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Specialties Private Duty

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I work a case here and there. Its 10 hour shifts. Its already boring because the kid only has a feeding tube. Not my kind of case, but I need the hours. The mom is retired and is about 70 years old. Her generation is different than ours. She doesn't allow nurses to use cell phones, bring tablets/laptops. A nurse had her cell die and she plugged it in without asking to be able to make emergency calls and she let the nurse go for not asking to charge her phone. This mom brags about letting nurses go. She lets nurses go over silly things. The office staff even has made comments about how picky she is. So to top that off, the only thing for the kid to watch (kid blind and deaf) is DVDs of wheel of fortune, cash cab, and teletubbies. They have cable, but claim the kid doesn't like TV. 10 hours is too long to be stuck doing nothing like that. If there was more to do with the kid, I wouldn't care. Oh yeah, and she has a camera and sits watching the monitor all day. Any thoughts on how I can get her to let us watch something other than wheel of fortune reruns? Or even phone use? Right now, I just drink lots so I can take frequent bathroom breaks to check phone and break up my day. The mom likes me, but I know that could change quickly. Can't trust her at all. She told me if I would do nights that I could "test out the recliner and that 4,5,6 hours of sleep can really make you feel refreshed". I declined. I don't do nights and don't sleep. Any suggestions on things I can do to avoid boredom?

Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.

The momn is nuts and she enjoys torturing you.Quit!

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Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.

I know this is a little off subject but how does a blind person watch videos? Also, how does child communicate?

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Don't people like this woman (client) ever run out of nurses that will take their cases?

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.
The momn is nuts and she enjoys torturing you.Quit!

Not an option since I need the hours. But its a rare case for me, so I tolerate it for the hours.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.
I know this is a little off subject but how does a blind person watch videos? Also how does child communicate?[/quote']

Lots of parents swear their blind child can see and their deaf child can hear. They don't want to believe reality or accept it.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.
Don't people like this woman (client) ever run out of nurses that will take their cases?

Yep. They just moved here and are already on the second agency because of staffing trouble. She uses two agencies right now to get coverage. I wish these agencies would just lay it out to these parents on why nurses don't stay and that eventually she will run out of nurses sending the rest away.

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I would resign from the case. We are professionals and should demand respect. Also, I would be sly and tell Mom about a case you recently left where the parents didn't want you to do anything but sit on a chair. Then tell her how odd that was because the kid was really sweet and most of the families let their nurses watch tv, bring an ipad, books etc.

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I had a case much like this and dropped it. I just couldn't (or wouldn't) be watched every minute of my entire shift like that, after I had been there for several shifts and more or less "proved" myself. Of course I might be the same way in the parents' position, but it makes for an almost hostile work environment.

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Yep. They just moved here and are already on the second agency because of staffing trouble. She uses two agencies right now to get coverage. I wish these agencies would just lay it out to these parents on why nurses don't stay and that eventually she will run out of nurses sending the rest away.

YES!! I guess they have to be concerned with customer service in order to keep the children as clients, but I wish they wouldn't cater to unreasonable demands so much. They kiss way too much sassy behind.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.
I would resign from the case. We are professionals and should demand respect. Also I would be sly and tell Mom about a case you recently left where the parents didn't want you to do anything but sit on a chair. Then tell her how odd that was because the kid was really sweet and most of the families let their nurses watch tv, bring an ipad, books etc.[/quote']

I like that idea. Will try it and see what happens. We talk about other cases all the time...nothing specific...but have talked about things like that I don't go to cases with roaches. So I'll update after I try it!

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

I wonder if you could "ease her into it" a bit... start by asking if it would be okay to read nursing journals or books on patient care or disease process or whatever. Spin it to be for her child's best interests: you want to be on top of advances in maintaining skin integrity, pain control, nutrition, blah blah blah.

That way you're "working on nursing stuff" when you're on the clock instead of just goofing off on Facebook or reading a trashy romance novel. If that works out, then if some of the books/magazines happen to be e-versions on a tablet/phone/computer, you'd be able to use your electronic devices "to read nursing material that could benefit her child".

Baby steps turn into toddling and then walking and then running.... good luck, you're gonna need it!

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LOL! It's sounds like dying to me. I would also suggest that you look for another case or try to approach her nicely and state how you feel about her conditions.

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