Throwing Your Weight Around

One thing that always bothers me is people who throw their weight around.

A patient came in with his daughter. First thing she said after explaining their visit was "I work in the ICU and I need to be with him in the room".

Due to the current pandemic, no visitors allowed except for minors and patients with altered mental status.

Her: "He doesn't know what's going on so I need to be there to explain things to him".

Me to the patient: "Are you confused, are you able to sign for yourself if needed?

Him: "I'm not confused, I can sign."

Her: "I want you to talk to your charge nurse and get me permission. If she doesn't I will call the house supervisor and talk to her."

Unless you are directly responsible for my evaluation or my check (or can influence it in any way), I honestly don't give a crap who you are or where you work. But since I can be diplomatic so I say I'll explain the situation to the charge nurse and ask her to wait in the lobby, knowing that the answer will be no.  Before going back I make sure both have phones so they can communicate with each other if she was not allowed back.

I officially confirm that she is not allowed back and return to the lobby.  I again explain to her that she is not allowed at this time and if she felt it necessary to call the house supervisor she was welcome to do so. 

Guess it didn't go her way cause she wasn't allowed back. She was even asked to exit the lobby (nobody in the lobby who isn't a patient). It was very pleasing to see that she, with all her weight she thought she had to sway our decision, was asked to leave the ER.

On a lighter note:

We rolled the patient off the backboard, doc informed him that he was going to get on something hard, but only for a minute.

It was really hard not to say it....