Craziest PDN/PDN Venting Thread

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I looked in here, and other places, and didn't see a sole thread dedicated to the madness that is PDN. As PDN's we go through... Well, a variety of experiences. Let's just say we could write one heck of a book.

So this thread is for:

1. Your wildest, craziest, saddest, happiest, most psycho private duty nursing/homecare stories (Pedi or Adults)

2. Venting about frustrating parents, cases, patients, etc

3. Advice on "should I stay in this case VS that one, etc."

I hope lots of people participate, I feel this is going to be helpful.... We can feel isolated out there in the field. I personally love sharing stories with other nurses. I'll go first, but I'll wait til I get home and can really type out some doozies. :)

Happy story telling :)

Yes, I need to get the indoor slippers or sneakers again soon. I am jealous of ventmommie's cubbies, especially after the parents that got angry that I rinsed out my supper Tupperware in their sink. ::dying::

I honestly do not get this. What in the world is wrong with rinsing out tupperware in the sink?

Are people really so petty?

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

I honestly do not get this. What in the world is wrong with rinsing out tupperware in the sink?

Are people really so petty?

Its control. They could have even had a bad day and the nurse was convenient. Doesn't make it right. Meanwhile those same people probably enjoy a kitchen in their workplace and expect it. Their employer probably provides chairs too...never thought of that as a job perk until doing this job!

On the positive side, if any of us change our area of nursing, our employer will love us because we will be so grateful for a chair, a sink, and a bathroom (filled with tp that we don't have to bring of course).

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Exactly! I often wonder about how workplace rules are applied to home nursing care situations. Ventmommy- I second the request of the AP for that list!

PLEASE do not take this the wrong way, I'm trying to express something I've often thought about and am pretty sure it will come off as mean/ rude/insensitive and that is NOT my intent: Having home nursing care is a privilege generally paid for by one's fellow citizens (by means of taxes as most home cases in my experience are on medicaid). And yes, we are in your home, and yes it is intrusive and not the way you had planned to live your life- but companies that allow families to walk all over the nurses and deprive them of basic needs (toilet facilities, the use of a sink) should not be allowed to stay in business IMHO. Name me ANY other type of employee denied access to a restroom or a place to sit on their break time (which we do not get)??

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Positive things have been coming my way lately. A dad called me Mary Poppins. A family let me use their Kurig all I wanted. Another family served me a steak dinner to enjoy during " down time". And a little boy kissed me.

:-)

LOVE being called Mary Poppins! :inlove:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I just ignore such rules. It seems like a game of chicken to me.

This...I'm a little roguish...

So far, I think there was only one mildly crazy interaction I had with a nurse and parents I was going to orient with...this nurse wanted to stay on the case because of the overtime during night shift, and the mom (who I told when I was starting) acted like they didn't know I was orienting that particular night...so the nurse was basically refusing to orient me. I DON'T do crazy, so I got a free night of pay plus bonus for being "understanding" and making her think she ran me off for the overtime. I got a cleaner (no infestation of roaches), more compensating case that was closer to me that was during the day and great pick up on shifts...I had the last laugh, especially since I didn't have the risk of picking up "visitors" to come home with me! :yes:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

The home is a workplace and like it or not, the nurse is there to help the parent. I know that lots of parents are still grieving all the "wasn't supposed to be like this" scenarios but that is not an excuse to abuse the people trying to help.

:yes::yes::yes:

One of the things that I do is to approach parents like this...most of the time, it worked out for me. :yes:

I have been fortunate to work with parents like you ventmommy! :yes:

I remember more of the good cases than the bad....usually I get out of those "strange" cases...

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Specializes in Peds, developmental disability.

If it is a privilege to have nursing care, since it is free to the family, then why do some families tend to begrudge us the reasonable use of paper products or modest amounts of extra electricity?

I sometimes am on duty there so mom can work. I am glad she can work and that I can keep her child safe and well while she is gone. But where else could you get free child care? I would think that would count for something!

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I'd really like to make a Top 20 list for some of your families but I can't think of a tactful way for you to hand them out. But I will work on one for you wonderful nurses.

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Specializes in Pediatric.
I'd really like to make a Top 20 list for some of your families but I can't think of a tactful way for you to hand them out. But I will work on one for you wonderful nurses.

Oh you're the bomb. I love you. I'd still like to see what the one for the families would say... Just out of curiosity.

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Specializes in Pediatric.

Also, a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has kept this thread popping! I need to reply to a few of the posts, but I hope people keep coming in and posting.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

On the positive side, if any of us change our area of nursing, our employer will love us because we will be so grateful for a chair, a sink, and a bathroom (filled with tp that we don't have to bring of course).

LOL!!! At the SNF I used to work at, there were chairs and bathrooms, but I seldom got to use them!

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I used to work for an A&O college age girl on the overnight shift in her dormitory. She had an MD-spectrum disease and used a w/c. She would have her boyfriend over often, and on those nights I'd be banished to the dorm lounge! It was permitted in her 504 that she could be independent and have nurses leave but we had to stay near and stand by for her texts. She was supposed to let me know when she was ready to be transferred to bed, but she would just get her boyfriend do it himself w the lift. I wasn't comfortable w that and neither were the other 11-7 nurses. So the agency trained and "certified" the boyfriend so he could assume legal responsibility when the girl would make us leave her room. Still wasn't crazy about that but the agency assured me we'd be off the hook. I left soon after that, still didn't feel right.

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