There are plenty of jobs I’m pretty sure I couldn’t do and others I know I could never do. For example, I don’t think I could be an engineer, a mathematician, or a flight attendant, but I know I could never be a nurse. Nursing, in my opinion, is one of the most selfless, powerful—and difficult—career choices. From human excrement to overstressed family members, nurses deal with the dark underbelly of humanity on a daily basis.
When patients and their families are heading to the hospital for emergency treatment or even checking in for routine surgery, manners and common sense sometimes escape them. I talked with Laura Johnson, a registered nurse in the state of California, to discuss what really goes on in a hospital, what advice she has for patients (and their families) to get optimum care, and what every American needs to know to get well soon.
When You Should Go to the ER
According to Laura, two of the most common problems hospitals face are overcrowding and dealing with ailments that a general practitioner can (and should) manage. People with common colds, anxiety or panic attacks, and non-emergency ailments often head straight to the ER. The main reason to avoid rushing there every time your nose is running is financial; an unwarranted trip can cost you thousands of dollars and negatively affect your insurance plan.
Laura says you should go to the ER in the following circumstances:
- If you have a fever of more than 101º F that refuses to subside
- If you are in uncontrollable pain
- If you have persistent nausea and vomiting
- If you have bloody vomit or stool
- If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath
- If the patient is a baby or an individual who is unable to communicate what he or she is feeling
Laura also says that a plethora of patients flock to the hospital repeatedly for unwarranted care, and reveals that nurses call these patients “frequent fliers.” Frequent fliers are often alcohol and drug addicts, as well as elderly patients, and they all desire a level of care that they’re not getting at home.
