Another "OMG i can't believe you did that!" family member story

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Specializes in LDRP.

Had a family member come out and talk to me about pt's being in a semiprivate. blah blah blah, generic complaints. roomate is too noisy, too many visitors, talks too loud "maybe they can't hear and have to yell", too many phone calls, blah blah. she actually said to me that last night she snuck and unplugged the roomate's phone so people would stop calling!:uhoh3:

i had to refrain from saying what i really thought.....

i said that is absolutely inappropriate, do not mess with her phone.

she says i had to do something, she's too noisy, blah blah.

i said if you have a problem, come to us. it is inappropriate of you to do that, that is not your right.

she didnt even act the least bit remorseful or shamed, or embarrassed. almost like she really did have the right to do that.

:madface: :madface: :madface: :madface: :madface: :madface: :madface:

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Specializes in Surgical/Telemetry.

Ugggh, does not sound fun in the slightest. It was definitely wrong of her to unplug the phone.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I agree. I hope you reported her to your NM.

And while we're on the subject, am I the only person who thinks that the real problem is that many, if not all, of our patients need private rooms? So why are hospitals still being built with semi-privates?

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Ooooh, you did good keeping your temper. How incredibly rude!!!

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
I agree. I hope you reported her to your NM.

And while we're on the subject, am I the only person who thinks that the real problem is that many, if not all, of our patients need private rooms? So why are hospitals still being built with semi-privates?

I wonder about that too. Are the cost savings of sharing rooms worth the headaches that arise because of incompatibility issues? Seems there are enough issues going on in a hospital without adding roommates to the mix.

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Specializes in ER.

Does the hospital have a time when it stops forwarding calls to the room? I can see her frustration if it was 2am, but she should have let the nurses know first.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I have to confess if I were really sick and a bit disinhibited by narcs, in the hospital and my roommate's phone was ringing off the hook all day I'd be tempted to unplug the phone. I know it's wrong and I'm out of line, but I have to admit I'd be tempted, and I might do it.

It's kind of ironic that with all the HIPAA talk, patients have a stranger in the bed next to them hearing all their personal and private stuff.

I would think patients would flock to a hospital with private rooms for elective admissions. Few things are worse than being in pain and on a raw jagged edge so vulnerable and having a parade of someone else's visitors in the room. Not exactly restful.

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That is when I say visiting times are over, you will have to leave.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

In situations like this we usually offer to let the patient move to a private room. We do however inform them of the added charge. If that isnt an option we try to move the patient "needing rest" to a room without a roomate and try to leave the second bed open as long as we can. Its just easier to try to avoid any confrontation with roomies families and try to intercede in things quickly before they escalate.

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I have to say that while it was wrong... good for her!!! I mean, people are in the hospital. They don't need to have the phone ringing or even be talking on the phone at 2 in the morning. THAT is rude and disrespectful!!!!

When my aunt was dying in the hospital her roomate was horrible. She was young and had her daughter and another young woman STAYING in the room with her. They were using the patient's restroom and everything (a pet peeve of mine).

Our hospital shuts off incoming calls at 9:00. I think they all should.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Worked yesterday and had an elderly male with COPD (eventually went to ICU from my ER) so he was pretty sick. Five family members present. One family member went to another room (occupied by a patient with a visitor standing at the bedside) and said to the pt "you only have one visitor, I'm taking this chair!" Yikes....

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Specializes in ER.

Nice to know someone else uses the chairless method to try a limit visitors.

Volunteers will flummox you almost every time if they notice a gathering, so try to tip them off early and often.;)

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