r/emergencymedicine • u/Asleep-Palpitation43 Nurse Practiciner • Feb 02 '25

Advice Allergy Olympics

Is it wrong that if I see a patient has more than 10 allergies I IMMEDIATELY assume she's (bc it's always a she) a psych case?

In 24 years I've never been wrong.

You'll never read this in a textbook but add it to your practice today and thank me later👍

492 Upvotes

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67

u/[deleted] Feb 02 '25

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66

u/purebreadbagel RN Feb 02 '25

The blue and purple hair makes the psych patients chill because they think I’m one of them. ✌️

8

u/mmgvs Feb 02 '25

Haha. I love this ❤️ I probably should relax and go with it

49

u/Ancient-Top-2565 BSN Feb 02 '25

As an ER nurse with bright purple hair, can confirm. But the peds patients LOVE it, elderly patients love it, and the typically upset psychotic patients are chiller.

32

u/ChewieBearStare Feb 02 '25

Sorry, but our ER doesn’t allow staff to give blankets to patients. When you’re sitting in the waiting room for 16 hours, in January, with the door opening a few times a minute and letting the ice-cold air in, you need a blanket.

18

u/DoYouNeedAnAmbulance Feb 02 '25

Why the hell can they not have blankets? Is it a security thing or…

29

u/itsthatyoungbeezy Feb 02 '25

Years ago, a psych pt tried to hang themselves in the waiting room bathroom. No more blankets in the waiting room.

14

u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner RN Feb 02 '25

"problem solved"- management

3

u/DoYouNeedAnAmbulance Feb 02 '25

🤦🏼‍♀️ you know….I wish I didn’t fuckin know this is EXACTLY how they thought of it

5

u/sykotryp333 Feb 02 '25

Most of my patients love my pink hair and tattoos. I think it makes them feel a little more comfortable.

15

u/office_dragon Feb 02 '25

Any non-delayed person over single digit age with a blanket = failure to launch syndrome

23

u/descendingdaphne RN Feb 02 '25

You’re not being a dick - functional adults don’t travel with blankies.

49

u/cKMG365 Feb 02 '25

I know a lot of people who work in emergency medicine at all levels.

I'm not sure we are the best group of people to be calling out other people on not being functional adults.

I mean, have you taken a look at your coworkers lately? We may be "functional" at some things or with some substances, but not really as adults

16

u/descendingdaphne RN Feb 02 '25

Sure, the dysfunction is widespread and certainly not limited to blankie-carriers.

1

u/No_Turnip_9077 Feb 02 '25

I just read this comment out loud (while giggling the entire time) to my coworker. You are not wrong, good redditor.

28

u/scotus_canadensis Feb 02 '25

Where do you live? We have multiple blankets in every vehicle, you never travel without a blanket.

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u/deferredmomentum “how does one acquire a gallbladder?” Feb 02 '25

Emergency car blanket ≠ blankie

36

u/SolitudeWeeks RN Feb 02 '25

Blankets and blankies are not the same thing.

1

u/em2590 Feb 02 '25

I've read the words "blanket " and "blankies" too much and now they don't sound like real words

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u/descendingdaphne RN Feb 02 '25

Yeah, bringing your blankie to the ED is different than keeping an emergency blanket in the car.

3

u/BlueDragon82 Feb 02 '25

Nah, hospitals especially the EDs are fucking freezing. When working I always snagged a blanket from the warmer but when I've been a patient I nearly always bring at least a small one until I can convince someone to get me one. The hair thing is so outdated yet we see it on all the medical subs. 1/4 of the people I've worked with in the hospital have had dyed hair including physicians but I didn't live and work in the Midwest so maybe that makes a difference.

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u/WolfertBro Feb 02 '25

What about over 18 but with a stuffed animal instead?