Scumbag Patients

I hate this job sometimes. We truly do see the literal worst people there are in this world. Maybe they didn’t start out that way, but here they are now. I struggle sometimes to stay compassionate and empathetic when these people storm in through the front emergency room doors, demanding care RIGHT NOW because “what do you mean I’ve only been here for seven minutes I need Dilaudid”, etc. etc. Here’s a new one for me today. I am an ER tech, so I be splinting. 30s male comes in for foot pain. He actually came in on my lunch break, so he looks brand new to me, but he’s holding old discharge paperwork and a completely dismantled short leg posterior/stirrup splint, and has crutches next to him, as he is sitting in a wheelchair. To be frank, looks homeless and is shifty. It’s clear he does drugs. I hear my coworker nurse explain how the doctor will come out soon (dude asked), and dude starts making fun of her, saying “wow you literally just stuttered so bad”. So from that point on we had bad vibes. Doctor ordered a new splint so I get the stuff together. Patient is quiet and calm, I start splinting him and I ask why he came back to the ER if he was discharged last night (just curious). He replies “I don’t know why they let me discharge myself, I need a wheelchair, I can’t use those f***ing things”. I asked him if he wanted some instruction on how to use the crutches and he said “no, I need a wheelchair”. I informed him that those tend to be for long term conditions, not injuries like a broken foot. And also, we don’t prescribe wheelchairs in the ER. His response? “Okay then, I’ll just steal one.” “From a person that needs it?” “Yeah, how hard could it be to push a cripple out of a wheelchair?”

I stared at him for 3 seconds, finished the splint, let the doctor know, and didn’t say another word to him.

These are the people we have to compassionately care for as much as the people that deserve it. And it’s exhausting.