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

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2BRN123

166 Posts

I second grntea.

If this guys a hoarder there's probably food in all kinds of inappropriate places (mice, bugs, garbage...), as gross and as much of a bummer as that is.

I've never heard of a cat dying without food for 24 hours....If that is the case... that cats aren't hearty, I do know this.... they're resourceful.

Also I hadn't noticed if you had said it or not, but perhaps this would be more of a job for one of the facilities social workers?

I'd be pretty pi$$ed if someone tried to feed me cat.

Kept wondering if the OP's pt.'s name was ALF. If so, I'd recommend plenty of butter on the paws, and pray for a quick DC! :jester:

On a bit more serious note - tend to agree that working through a 3rd party is the safest bet, both for the OP and for the kittehs. And, having been owned by a few cats over the years, I've seen that they can be pretty ingenious critters given half a chance. Wouldn't worry about water, for instance - if the house has an indoor bathroom, they'll probably drink out of the toilet bowl/bathtub/sink if need be. If the house has rodents - kitty food on the hoof! Cats were living without benefit of humans for a very long time, and they still remember how it's done - although I've known a few I tend to wonder about (ex. running head-on into a closed glass door).

----- Dave

p.s. Apologies to GrnTea & Leo* - completely missed your posts. Maybe I should just go read the whole blasted thread?!?

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN

1 Article; 2,543 Posts

Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Another poster suggested to get a local foster group involved. I REALLY like that idea. I used to work with a group of nurses who ran a foster home for dogs. The nearest animal shelter was a high kill shelter, and they bugged the ever living snot out of the administrators of the shelter until they signed a contract with them stating that the foster home would be contacted 48 hours before the animal was scheduled to be euthanized. These groups can take a bite and HANG ON until they get what they want, so that might be an avenue to pursue.

Just want to share a story regarding boundaries:

I was just starting out in my nursing career and I was SO naive...total bleeding heart. I was working on the GYN unit, but we got overflow from the antepartum unit. I had a pitiful pt who was 27 weeks and was admitted for bleeding. She spun an Oscar worthy sob story about how she got pregnant by her pimp (the man that often visited her at the hospital), was trying to get out of the business, and she didn't know what she was going to do when she got d/cd from the hospital. I got SS involved to help her, but she told me that she didn't trust the government. I gave her my phone number and told her to call me if she needed help. One. Big. Whopper. Of. A. Mistake.

She signed out AMA the next day, and I learned from the Social Worker that she was using cocaine throughout her pregnancy, which led to the bleeding issues she had. The man that visited her in the hospital was NOT her pimp, but was her brother, who was trying to help her with her drug problem. She called me the next day, obviously strung out and asking me if I could score some narcs for her since I was a nurse and nobody would know. I could have kicked my OWN butt! I asked my NM and the SW for a meeting and told them that I had fallen for the ruse. My NM gave me a lecture (much needed) on boundaries, and how good intentions can quickly spiral out of control.

She described to me how the situation could have gone south in a hurry. This pt could have claimed that I gave her my number so that I could be her 'supplier'. Then there would have been an inquiry into my practice. I am not suggesting that this would have definitely happened, but I put myself in a precarious position to where it COULD have happened.

Boundaries exist for a reason, and sometimes it is very painful to recognize those boundaries, especially when you know that innocent animals are being neglected. Instead of going to your pt's home, stay on the phone and bug the snot out of animal control, foster groups, etc. Your persistence will pay off. You have already made a huge difference in your pt's life simply by calling attention to these poor cats. Accept that you have done what you could WITHOUT crossing boundaries.

Hugs to you. I know it's hard.

MJB2010

1,025 Posts

My mom did this once for an elderly patient who lived alone and kept trying to leave the hospital because she was worried about her cat. The lady was very sick and in no shape to go home and she begged everyone who came into her room to go feed the kitty. My mom called her family from out of state, none of them would come or knew anyone willing to drive through the snow to get to this ladys house. So mom went over there and got the cat and he stayed with us for a few weeks.We were small and loved him, we begged my mom to get us a cat after he left! Several months later, unbeknownst to my mother, this lady passed away. The family showed up at the hospital with the cat in a box and handed him to my mother. Haha she was not expecting that! The patient left a note insisting that my mom take the cat if anything happened to her. He lived with us until he was 22 and we loved him to pieces. (RIP Oscar!)

