Had a roach fall out of the cealing..

Specialties Home Health

Published

Today was my very first day in HH. I work for an agency that does intermittent (mostly wounds). Today was my first day and I was shadowing another nurse in the field. I'm from California and used to urban environments (I mean I live in Long Beach for heavens sakes) but today I ventured into some places where I was in shock. We visited 6 homes today and every single one of them was just awful...and they just kept getting worse. One place there as an guy in is 80's living in a garage. No windows, no circulation, one little table light. The lighting was so bad we had to leave the door open just to see what we were doing.

The next place, I'm on my knee's cleaning this wound (on same carpet that looked like it had not been cleaned since the 40's) and I kid you not a roach fell off the ceiling and landed on my shoulder.

The next place we went to 4 guy were hanging out in the living room drinking. 4 big dudes. Had I been alone I would have been very very scared.

I love the jobs but the living conditions and fear of safety concerns have me worried.

Anyone take taiser or mace

Specializes in Wound Care.
Spell check. What is a cealing?

Well look at you...all smart...you were able to decipher my cryptic language and figure it out! Maybe you should work for Andriod and get that auto correct thing worked out.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

You know, it's funny. Just remembered. Way back when I did HH, I had several 'hazardous' senior citizen high-rises. I would cluster as many of my visits as poss. One particular building, I would acquire 'escorts' who would walk me apt to apt 'because I was Mr Jones' nurse' or 'Grandmom Smith's nurse". Had my own security team.

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Specializes in Wound Care.
You know, it's funny. Just remembered. Way back when I did HH, I had several 'hazardous' senior citizen high-rises. I would cluster as many of my visits as poss. One particular building, I would acquire 'escorts' who would walk me apt to apt 'because I was Mr Jones' nurse' or 'Grandmom Smith's nurse". Had my own security team.

LOL That's funny! I actually looked into getting a taser gun. I found one that will shoot up to 15 ft. Its kind of expensive but I can't really put a price tag on my life and it would make me feel safe.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Welcome to Home Health Nursing! Yes, you will find situations where it is less than favorable, but as long as there is running water and light, and it is without gangbangers carrying their AK47's around, I'm okay with it... Now with that being said, if they don't have even the basic necessities, like running water to cleanse hands before and after, or so as the patient can be clean, then I'd really have to wonder whether this is a safe environment for your patient. Now, know too that I did Home Infusion Nursing, so some things were mandatory. We also had what was called a "hazardous" zip codes and anyone needed care in those areas were seen by two nurses.

Is it an adventure? Yep, and though you must have really good assessment skills to allow you to practice autonomously, it is rewarding.

It is expected that folks will have indoor plumbing with running water in the lower 48. There is no expectation of that in Alaska. On the other hand, there are no cockroaches in AK. The very term "hoarder" had to have been developed in AK I fear, where there are essentially NO building codes.

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Specializes in Wound Care.

I have only had one place I went into that had no running water but it was a disconnected garage that had been "converted" into a room/apartment. No windows, no running water...just a bed, bedside commode, TV (with cable of course), and a mini fridge. I can only assume they used the main house to shower. It was really sad. It stunk so back in there because of the commode that we had to leave the door open. Also there was only a small bedside lamp for light so we couldn't see anything. It was awful.

When we got there the son said he had just cleaned him up for us but when we removed his pants he had dried feces on the folds of his skin. I wanted to cry. We ended up spending 45 minutes and cleaning him up. It was just sad.

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Specializes in Vascular Access.
It is expected that folks will have indoor plumbing with running water in the lower 48. There is no expectation of that in Alaska. On the other hand, there are no cockroaches in AK. The very term "hoarder" had to have been developed in AK I fear, where there are essentially NO building codes.

Ah, it may be expected, but unless you've truly lived it, you find out otherwise. Many have had water turned off for non-payment and that goes for electricity too.

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Client contracts have clauses about running water, working telephone, etc., but when you talk to a clinical supervisor about getting a social worker involved to try to get the people some help to keep their utilities on, you get told, "we don't get involved with their personal problems". I think I missed the memo that was sent between the time I was taught about home health nursing in school and I encountered "real life" hh nursing. Something doesn't match up here.

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There was a recent national news item about more than 12,500 customers having their water shut off in Detroit for non-payment. They pointed out how that is against some United Nations edict about potable water for humans. Doing home health in these homes must be quite a challenge.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

I have visited patients in the Midwest who have no water because the local water czar has disconnected them. Similarly, I have visited folks in the same area who have no electricity or means to heat their living areas.When these folks have health issues which make it necessary for them to have these things our MSW were able to improve things for the patients. Here is it not generally an issue of the people simply don't pay a bill, or they don't opt to connect to the city water...they simply have ONLY the option of hauling water to their home from another source. "Off the grid" living is pretty popular here...

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I would check with your employer to see what they think you should do for your safety. If they don't want you to have a taser or pepper spray, then maybe you can talk to them about what you CAN do to ensure your safety.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
I have only had one place I went into that had no running water but it was a disconnected garage that had been "converted" into a room/apartment. No windows, no running water...just a bed, bedside commode, TV (with cable of course), and a mini fridge. I can only assume they used the main house to shower. It was really sad. It stunk so back in there because of the commode that we had to leave the door open. Also there was only a small bedside lamp for light so we couldn't see anything. It was really sad.
I'm not 100% sure but that "apt" may be ILLEGAL. Accdg to most housing codes/ordinances, there must be 2 points of egress in a dwelling. That means there MUST be 2 ways to get in/out of the unit in an emergency. Two doors or one door and one window would meet the standard. Don't know if a garage door (if there is one) would qualify as the pt may not be able to operate it.

If that pt is so debilitated and infirm, he could well die in a fire or other major disaster. He prob needs a referral to APS or some other agency, like the local municipal housing bureau, licenses & inspections, dept of health or zoning board. For that matter, YOU could be at risk as emergency explosions won't give YOU any advance warning. As a mandated reporter, this is one of those sad situations in which you might need to intervene. If he were a baby/kiddo, Child Protective Services would be on speed dial!

Even the local fire dept could tell you the code... At minimum your Social Worker (if you have one) should be alerted. He sounds at risk.

And like I commented before, be sure you know if carrying a taser is legal before you do so.

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