Attention med/surg/floor nurses

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2015

I used to see a lot of drug babies in the early 90's. Not so much anymore.

I think this is attributable to a countrywide decline in epidemic abuse of street drugs that were wildly popular a couple of decades ago, namely crack cocaine and heroin.

Clinicians in rural, homogenous areas anecdotally report an uptick in births of infants born with methamphetamine in their systems over the past 20 years. Then again, this corresponds with the rise in popularity of meth as a street drug of choice in certain regions of the US.

ontheway2crna · Feb 9, 2015

I work in the neuro ICU, and let me tell you, sometimes we have an endless parade of visitors to see grandma. I also have hovering family members attempting to perform neuro checks on grandma while there's propofol/versed/fentanyl running. Even after repetitive education on this and that to just let grandma rest, they do not listen. I cannot even begin to imagine how the families of NICU patients behave, especially when it is a baby that everyone has been anxiously anticipating to meet who is now fighting for its life.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 9, 2015

My issue with peds is that I have children and I don't think I coudl handle an emergent situation. I don't like them in adults. I work on an intermediate floor so we don't have many very sick people. In 2 years I have called 2 RRTs/0 codes. I like it that way. I have a high geriatric population and believe me, the children/spouses of pts can be very demanding.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

I don't think I could handle an emergent situation.

This is my problem, too. I cannot handle high acuity and I freak out with codes or sudden changes in condition.

I like low acuity, stable patient populations and predictable outcomes. Hence, I work in post-acute and have absolutely no desire to work in acute care hospital nursing.

canigraduate · Feb 10, 2015

My issue with peds and babies is that I have no rationality and a violent temper when it comes to protecting them. I will beat a parent that harms a child. I don't have the same issues with family members of adults, although it is more problematic with the older, vulnerable patients.

I'm just saying, don't hit your kid in front of me. (Unless you WANT a beatdown, then go for it.)

Glycerine82, LPN · Feb 10, 2015

I was just reading the thread about what area of nursing you would NOT want to be in. I read so many posts from nurses saying they wouldn't want to deal with babies/kids because of their parents. I work in NICU, so I get it. But, don't your adult patients have family member who visit that drive you nuts?? Can you explain what the difference is between difficult family members of adult patients vs. babies/kids? Is it because the parents sometimes never leave? Just curious. thanks

I don't want to work L&D because of the psychotic, screaming, laboring Mothers, the kids and babies I'd do all day long.

I'd rather talk to 17 demented husbands of my patients than one laboring mother.

This could largely be because I just coached my sister last weekend while she gave birth, and that pillow was looking reeaalllyyyyy tempting. ;-)

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

Also, significant others very often never leave and constantly ask for cokes/linens/etc. so I'm thinking it's not just parents of babies that never leave.

Our patients and family members are able to help themselves to our linen cart and nourishment room. But family members are reminded that nourishments are for patients only. Yeah right on either family or staff following that.

MA Nurse · Feb 10, 2015

I couldn't work in Peds or PICU where you would see abuse. Thats why I work NICU. Most parents are ok. Its the long term premie parents that wear you down.

melizerd, ASN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

Oh I have crazy families too. But not every one of my patients has family there with them, and most if them head home at some point. Also my patients also send their families home themselves.

Not all the families are crazy anywhere but babies can't speak for themselves and parents of sick babies are particularly scared.

firstinfamily, RN · Feb 10, 2015

I had two young adult grand-daughters of a patient stay overnight this last weekend. At first I thought, "oh great, now I have to care for them as well." However, in this case they helped the pt with transfers to the BSC, they did not "request" anything for themselves, they did not hog the telephone or just stare at the TV like a lot of visitors do. I was grateful they were there and they did help my pt be less anxious. It just depends on what is going on with the patient and who the family are. Some people are just meant to be helpers and others are just meant to be. "It takes all kinds to make the world go round." My statement when I cannot put it into words!!! As a parent I can see how I would want to stay with a young child. My 89 year old mother reminds me that no matter how old I get, I am still her child, so we really cannot be critical of the 30 year old having his mother present. Yes, all of us need to grow up, but when it comes to illness and family, we should honor their need to be present and on board with their loved one.

walkingthecow · Feb 10, 2015

I think the family members at the adult ICU I used to work at were worse to deal with than the parents at the peds cardiac ICU I work at now!

nurse4ever08 · Feb 11, 2015

Because most adult patients are oriented and speak for themselves whereas babies don't. I can tell the family to ask the patient for information and where to go for food.