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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.

Cooking and food are a major part of many cultures. For several families I've worked with, this has been the case. (I've worked in Home Health for 2 yrs or so)

That being said it was a normal occurance for them to offer their nurses food. In their culture, and plenty others including my own ancestors', its considered rude and even insulting to refuse the offer. It is viewed as a gift and gesture of thankfulness on their part. For me, it's never been an issue. I've learned a lot of great cooking tips/recipes from these families. :p :)

I know for some of you, this is an ABSOLUTE no-go. Food allergies, sensitive stomach, just personal preference... what ever the reason may be.

Others are comfortable with accepting food from the patient/family you work with (granted these were well-kept hygienic homes/individuals)

Even if you don't work in Home Health, I have heard from nurses that work in Nursing Homes, Hospitals,.etc. where this is a commen occurrence as well. So I'd like to hear from everyone! Please:laugh:

What is your personal policy on accepting food gratuities from the pt/pt's family?

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My policy.. if it looks good, I eat it! :)

I worked in home health also, and was offered some lovely treats over the years. One of my favorites was a amazing baklava that made me want to bake some myself (have not tackled that yet).

In the hospital setting, I think a gift of commercially prepared food for the unit is a nice gesture. Many people understandably do not eat the homemade gifts. One family gave my unit a nice big Edible Arrangements bouquet and box of strawberries that were a huge hit.

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

I work private duty homecare. I will accept food for a special occasion, but not as an ongoing custom. I have three main reasons.

First, it really is good practice to keep a professional distance. By that, I mean that I want them to see me as an employee of the company they have hired, someone who gives skillful nursing care to their child. I am not a family friend, although I am friendly. I am not a member of the extended family. I am there to give good nursing care to their child, while allowing the family room to be a family. I am there to help the parents.

Second, I am paid by my company. The family does not owe me money or food or gifts. It can get expensive to feed the nurses, especially if the coverage is 24/7. I don't want the family to feel that they should feed us.

Third, it is against company policy to accept gifts - and food is a gift. It can even be found to be against the law, if it is an ongoing cost to the family.

If they keep offering me food, I'll gently explain my reasons. Usually, when they hear that it is against company policy, they'll agree that it's OK for me to say, "No, thanks." They don't want to get me in trouble. ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I drew the line the very first time I saw the family DAWG licking remnants of whatever from the dining room table.:yuck:

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Would not have been practical on cases where I worked six or seven days a week. You can't eat them out of house and home. A treat now and then, or a plate when you help out the family by working Thanksgiving (not otherwise scheduled), acceptable, but sometimes the families who insist on foisting their cultural beliefs on the nurse, raise the level of discomfort for the nurse. It ranks not far below those who insist that the nurse falsify the time sheet when they send the nurse home early.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

In dialysis, patients bring food to staff often. It's a way of showing appreciation in many cultures, I agree. I do eat food from people often, esp the Filipino food. LOVE IT. There are others who are outwardly dirty or smoke heavily. I still accept, say thank you, and toss it in the breakroom.

I don't tend to refuse cause I do not want to appear ungrateful. I don't see accepting food as crossing a line as they tend to bring it for everyone, not just a select few.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

It is a common occurence in LTACH. I have to refuse, doesn't matter what, because of my allergies. But other nurses gracefully accept the stuff and whoever wants it, is welcome to breakroom.

On the other hand, we sometimes bring food for families/patients in crisis or just plain and simply got sick and tired from cafeteria food, which is, in fact, awful. I lost count of cases when old folks got their appetites all the way back after a few spoons of homemade chicken stock or borsht, or other good stuff. So both sides appreciate it... I wish I could participate more :cry:

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
I drew the line the very first time I saw the family DAWG licking remnants of whatever from the dining room table.:yuck:

Hahaha ... oh my ... I'm embarrassed to say that I'm a dog person so I'm not quite sure if that would faze me or not! :lol2:

No but really, they would get a polite no thank you from then on out for sure lol :shy:

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
It is a common occurence in LTACH. I have to refuse, doesn't matter what, because of my allergies. But other nurses gracefully accept the stuff and whoever wants it, is welcome to breakroom.

On the other hand, we sometimes bring food for families/patients in crisis or just plain and simply got sick and tired from cafeteria food, which is, in fact, awful. I lost count of cases when old folks got their appetites all the way back after a few spoons of homemade chicken stock or borsht, or other good stuff. So both sides appreciate it... I wish I could participate more :cry:

Aw, see that stinks that you have to hold back. The chicken noodle soup bringing the appetite back part made me smile ear to ear though. :)

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
In dialysis, patients bring food to staff often. It's a way of showing appreciation in many cultures, I agree. I do eat food from people often, esp the Filipino food. LOVE IT. There are others who are outwardly dirty or smoke heavily. I still accept, say thank you, and toss it in the breakroom.

I don't tend to refuse cause I do not want to appear ungrateful. I don't see accepting food as crossing a line as they tend to bring it for everyone, not just a select few.

My dad is a dialysis patient and always brings my mom's newest recipe or some baked goodie for everyone to try.

But I have also run into a few of those situations too where you have to graciously except and then secretly discard ... lol.

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
My policy.. if it looks good, I eat it! :)

I worked in home health also, and was offered some lovely treats over the years. One of my favorites was a amazing baklava that made me want to bake some myself (have not tackled that yet).

In the hospital setting, I think a gift of commercially prepared food for the unit is a nice gesture. Many people understandably do not eat the homemade gifts. One family gave my unit a nice big Edible Arrangements bouquet and box of strawberries that were a huge hit.

Baklava! Yeeessss! You'll be the talk of the town if you get that tasty treat down. I love it! My mom used to bake professionally, now she just does it as a hobby, but she makes it for special occasions. Yum yum in my tum tums

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I work for food, and fresh eggs.

A hundred years ago when I was pregnant in the summer with my first, the husband of a patient always had a fresh squeezed glass of Concord grape juice from his garden waiting for me. It was fabulous and I would have been an ass to decline.

Another planted a tomato bush for me every year in his beautiful garden. I brought those tomatoes home and enjoyed the heck out of them.

I had a Middle Eastern LOL (I don't recall which country, this was >25 yrs ago) and her son one day asked me to join him for some ethnic food. It was an unfamiliar to me type of bread dipped in oil and herbs. I was fresh out school and still didn't like my food to touch and I was pretty anxious about trying it, but I did it out of respect for his gesture. I would have loved it now but at the time I had to work to keep from scrunching up my face as I chewed amd swallowed.

Since then lots of food gifts but those are my favorite. All these years later and I still remember them fondly.

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