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| No. 30 | 
Nov 19, 2009, 07:22 PM
 Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper!
Just this morning my new client and I were discussing the poor behavior of home health nurses and how they bear a poor reflection upon themselves, their employer, and the profession.
 | | No. 31 |
Nov 20, 2009, 08:39 AM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper!
I still think even doing the clients laundry is taking it to far. That's what the family is for. They did it before the client got sick so why stop now? Do you guys put that u did clients laundry in the nurses notes?
| | No. 32 |
Nov 20, 2009, 09:26 AM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper!
I was doing laundry for a previous client. I did two shifts a week. Every other shift was a caregiver off the street. None of them were HHAs or CNAs. I wrote in my nursing note, "Laundry done by licensed nurse." I let the client know that laundry did not fall under the category of skilled nursing care. Her response was, "Or they're so busy and they get tired." That is why they left their thong underwear and clothing for their toddlers in the basket for me to wash along with the clothing of the client. I do not work there anymore.
| | No. 33 |
Nov 20, 2009, 03:27 PM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper! Originally Posted by smartnurse1982  I still think even doing the clients laundry is taking it to far. That's what the family is for. They did it before the client got sick so why stop now? Do you guys put that u did clients laundry in the nurses notes?
Totally agree. I was thinking to myself-- what is the most I would be willing to do? For example, on the weekend if bedding gets soiled, I will rinse it and put it to soak so that it will be easier for the regular caregiver when she comes in. One time someone forgot to fold a dry basket, so I did it because I have total respect for this person, she doesn't try to foist stuff off on me, and she doesn't ever complain about anything. I don't do anyone's dishes but the patient's as a rule, but I have done the grandpa's one or two if they happened to be in the sink. Every family and every situation is different. If I felt I was being taken advantage of I'd be out of there in a hot second.
I don't chart tasks like that in the nurse's notes, unless it was part of an overall case of unsafe or neglectful home environment. We have flow sheets to check off most routine things, but not much space for a narrative. Some nurses do this, I find funny-- they write really small, and go up the side of the page every conceivable detail, fluffed pillow-tolerated well  wiped chin x3 :chuckle
| | No. 34 |
Nov 20, 2009, 06:33 PM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper!
I charted the laundry task both to show that I was doing it, but more importantly to document it because to do her laundry, I had to physically leave the apartment and go to the laundry room, out of earshot of the vent alarms. I disagreed with this practice more than I disagreed that licensed nurses should not be doing laundry when predominantly unlicensed persons work the case. I also didn't appreciate having to leave the apartment at night, a personal safety issue. On at least two occasions I returned to find her vent alarming away.
| | No. 35 |
Nov 21, 2009, 01:56 AM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper! Originally Posted by caliotter3 I charted the laundry task both to show that I was doing it, but more importantly to document it because to do her laundry, I had to physically leave the apartment and go to the laundry room, out of earshot of the vent alarms. I disagreed with this practice more than I disagreed that licensed nurses should not be doing laundry when predominantly unlicensed persons work the case. I also didn't appreciate having to leave the apartment at night, a personal safety issue. On at least two occasions I returned to find her vent alarming away.
You bring up a very good point. There are unique documentation issues we have. There is no end to the funny business family members will engage in, or attempt to engage us in. I'm sure you've come across things. We may not have friendly witnesses to the care we provide. I've been lucky as far as personal safety so far, but some of my co-workers have described some verrry "iffy" neighborhoods. It's too bad, too. The elderly and the children have no fault in that, but they suffer when nurses refuse to come to their areas.
| | No. 36 |
Dec 21, 2009, 11:28 AM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper! For those nurses that choose to do housework...just realize that you set the precedence and a certain level of expectation by the families for other nurses. I once went to orient at a pediatric patient's house. The nurse there was doing the previous night's dishes, mopping the kitchen, cleaning the patient's little brother's bottles and making formula for the little brother. I knew I would not come back when the dad left the patient's little brother (who was 6months old) with the nurse, along with the patient (who was 2 and vent dependent) while he went to work. I never went back there. I knew that if she did all that, they family would expect me to do the same.
I clean the patient's immediate area, equipment, the little tub after bathing him, utensils that I use for his care. I don't touch anything else in the sink. I clean up after myself, straighten up his room...I don't do his or anyone else's laundry. I'm there to take care of his medical needs as a licensed professional. | | No. 37 |
Dec 21, 2009, 01:27 PM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper! Originally Posted by caliotter3 I charted the laundry task both to show that I was doing it, but more importantly to document it because to do her laundry, I had to physically leave the apartment and go to the laundry room, out of earshot of the vent alarms. I disagreed with this practice more than I disagreed that licensed nurses should not be doing laundry when predominantly unlicensed persons work the case. I also didn't appreciate having to leave the apartment at night, a personal safety issue. On at least two occasions I returned to find her vent alarming away.
Yikes!!!!  You had to physically leave the apt. to go to the laundry room at night!!! That sounds like a very dangerous situation for both you and the patient. I think it was a good idea that you did chart the laundry task. I am planning to look for a private duty LPN job on night shift. I had thought that since I will be working nights that I wouldn't even have to worry about anyone asking me to do any housework. Now I see from your post that even night shift is not safe from being asked to do housework.  | | No. 38 |
Dec 21, 2009, 01:54 PM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper!
Night shift is usually asked to do housework, particularly laundry, because, of course, night shift does nothing, and the other shifts do everything. I am not being facetious with this statement. Both the client and your agency supervisors will say something like this.
| | No. 39 |
Dec 21, 2009, 04:50 PM
Re: I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper!
Oh no!!!! I had thought that the other family members would want to sleep at night and would not want me making any noise at night. I guess what I could do is wait until everyone is sound asleep. Then I could get the vacuum cleaner and go vacuum loudly in their bedrooms. Of course, I would have to smash the vacuum cleaner hard against the walls many times while I do it.
No seriously, I hate housework. I thought I would just be taking care of my patient at night and reading a book when my client is asleep. |
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