Total Disregard for Visiting Hours

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We have visiting hours pretty much all day. They are from 09-2100 but I have seen family members stroll on in right at 0600...an family members stay way later than 2100. We do not let children under 18 stay with a parent because that is a liability...sorry to them but it is.

I personally hate having a bunch of family members in the room watching me like a hawk. It makes me uncomfortable.

Maybe one day I will have the initiative of kicking family members out. I took care of a Hispanic patient (family oriented) and the room was PACKED...not to mention there were some very young children in there and I almost ran over one with my COW because 1. They were hiding behind the curtain and 2. I didn't even know small children were there because they weren't there an hour ago when I was in the same room. The family was also huddled around the patient so it made it difficult to do things...just very annoying imo.

I personally hate having a bunch of family members in the room watching me like a hawk.

This is not about you ...or how you feel about "a bunch of family members " making YOU feel uncomfortable! This is about patient care.. NOT YOU!

navyguyhm3

51 Posts

Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.

Typically my family members obey the visiting hours where I work. Sometimes the charge nurse will have the courtesy to allow one member to stay overnight depending on the patients condition, and if the family member is polite enough to ask, otherwise, we'll call security to have them escorted out if they cause a scene, or crowding out the room preventing us nurses from carrying out our duties.

I for one..always push most of them out (ones not directly related to the patient) and usually allow the spouse/partner, brother, sister or an older child to stay when performing a treatment or providing care, it puts the patient at ease and it saves me from having them breathing down my back and it gives us some breathing room. As for overnights and visiting hours, the patient's well-being always comes into play, if the patient hyped up and overly anxious when alone and more calm and easier to take care of when a family member is present, we will allow a member to stay with them as it probably helps the patient heal better.

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
I cannot imagine "acting unimpressed" when families approach you with "silly stories".

Or being"pained" by a visitor.

Review the new CMS guidelines for reimbursement.

I really must have peed in your Cheerios. You don't seem to be able to resist trying to trash every little thing that I say.

Get over it. I'm not here to meet with your approval, dear.

navyguyhm3

51 Posts

Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.

peeing in cheerios! Anyway..I'm pretty sure you've come across many people in here (or in the place of work) who try to paint themselves as a "perfect nurse" and have to contradict everything..those are the nurses that usually don't have a good work ethic, but will talk the talk but can't walk the walk, it's all to cover their short comings. I see it all to often..I can blah blah this, I can blah blah that, but when it comes down to it, they got know idea and in the end, they either make a mistake, make a fool of themselves or both.

Sehille4774

236 Posts

Yeah..personally...I HATE being watched too...It's distracting when i'm trying to focus on what I am doing...not put on a show. Ironically...I have found the cure for that is to LET them watch..show them the good care you do and that you have nothing to hide and amazingly, after a bit they stop feeling like they need to watch you like a hawk.

Course..I work in Peds...I'm so used to having to give a lengthy rationale to be allowed to even give a Tylenol LOL!!!...just how it is ...its never gonna change so I decided to accept it and move on. I actually Enjoy finding ways to integrate the families into the medical process...And I get alot of thank you's for it.

navyguyhm3

51 Posts

Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.
Yeah..personally...I HATE being watched too...It's distracting when i'm trying to focus on what I am doing...not put on a show. Ironically...I have found the cure for that is to LET them watch..show them the good care you do and that you have nothing to hide and amazingly, after a bit they stop feeling like they need to watch you like a hawk.

Course..I work in Peds...I'm so used to having to give a lengthy rationale to be allowed to even give a Tylenol LOL!!!...just how it is ...its never gonna change so I decided to accept it and move on. I actually Enjoy finding ways to integrate the families into the medical process...And I get alot of thank you's for it.

I'm not really in to being watched..but if there is more than 2 people in the room, I will usher them out, and if there is a spouse/partner or an older child, I will allow them to stay, but friends must go..it's too distracting, but leaving a spouse in the room allows him/her to observe the treatment being rendered, provided the patient wishes to have any in the room. If so, I do make it a point to ask them..this "I know you have questions, but is it possible to hold them til I'm done providing care and I will explain everything being done and why, that will allow me to focus on your loved one's care/treatment." This way..you're not leaving the family out and in effect you're addressing the patients needs and the family members needs and they won't feel left out of the care. It works too, it usually gets them to realize we are there not just for the patient but them too, and they will allow us to do our job with little interuptions.

