akward situations in the home

Blackcat99 · Feb 13, 2010

It sure does sound akward!!! :eek: I am hoping to start private duty nursing soon. I sure hope I am not going to be in this kind of situation. Hopefully, someone will post who can tell us if this situation is something rare or not.

allnurses Guide · Feb 13, 2010

That's pretty awkward! Sitting in a dark room in a chair for 8 hours with only a flashlight for light sounds kind of bizarre, not to mention boring as hel l. Then you have to write your notes and prop the flashlight on something so you can see what your are writing? Parents scrutinizing, super common. I'm kind of curious about why a nurse has to be there 24/7 if he only has a G-tube? Seems like it would be hard to do an assessment with just a flashlight, too. People are odd sometimes.

I've been lucky, always had a separate area. If they insist on that arrangement, you should at least be able to bring in your DVD player. :)

smartnurse1982 · Feb 13, 2010

To me the most awkward thing was the fact they sleep in the same bed. Lucky for me I have a smartphone with the internet. She agreed to turn on a lamp in the other room but I still have a hard time seeing. The things we got through......

smartnurse1982 · Feb 13, 2010

I. Have done 2 cases this week that have situations I never seen Before. I work 11pm to 7 am. Yhe cases are chikldr
Children 4 years old with gbutton. Mom sleeps with the child in a full size bed. I feel kinda awkward becase I sit in a chair about 5 feet from the bed,meaning I can see both of them sleeping. The case is alright but I don't know how I am going to get used to it. Also,mom is looking and scrutizing everything u do. She also turns off all the lights so the only light I have is a flashlight. Anybody ever run into any awkard situations in the home setting? Please share!

Oops sorry for all the typos. I was at work and posted at 3am

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2010

Have been in a situation almost identical to one you described. If you find it is too awkward for your tolerance, ask for a different case. I try to accommodate, but draw the line when it directly interferes with too much of my job. You can't be expected to chart in the dark on night shift. That is an unreasonable request. If she wants it dark in the room, you should be in a lighted area elsewhere within earshot. Parents watching you like a hawk is common. Likewise, if their constant surveillance is disturbing, ask for a different case.

Blackcat99 · Feb 13, 2010

No, I sure wouldn't want a case like this one. I am planning on working nights. I will need to read at night if I am not busy in order to stay awake. Sitting in the dark, I would be afraid of dozing off myself. Plus with all the charting, I would need to be able to see exactly what I was charting. I hope you can find something better soon. Good luck.

allnurses Guide · Feb 13, 2010

=smartnurse1982 . . . . Yhe cases are chikldr

No need to apologize for typos! That's pretty good for sitting in the dark with a flashlight! :lol2:

But seriously, giving this a little more thought. Patients or parents with kids who need 1:1 care in the home often develop a tendency to talk about "their rights" to excuse almost every behavior under the sun, and unfortunately, there are enough nurses willing to validate that for their own reasons. When that happens, everybody loses.

In reality, it works both ways. Safe working conditions don't apply to everyone except people who work in other people's homes. We have the right to be in a safe environment. Yes, they bend the rules, but if you trip over something in the dark and injure yourself do you think they will ever give you another thought? No. We have the right to be able to assess the patient by being able to see the patient. If something goes wrong on your shift that could have been caught by a proper assessment that you were unable to do because of their quirky "rules", it won't be the parents who get the blame.

Sorry if I sound too negative, but I really get sick of hearing from these families who have been taught by other nurses that anything goes, and maybe they are right. Nurses will be so desperate for a job they go along with it. Makes me mad. It really makes me value, also, the families who do respect and appreciate the care they or their family member receives, that is for sure!!

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2010

The saddest part of this is that the nursing supervisors from the agencies go hand in hand with condoning and supporting the families with their unreasonable demands. If the nursing supervisors and management would act in the best interests of their employees they would find themselves with less litigation to deal with and they might develop positive reputations in the nursing community. Nurses flock to work for employers that support their nurses.

smartnurse1982 · Feb 14, 2010

What about the fact they sleep in the same bed? Anybody ever have a case like that?

allnurses Guide · Feb 14, 2010

What about the fact they sleep in the same bed? Anybody ever have a case like that?

I never have, but I did know a case where the nurses would hop into bed next to the 20 yr old paraplegic gunshot victim. :eek: :eek: :eek: :uhoh21: :uhoh21:

Without knowing these people, I can't say for sure, but there are actually quite a few people who sleep in the same bed as their kids. Many times they eat a lot of trail mix and wear Birkenstock sandals. Or sometimes it is a matter of convenience, or the mother is over-anxious and afraid something will happen to her child if she can't hear him breathing at all times. Parents of these kids have often been to hell and back dealing with their disabled child and the constant health worries.

Blackcat99 · Feb 14, 2010

Yikes!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: So a mother sleeping with her child is not so unusual. When I start working nights, I am planning to do vital signs and assessments at the beginning of my shift. What if Mom gets mad at me for disturbing her sleep? Is Mom going to call the agency and say "Never send me that nurse again":crying2: