Nursing Boundaries...can I go feed my patients cats?

Nurses Relations

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Not finding much information...actually any. I have discussed with case managers and received advice against this..

My patient gave myself and another nurse permission to go into his unlocked home to check on his cats, he has no one its just him and his cats and he will be hospitalized for at least another 6-8 days. Is this against the rules? Mind you I called APS for my patient as he is neglecting himself/hoarding etc. so he will be upset when they do come and he will automatically think it was me that called since he warned me about his home before going. I really want to help these animals and thought we could go out with animal control. Its so frustrating on what we cant do for our patients. I know it's crossing the line, but I am such an animal lover and knowing these cats will be w/o food for a week is heartbreaking. Sure there's so many hungry animals but these cats I KNOW about. How much trouble could I get in really?

Any advice?

If I were u I'd call a pet sitting service to come everyday while the pt is in the hospital. Just about all medium and large cities have pet sitting services plus alot of animal hospitals have workers who do pet sitting as a side job.

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I called APS for other reasons. I dont want to risk my job/license..etc. I just wonder if I could get a police officer to escort myself and the other RN and they took a statement from pt that we could enter the home. The pt actually leaves door unlocked @ all times they state. Has anyone ever heard of this...police escort for something like this?

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Brain and Stroke.

Can you grab a neighbor and have them witness you opening the door just to place food and water inside? Don't even step foot in the house and you have an unbiased, neutral witness. Sorry I just hate the thought of this so my mind is racing trying to come with ideas to protect you and the animals.

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social work referred me to APS/Animal control

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Brain and Stroke.

I don't know if police would do it but what about hospital security, they could witness him telling you that you can enter and then take a witness?

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I dont want to step foot in there lol...as told by the pt its in such disarray that I will want to run. Im actually humbled he would even say yes to us b/c APS has seen him in the past. Such a sad situation all around.

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I'll call animal control in AM and talk further with them, I just know if they go there, if its like he says they might take them away (Im thinking there are more cats than stated) and Id hate for the pt not to at least get to say bye to them (I know, stupid of me) but maybe they can call pt and get verbalization to enter home and take pets to board while in the hospital? Ahhh I dont know!

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Brain and Stroke.

I'm sure whatever is done will work out in the long run. Although the situation is tough, the patient is lucky to have you as his nurse, you have a good heart!

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Specializes in Psych.

We did........BUT I am an ACT nurse and thus we routinely make housecalls and this was organized before client went into the hosptal.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Should you? Probably not. Would I? Absolutely.

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Specializes in Midwifery, Women's Health, PCP.

I wouldn't put my career on the line for cats.

You called animal control, and that's where your responsibility ends--you don't have the training to walk into a stranger's house and deal with their animals. Cats are pretty resourceful and the chance of them dying before animal control shows up is pretty low. This is anecdotal, but I had a client several years ago that got arrested and it turned out he had dementia, and it he was gone for a good week before animal control was able to pick up his cat, and the cat was fine.

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isnt there something social work can do?- where i am there are professional pet sitters- even if they came in for maybe a visit or 2.

This is something else to consider. Hire a pet sitter. Inform the pt that you cannot go into his house, but you can have a pet sitter check on the animals. The sitter can come by the hospital and have the pt sign a release to get into his home. You are not liable, and the cats get fed. Cats are ridiculously hearty. If he will be out in a week, I bet they could leave a weeks worth of food out and a bucket of water and they would be content.

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