day, has multiple narcotic prescriptions and today presented with chest pain. In report the medic even said in front of her how he sees her every other shift and even around town he sees her without her cane, like a totally different person. She had it pretty down pat, pain was sharp in nature center of her chest, radiating down her left arm, she said she felt sweaty and nauseated. Every time she has been here she was given dilaudid, and everytime she was going to be discharged she came with a bunch of excuses (didn’t have a ride, didn’t have a key to her house, etc). She hit her call like every 5 minutes for various items, watched tv and then pretended like she wasnt when anyone would come and and start groaning. Best hospitalist in the world admitted her with Tylenol and kept her npo except for meds :)
There is justice for those who abuse the system.
