Anyone had this situation? Geez Louise

nurseby07 · Mar 31, 2009 06:55 PM

Seriously, I need some advice.

I went to my admit today, a male, pelvic fx post car accident. 80 yr old pt. Daughter was present, she is an RN, there to stay until tomorrow. Patient has dementia. Pt's wife and primary caregiver has started showing signs, no not signs, I would say is full blown into Alzheimer's. Daughter, an RN is very tearful about situation. At start of visit daughter gets a call from her mom who is at pharmacy and has lost her keys and now has no idea where she is. Daughter goes to get her. When mom comes in she starts to cry, hit herself and say "Why is this happening to me" Mom calms down. I take daughter (RN) aside and say "Mom CANNOT drive anymore" she starts to cry and says "That the only thing she has left, I can't take that away from her" I basically say in a very caring manner that that is too bad but she's going to kill someone.

I call the doc and get to speak to the MA. Now, no offense, but I want to speak to a nurse or a doctor to tell them how serious this is. I got a gum-snapping "Uh huh, what was his INR?" NOT AS RELEVANT at this point.

I finally left and watched as the daughter took her mom to the store to pick up her car and drive it home. Do I call APS?

*caliotter3* · Mar 31, 2009, 06:59 PM

Yes. You would not be able to forgive yourself if a tragedy happened that could have been avoided by you intervening. You should call the doctor and insist on speaking to the doctor instead of the gumsnapper. (And don't forget to tell the doctor about the gumsnapping).

iluvivt · Apr 01, 2009, 10:12 PM

Sometimes when you are close to a situation it is difficult and painful to make a decision....YOU saw it right away and have an obligation to address safety issues. I would connect with the daughter again....to see if she has taken action....I would find that out first....NO action...then I would report....it is your responsibility to protect your patient and you have identified a problem.....Make sure you document your finding

cookie102 · Apr 02, 2009, 05:02 AM

can you get your MSW involved?

calliou · Apr 02, 2009, 05:14 AM

I must say that you have an obligation to call. That's a scary situation.
When my Mom was recovering from major cancer surgery, and had some mental instability afterward, her doc gave the NO WAY for driving at this point. So my son came and disabled her car.

To make a long story short, a so called well meaning neighbor took it into his own hands and decied that my Mom was fine and fixed her car for her, unbeknownst to me (long story, but I lived 3.5 hrs away and had a nurse coming to check on Mom a few times daily).

Needless to say, my Mom almost hit a young boy coming home from school one day.

Not good. You need to call.

riern · Apr 10, 2009, 09:47 AM

If you have SW on staff that should be your first call before leaving that home. If no SW on staff to assist you- talk to daughter and firmly but caringly tell her the dangers to both her parents and others. Mother cannot care for herself much less anyone else. Give the daughter the opportunity to make other arrangements, give her names of agencies who provide private duty nurses or sitters. Check back with her the next day to see if there have been any changes. If not or if you cannot reach the daughter most definitely YOU MUST call APS. We are seeing this situation more and more, often times with patients who have no children.

muffin7 · Apr 15, 2009, 12:54 PM

Dear Nursey07,

I agree with all of the above. You have to do the right thing.

Anyone had this situation? Geez Louise

Anyone had this situation? Geez Louise

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