Sunday, October 18, 2009

There are Emergencies, and then there are EMERGENCIES!

From an internist's orders on a 34 year old lady admitted with a stroke (she'll be okay, don't worry):

"1. Brain MRI: Routine.

2. Head and neck MRA: Routine.

3. Echocardiogram: Routine.

4. Bring patient some tampons ASAP!!!"
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14 comments:

  1. ER's MomOctober 18, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    Doesn't she have one in her purse to tide her over?

    Just asking.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Grumpy, M.D.October 18, 2009 at 4:45 PM

    I dunno. Didn't ask. Look, I'm just the neurologist!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mr. CondescendingOctober 18, 2009 at 6:36 PM

    Or some kitty litter!

    ReplyDelete
  4. S3XinthePantryOctober 18, 2009 at 7:46 PM

    and he didn't order a beer?
    for himself?
    just wondering...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alpine, R.N.October 18, 2009 at 8:34 PM

    at least the internist didn't say STAT!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Grumpy, M.D.October 18, 2009 at 9:02 PM

    little d, S.N.- Actually, it did say STAT. I wasn't sure my non-medical readers would know the term.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Lonely MidwifeOctober 18, 2009 at 9:55 PM

    Anything remotely gyn or obstetric is an truly an emergency outside of a labor and delivery/post-partum floor. Good to know your hospital is no different than ours!

    ReplyDelete
  8. DanaOctober 18, 2009 at 11:23 PM

    Hey Grumpy, my 5 and 8 year olds know what STAT means, and I don't even work in the medical field.

    ReplyDelete
  9. kirstenOctober 18, 2009 at 11:31 PM

    I'm wondering if she was having menorrhagia, could the 34 y/o stroke victim have a bleeding disorder? Just a thought...

    ReplyDelete
  10. student dr. blazeOctober 19, 2009 at 12:33 AM

    I really hope he didn't think her possible stroke was causing her vaginal bleeding....

    ReplyDelete
  11. DragonflyOctober 19, 2009 at 6:34 AM

    Tampons? Good grief, must be a private hospital. All we give out here are the huge, wingless ones also used post partum.

    ReplyDelete
  12. kirstenOctober 19, 2009 at 1:35 PM

    Stroke causing vaginal bleeding, no. But hemorrhagic stroke + menorrhagia could point to underlying thrombophilia.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousOctober 20, 2009 at 12:40 PM

    I'd Grab an ABD pad and some silk tape; however I am evil. Of all the dumb orders I have seen. Is toxic shock syndrome ever occur anymore. With all of the other issues the pt had; a simple oversight like not changing the tampon, could be easily missed.

    ReplyDelete
  14. PRPAOctober 24, 2009 at 7:02 PM

    I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess kristen is a new medical grad of some sort? an FPNP perhaps?

    ReplyDelete

So wadda you think?