Nurse Barb: Should I Go To The Emergency Room?

Just the other day, I was running out to a meeting when my neighbor, Allie and her husband came rushing up to the front door. She was bleeding from a gash in her finger and they wanted me to take a look. She was pale and shaking as we helped her to a seat in the kitchen, drops of blood spattering on the floor. I was trying to keep our dog Cookie away, while reaching into my pantry for my emergency kit.

My kit might be a bit different than yours because it seems like my neighborhood stops my Nurse Barb Urgent Care Center first before calling 911 or going to the hospital. I’ve learned over the years. to have a few things ready for the inevitable knock at the door. Gloves, bandages, slings, wraps, splints, you name it, I’ve got it, all accumulated after hearing, “Could you just take a quick look?” Sure, let me have look.

Tyler’s Story

Before I tell you about the neighbor and her finger, here’s what happened recently with my neighbor’s son, we’ll call him Tyler.

Tyler: Sorry to bother you, my mom asked me to ask you to look at this cut on my elbow.

Me: Sure, come on in. When and how did it happen?

Tyler: I was fooling around with my brother and we were throwing knives in the back yard, and well, you know.......

Me: When was your last tetanus shot? Ok, this won’t need stitches, I’ll bandage it up. By the way, are you having any pain in your nose?

Tyler: How did you know my nose hurt? I told my mom last week that it was hurting me.

Me: I think your nose might be broken too....ok, let’s get you cleaned up and I’m going give your mom a call........

His nose was broken and he was up to date with his tetanus shots.......however he really did need to go to the Emergency room the week before when his nose was broken, but he didn’t stop by that time.

Allie’s Story

Allie and her husband were squabbling about whether or not she should go to the Emergency Room and wanted a 3rd opinion, mine. After I had her sit down, examined her finger, washed out the cut, applied pressure and bandaged her up, I showed them this nifty download I have taped to the inside of my pantry. There in Blue and White is a list of things that qualify as an emergency, from the American College of Emergency Physicians List, just in case you’re not sure. I keep extra copies now to hand out to all my patients when they drop by with the tick bites, the draining ears, the weird rashes, the crooked fingers and the cuts, bruises, strains, sprains, contusions and all the rest.

Is it really an Emergency?

Now you don’t have to stop by my own personal urgent care center to get the list. This free download from El Camino Hospital has a long and easy-to-read list of what qualifies as an emergency, in other words, when you should be concerned and get yourself or your loved one in to an Emergency room.

You can also get the FMO app to help keep track of you and your family members’ health history, medications, allergies and provider names. It also provides Emergency room wait times, a health encyclopedia and drug reference guide. You can download it free from the App Store. Click here to learn more.

You can see my TV interview about the FMO app here.

Disclosure: I’m working with El Camino Hospital to bring awareness of the programs and services that help people live healthier lives.