To: Ethics inbox

From: Concerned RN

Subject: Frequent flyers

I am a new RN working in an inner-city emergency department. Some of our patients are well known by the staff, who often describe them in conversations and in the electronic health record (EHR), as frequent flyers, substance abusers, or drug seekers. I live in this area and know some of the issues these patients face, and I think that the use of such terms is inappropriate.