Dear Annie:I am a nurse and work in the emergency department of a small hospital. My co-workers and I would like to pass along a few “rules” to make trips to the emergency room a little easier on everyone:

1. Unless your illness or injury is life threatening, expect to wait. We will get to you as soon as possible. The doctors want to see the man with the heart attack before the child with the broken leg.

2. The emergency room is not a social hall. Ask the relatives to stay home and not to make calls to the emergency room. You can notify them about your condition when you know more.

3. The emergency room is for emergencies only. If you have a cold, it can probably wait until morning. If you started taking an antibiotic at noon, it might take 24 hours or more to kick in. Don’t panic.

4. Please treat the doctors and nurses with respect. Our names are not “Honey” or “Hey You.” We don’t appreciate being hit, kicked, spat upon or sworn at. We didn’t cause your appendicitis. We didn’t run into your car at the stoplight. Do not abuse us.

Thanks, Annie, for printing this. I know every emergency room doctor and nurse will appreciate it. ER Alice in the USA

Dear Alice: Those are useful, practical suggestions. For those who may need to make the trip to the hospital, please keep this list in mind. The emergency room staff deserves your respect.

Dear Annie: I am getting married next month. I was once close to a few people I used to work with. They are no longer my best friends, but we keep in touch, and I see them occasionally. I want to maintain the friendship, but I am not inviting them to my wedding and don’t know how to tell them. I cannot use the excuse that the ceremony will be small, because that is not the case. The wedding will be fairly large, but I have a huge family, and so does my fiance. There is insufficient space to include everyone.

Please tell me how to keep from hurting their feelings. Bride-to-Be in Texas

Dear Bride: Most people understand that guest lists are limited, regardless of the final tally. If these ex-co-workers are as aware as you are that the friendship has cooled, they will not be surprised at the exclusion.

Continue to treat the friendship as you always have, and don’t mention the wedding. If they seem unhappy and ask about it, reply sincerely, “I wish I could have invited you, but you know how big my family is. There simply wasn’t room.”

Dear Annie: I am 16 years old and have been dating “Bryce” since my freshman year in high school. In June, he told me he wanted to break it off. He said his family life was a mess and he couldn’t devote any attention to me.

I waited for two months by the telephone, but it never rang. My friends told me to forget about him, that I could do better. Last night, Bryce called and told me he wants us to get back together. My best friend says I’d be making a huge mistake if I let Bryce back into my life. What should I do? Not Sure in Oregon

Dear Not Sure: If Bryce has been honest with you, he deserves another chance. However, you might want to use this breakup as an opportunity to date other guys and give your relationship with Bryce some breathing room. Please think about it.