Babysitting a former patient

[moongoddess9301, BSN]

We have a patient who is now almost 8 months old. The entire unit loves her. We all want to volunteer to babysit for the mom when the baby goes home. My manager claimed that this is against the rules. That the hospital will disapprove and take action against a nurse who babysits a former patient. I plan to follow up on this question with the HR department in my hospital, but has anyone heard this before? To my thinking, once this person is no longer a patient at this hospital, it's none of the hospital's business if I do anything with the patient and their family. Especially since my babysitting is not affiliated with the hospital in any way. 

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

We have had a couple requests from parents for either a babysitter or private duty nurse in last 6 months. The manager posted the requests by the time clock, so she doesn't see an issue what we do on our own time.

[caliotter3]

Don't tell your employer what you do on your time.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Suggest you consider the liability aspect: will you be held to professional standards of care in the event of a problem?

[moongoddess9301, BSN]

Is any babysitter? Babysitters are not liable for injuries that could have happened under anyone's care. The fact that I am also an RN should not be a factor. Im not advertising myself as "nurse baby sitter" just babysitter who also happens to be a nurse. I am not a substitute for home nursing, and I would let the parents know this.  

[heron, ASN, RN]

24 minutes ago, moongoddess9301 said:

Is any babysitter? Babysitters are not liable for injuries that could have happened under anyone's care. The fact that I am also an RN should not be a factor. Im not advertising myself as "nurse baby sitter" just babysitter who also happens to be a nurse. I am not a substitute for home nursing, and I would let the parents know this.  

Would suggest you get it in writing. You’re not “any babysitter”, you’re a healthcare professional. An analogy would be being assigned to work as an aide ... in most states you’re still held to the standards of your license, regardless of your assignment. Of course, if the infant has no chronic or acute health issues, problems are unlikely. Still, I think it deserves a bit of thought and discussion with the family. Maybe check with your malpractice carrier.

[amoLucia]

And if anything goes south, you'll be the first person  being blamed. It doesn't matter how well meaning you might be and that you thought everything was understood.

When there's a poss lawsuit, all bets are OFF!

"Afterall, you're a nurse. You should have known better and done something!" So says an aggrieved complainant.

For your own information, just ask your malpractice carrier for an opinion. That's what I learned from an inservice early in my career.

I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS DECLINED.

There have been numerous postings here on AN that approach similar topics like this.

Volunteering versus paid care are 2 big diff things.

PERSONALLY, I'd never do it. Just the fact that you're asking tells me you have some reservations/doubts.

[moongoddess9301, BSN]

My question isn't if I should or should not babysit. It is whether or not my employer can tell me I can't babysit a person who is no longer a patient at that hospital. It's my free time and the child is not a patient any more. Can the hospital take action against me for babysitting? 

[chare]

You mentioned in your initial post that you were going to take this question to HR.  That is likely going to be your best course of action, as they are really the only source for the final answer.  Having said that, I do understand your manager's concern that someone, not necessarily you, is going to cross the line from being a baby sitter and become a home care provider.

Best wishes.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I think the hospital might fear being named in a lawsuit if anything happens.  You did meet the family in the course of your work.  Would the hospital be able to defend itself by stating what you do on your own time is not their business?

I'm playing devil's advocate for the hospital.  They know that plaintiffs go after the deepest pockets on tenuous grounds.  They probably don't really care what you do on your own time; they just want to be on record forbidding this to shield themselves from any potential liability.

[lmichelle25, BSN, RN]

I can see your side and your manager's. However, my first thought is why would you want to be so involved in a former patient's life? At some point, you have to create healthy boundaries and in my opinion, this doesn't seem very healthy or professional. But then again, I don't work with peds, so maybe you get more attached. In any case, this doesn't seem like it would be worth it, especially if your manager already made it clear that it's not allowed. 

[moongoddess9301, BSN]

I haven't decided if I'm going to do it yet, but whether I do or do not, I don't think it's any of the hospital's or my manager's business. This wouldn't be the first time my manager has tried to over exert her power. On multiple occasions she has attempted to control things that are none of her business. Such as where a nurse goes on vacation, or what type of education gets reimbursed. She told a group of us that because she was offering an RNC course (taught by her) that she would not approve reimbursement for a similar course that was not taught by her. We went to the director who told her she doesn't get to dictate which rnc course we take, they are all eligible for reimbursement. Because of things like this, I don't trust what she says. I want to know if the hospital actually has any jurisdiction over what I do when I'm not at work or if she's just trying to flex her power.