Being sick isn't a pleasant experience. Coming to the Emergency room makes matters even worse. You're not feeling well, you've dragged yourself out of the house or either been rushed there by ambulance seeking the best medical attention possible.The environment is cold, loud, and smells like alcohol and other disinfectants (if you're lucky). Hopefully, you're greeted by a caring healthcare professional which definitely can make your visit just a bit more pleasant.
With all that said, as a nurse, I understand why people often times come across as rude or abrasive. They're sick for pete's sake. Plus, they lose their ability to "control" the situation. Doctors are barking orders, people in pretty little scrub uniforms are poking at every orifice with needles or objects that look like water hoses. Fear can cause strange things to happen.
Still, the most precious life in the ER is MINE which makes the news of a patient being shot and killed in the Emergency room after pulling a gun on a police officer really frightening.
You just never know. In our Emergency room, there are no metal detectors and how would that really work anyway?
I've had patients come in and tell me..."I've got a knife in my pocket" or "I've been thinking about killing myself. I've got some razor blades in my shirt". We've even had gang related injuries with the fellow gang members showing up to "see" what's going on. Fortunately nothing violent or extremely bizarre has ever occurred in these situations but....what if?
It really makes me nervous.
