I'm a nurse. Not a housekeeper!

Specialties Private Duty

Published

Ok, let me start by saying that I do not feel that I am above cleaning someone elses house. Since I have started with this last client I have already cleaned their bathrooms, washed the walls (because all the other nurses got gtube feed all over it), swept the floors.... so on and so on. Let me give you a little background on the situation. I care for a little boy. He has 3 adults living in the house with him and a teenager. Two of the adults do not work. The consumers mother and I had a conversation because she made the statement that a nurse she interviewed said that she is not an overpaid nanny/housekeeper. I explained to her that she may not have worded it the best but I think she was trying to tell her that she is a nurse and it is her job to do healthcare for her child and not clean because I have heard horror stories about families expecting their nurse to do laundry and dust and stuff. She looked at me like I was speaking chinese or something. Next thing I know I get an update on the all service plan from my case manager and laundry and light housework was added to the plan! ***!? Like I said, I am not above helping around the house when I am bored. I actually like to clean. The point is that I am a nurse not a housekeeper and their is no reason why I need to do these things. If I were caring for an adult that could not do these things on their own I would understand but a child with 3 adults living there. It is not my job to do these things. Does anyone else feel the way I do about this? I think it is outragious. :angryfire

Thanks for letting me vent.

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Bump.

I've been doing PDN since June and had my first obligated housekeeper duties.

Actually, REALLY nice family. I was doing a twelve hour overnight. Mom's like "hey, here's some clothes if you want to fold and put away and some bottles to wash. But only if you want to! I know a lot of my overnight nurses ask for things to do so..."

Had kind of a hard shift with the baby (my first real young one -- I usually do toddlers, which I love. Babies are hard!) I washed the bottles that I used, plus his breathing tx stuff, etc. Mom comes in about an hour before my shift ends and is like "please wash the baby's bottles before you go off." So I end up washing probably two day's worth of baby bottles for my patient, PLUS his (normal) twin's bottles. Which, normally I wouldn't mind doing, but mom knew I'd had a difficult night. On top of which, mom made it sound like the extra bottles in the sink were baby X's ---) they weren't, they were his twin brothers' bottles, who does not need nursing care.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I don't ask for extra things to do overnight I knit. It's a traditional private duty nurse thing to do, easy to watch the patient and keep hands busy. Plus the families usually like it. Probably makes me seem older, more centered, mature. Plus I always hook them with this line for hospice. I like to knit while sitting at the bedside that way when I wear what I knitted I can remember your loved one. =D

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

I can't knit! I've tried but I'm terribly uncoordinated. I bring a book and even a tiny little book-light if they insist on no lights in the kiddo's room. (I prefer one so that I can see them, but whatevs.)

You're right 'tho that knitting is SO very PDN.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I knit too! -- . Everybody seems to be delighted to see that and will often launch into a story or their own and ask questions etc - the funnest one of all was when a very elderly relative of a patient who grew up in Havana started talking about their home life in Cuba and how she knit a lot of vests for the men and sleeveless sweaters. Her sister knit super-complicated tablecloths and stuff. She actually got herself a knitting project going after years of not knitting.

After all these years she did not use a pattern or diagram.

I can't crochet to save my life though. All thumbs with that.

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

^I was told that crocheting is easier if you can't knit.

I can't do either, but I can latch-hook.

/ducks.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
^I was told that crocheting is easier if you can't knit.

I can't do either, but I can latch-hook.

/ducks.

I'm not a crafting elitist. I'm just as happy with one of those Sunchaser stained glass kits, or foamy shapes. :) I used to love puff-painted T-shirts, too.

I do not take those items to work, though.

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