I just started a new position with a Home Health Agency that I thought was for home health care. It turns out to be really private duty nursing (taking care of medically fragile kids for 12 hours a day). My first patient was a young CP girl with a G-Tube. Received one day orientation and next day on my own. Two days with her no problems. The case was somewhat boring as I had to sit in the child's room all day. No T.V., no reading, just sitting. This girl was not going to be my permanent placement as the regular nurse just wanted a few days off.
The agency called me to start a new case. Ten month old baby boy, G-Tube, trach and a genetic disease that leaves him open to infection that could turn him south in a few hours time.
When I interviewed with the Home Health Agency I was up front about my knowledge with Peds, Trachs, G-Tubes, and Vents. Basically, I worked an adult Med-Surg floor for a year after graduating. I had no experience with Peds, very limited with trachs (two older patient's that had trachs forever and self cared for them), and no Vents. This new patient has a tract and is a Ped. I asked if there would be some in home orientation so I could become comfortable with trach care with this baby. The agency told me the Mom would orient me for everything I would need. ummmmmm really! Is this good? My gut feeling is NO. If things went south, baby's trach plugs or dislodges and comes out, I better be comfortable with acting fast on this little guy. Is it unreasonable for me to be asking for some hands on orientation with this unfamiliar case?
My gut feeling is telling me I could be setting myself up for a law-suit, loss of license, or worse the loss of this baby's life.
My first day is supposed to be Sunday, should I call and tell them I'm not comfortable with the case without adequate hands on orientation? Or am I just being a nervous new nurse?
