I am not in charge of your entire medical care!

Only on occasion. If it is too much, I just tell them politely that my duties are limited to what is on the plan of care. But that usually doesn't stop the pushy ones.

Let them know that the goal in home health is to make them independant and eventually discharge them from service. If it seems that they have too many social issues then I ask the MD for a MSW referral and let the social worker follow up.

Yes, I do. I have posted a similar subject. You just get sucked in and have to say no. No is the hardest word I have had to learn to say.
I know you know to call MSW, say no, etc. It just sucks to be put in that situation. Sorry.

I encountered that ALL THE TIME. The more you do for someone the more they expect you to do. And for the year and a half I've been doing anything and everything I can for these people it has burnt me out to the point that I quit my job last week. Don't do that to yourself. You have to realize that you can't be everything to everyone. I was going way out of my way, falling behind, doing hours of paperwork at home because I spent all day doing things that an RN doesn't get paid for. You have to remember why you're out there and do your job and get out. It's the hardest part I think- seeing these patients and families, they need so much and you think if you just do this or that it would make their life a little better BUT in the long run you are only spreading yourself too thin and then they rely on you too much which could put them in a bad situation when you are no longer there for them. And don't give your cell number out. I learned that the hard way too.

I really think it's easier to say no right from the start to prevent becoming an emotional wreck. Yes, I've had patients ask me to do things for them, I always ask if they have family to help. I let them know that there are many things my agency does not allow me to do. Then I bring up the MSW and possibly HHA to let them know that there will be people involved to assist them. I don't allow them to "suck me in". I'm onto their manipulation and tell myself somehow they survived before I got there.

Ugh. How do you not give out your cell number when everyone has caller ID? I always call before I go out since I don't get paid for mileage and don't want to eat up the gas if I can help it. Now 90% of my pts have my cell # from their caller ID!

Oh, how this thread brings back memories. I did home health for 6 years and was sucked in quite a bit. I worked with an RN who did the starts and discharges, I would do the visits, she was my idol. On her cell phone was a message that went something like this, hello, you have reached blah blah, if this is a patient or regarding a patient you have reached the wrong number, kindly call the office at blah blah. Messages related to patients and patient care will not be answered. If patients would ask her for a ride she would say it was against company policy, if they wanted her to do anything else, she would give them the office number and tell them to speak to the DON about additional help. Unlke me, who went out in an actual HURRICANE when a patient called (she was bed bound) and said she threw a towel, it landed near a candle and she thought she was going to set her place on fire. When I arrived the towel was nowhere near the candle and I had to drive home in hurricane force winds. That was it. No more accepting phone calls from patients.

I kind of miss home health sometimes, but I love working, coming home and not having to worry about who's on the other end of the phone. Good luck

I may try this! Thanks for the idea! I do tell them that if they need to get in touch with me to please call the office because we track all communication, and so far I haven't had anyone abuse it, but I'm waiting for the day.