DYLANB

10 Posts

DylanB,

You have obviously never been a patient.

Chill.

5thflrnrse,

You are right, I have never been a patient but, I have been a family member to a patient admitted to a critical care unit. I know based on that experience alone how to behave in a hospital. I also know what manners, common courtesy and respect are. Some families have none of these qualities.

DYLANB

10 Posts

"This behavior is allowed in the hospital setting" because we are NOT at McDonald's. Family members want to be near their loved one in a time of crisis... and the patient needs their family .

As professionals, we understand .. and should embrace that relationship.

However, the nurse-patient relationship also needs to be respected by the family. It's all in your communication with the family.

Too many family members in the room, too many family "demands".. etc. needs to be addressed by the individual case.

Simply stating.. " I need everyone to step out now".. or... "please direct your questions to the designated spokesperson" will resolve any nursing concern.

We are NOT just taking care of the patient.. we also need to take care of their support group.

I understand full well we are not McDonald's but, if you look at health care trends we are heading in that direction. ie core measures, satisfaction based reimbursement by medicare. We are heading towards prepackaged healthcare for everyone. I don't think this is all bad but that's for another thread. The point I was trying to make is that some patient families are overbearing, rude, disrespectful and demanding. I stated in my first post that I am sympathetic with the families that want to be with patients in their time of crisis. I understand the family centered care modality. But I won't and shouldn't have to tolerate abuse. Simply stating.. " I need everyone to step out now".. or... "please direct your questions to the designated spokesperson" will NOT resolve ALL nursing concerns. Trust me, I have been there, done that.

navyguyhm3

51 Posts

Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.
5thflrnrse,

You are right, I have never been a patient but, I have been a family member to a patient admitted to a critical care unit. I know based on that experience alone how to behave in a hospital. I also know what manners, common courtesy and respect are. Some families have none of these qualities.

Dylan...you are oh so right! Seems most patient family members leave their common courtesy and all things nice one they visit..or maybe they just always lacked proper judgement and manners. The way of the world for some people. Just let it roll of your back and carry on.

navyguyhm3

51 Posts

Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.
I understand full well we are not McDonald's but, if you look at health care trends we are heading in that direction. ie core measures, satisfaction based reimbursement by medicare. We are heading towards prepackaged healthcare for everyone. I don't think this is all bad but that's for another thread. The point I was trying to make is that some patient families are overbearing, rude, disrespectful and demanding. I stated in my first post that I am sympathetic with the families that want to be with patients in their time of crisis. I understand the family centered care modality. But I won't and shouldn't have to tolerate abuse. Simply stating.. " I need everyone to step out now".. or... "please direct your questions to the designated spokesperson" will NOT resolve ALL nursing concerns. Trust me, I have been there, done that.

While your quote at the end is mostly true..but if you add on to that with, something like, I know you have questions, I will answer them and explain the treatment (provided the patient allows you too) as soon as I'm done, but i need to focus on your mom..dad..son etc. This generally offers a level of courtesy to the family members and shows them that they are involved/informed with the patient care and it (in many of my cases) relaxes the family and they extend me the same courtesy and respect, allowing me to do my job efficiently and thoroughly and not having them tell me how to do my job. But there's always those that can give 2 figs and will make your night and the patients night hell. i actually had a few patients who have told their family/spouses to get the **** out because they were too involved, trying to run the staff and dictate the ordered care, all in all causing more harm than good to all members of the healthcare team, and the patients themselves.

iluvivt, BSN, RN

2,774 Posts

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

I am very kind to familly members and I find they are much more cooperative when I need them to step out so I can provide care. Heck I even go find them when I am done so they can come back in. It is NOT the cooperative and reasonable types I take issue with it is families that are unreasonable that I find annoying and use up my precious time. I do think their should be a limit on the number of visitors in a room and I think that patients and families and visitors need to be told up front that they may be asked to leave a patient care area if we are unable to provide care and privacy for our patients.

allnurses Guide

Hygiene Queen

2,232 Posts

I don't know how old you are, but you sound like an immature person.

What does this have to do with the topic?

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