Today at clinicals in the etended care facility, I had a resident refuse "skin prep" to her heels. She was in the hall in a wheelchair. She didnt just say "No" , she screamed that she did not want it,while planting her feet firmly on the floor. Tried explaining what it was for, that it did not hurt, would only take one minute. I tried.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charted in the TAR her refusal. Told her nurse. No problem.
Husband comes in in the afternoon. She tells him we tried to force her into it.
Clinical Instructor informs me that the pt does NOT have the right to refuse "cause she isn't in her right mind." And I could lose my licence for "not doing the treatment".
I told her exactly HOW she refused. Practically kicking and sceaming. Literally.
She says, "Doesnt matter. Just do it quick."
Isn't this against the law?!
The pt remembered well enough what happened that morning, to tell her husband about it in the afternoon. She fully understood what I wanted to do.
But "She doesnt have the right to refuse" ???!!!
HELP !
One of us will have her again tomorrow morning!
And if she refuses again, our instructor will try to force us to do it anyway .
.