This of course, was in the late 70's when society was not sue happy like it is today. But I am glad it worked out for us. I don't think I could knowingly let the cats starve. I'd go peek in on them, but bring a witness, like an animal control person or knock and have a neighbor come with. I also would not tell a soul at work.

notjustanurse

86 Posts

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, PACU, Med-Surg.

Our facility is apparently blessed with an awesome social worker, because she has, on several occasions, arranged for someone to feed and care for patients' pets while they were hospitalized.

I agree with others, that animal control is probably your best bet. And I am so happy that you care enough to go the extra mile to ensure that living, feeling creatures don't have to suffer needlessly!

If animal control fails, you could ask your local shelter, rescue, or even a vet's office if there are resources in your area for pet needs.

kakamegamama

1,030 Posts

Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

No! As another poster stated, he could deny ever giving you permission. Your responsibility is to him as your patient, IN the facility in which you work, no place else.

sharpeimom

2,452 Posts

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

as "mama" to nine cats, an elderly doggie, and a six-month-old puppy, i sympathize with you and my heart bleeds for those poor animals. we have keys for several friends and neighbor's houses and they have keys to our house.

we all have various critters and we take turns feeding so no one is tied down if something comes up.

another fill-in solution we've used when we all have plans at the same time (it happens!) is to use a pet feeder/

dog walker. we found her through our vet. she has a job and feeds and walks around her job's hours and her

three-year-old loves to play with our babies. she charges $10 per day no matter how many times she comes.

does he have any neighbors with kids about 11 and up? they're pleased to be trusted and thought to be responsible enough for the job. they usually do it for next to nothing and it sounds as though he needs a friend

about now.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN

1 Article; 2,816 Posts

I, too, have been fortunate enough to have worked with an excellent social worker who arranged care for many a patient's pets while they were in the hospital. Neighbors, members of the patient's church, and even the local humane society have all been resources that have been called upon.

TriciaJ, RN

4,328 Posts

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

In my experience, there is nothing social work can do. I have yet to encounter a single problem that social work could or would handle. In a previous hospital job, whenever social work blew me off (like anytime I called them) the pastoral care department would always save the day. Those people were always johnny-on-the-spot.

About the cats, yes this is reckless of me, but I couldn't live with myself to just knowingly let them starve. Does your local Humane Society or animal shelter have any kind of respite services? If I couldn't get any help from anyone, I would just go and feed them.

Bortaz, MSN, RN

2,628 Posts

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
I'd be pretty pi$$ed if someone tried to feed me cat.
You may not want to hear this, but man...you and I surely think an awful lot alike. FIRST thing I thought when I saw the thread title. :p

#1ME

64 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg.

Feed the cats.

In exchange for not being able to feed yourself, because you've lost your career and your license, because you wanted to 'save' a cat.

suanna

1,549 Posts

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I was going to feed my patients cats but dietary wouldn't cook them and I'm not sure if they were on a no cat diet. Personally, I like cats, but I just can't finish one all by myself.

Honestly- I feel your pain. If it were my patient I'd try to get ahold of a neighbor or family member, then I'd ask the patient to call the local police or ASPCA and offer to do the feeding if they would provide an escort. You are crossing the line a little but it were my kitty I hope someone would take the chance and provide for thier needs if I couldn't. I love my cat more than I love most of my family, and I don't think I would be able to recover from any illness if I didn't know my buddy was going to be waiting for me at home.

I wonder- Has anyone thought about starting a pet boarding service for patients in the hospital. With a little help from the admissions office and the local law enforcement someone could provide a lot of relief for a few desperate patients. If it was an established social service outreach, rather than one individual going to a patients home, it would be easier to get bonded to provide for the patients needs.

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