Boundary HELP!!!!!!

[AtlantaRN, RN]

How do you keep yourself within your scope of practice with patients or families that tend

to suck the life out of their nurses and nursing assistants?

We had an odd situation, where a family (Lets call them family #1)wanted to "rent" an electric wheelchair--but couldn't find a company to reasonably rent from-----there was a patient that had an electric wheelchair and the family member lets call them family #2)was needing money and a nurse got involved and arranged the wheelchair to be rented from family #2........

Well, several months had passed-checks had changed hands for several months and all was well until The patient that "rented" the wheelchair had passed away, and that family had no urgent need to return the wheelchair..... Family #1 had no vehicle..............

After much prayer, the nurse that arranged this had called a local ambulance service, and they sent out their van for FREE and delivered the wheelchair back to the original owner. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!

Now, family #1 is asking ME to "sell the wheelchair on ebay," I said "no, this is not part of my position and I cannot enter into a third party agreement with you." Family #1 says "i'll give you $500 for doing this," I answer "NO", "there is too much liability---it is not mine to sell--" THEN family #1 asks me for a "referral to my regular doctor," I told him that he didn't need a referral to see his regular doctor, he could see him at anytime..... He tell me "I wanted to see him to get a prescription so I can get another one of these $13,000 electric wheelchairs," when I asked why-----he said "i'm gonna sell this one."

I was so ANGRY!!!!!! I want to help people with their physicial, emotional and spiritual problems, but is there a sign on my forehead that says "sucker?"!!!!!

I send an aide once a week to help him obtain groceries. Last week the Chaplain went to visit and he asked if she would take him to the store---she did and he bought BEER and NO FOOD!!!!! He is diabetic and doesn't eat on a regular basis.

I believe I need to back away from this patient and give him to someone else. He is too draining on me. Physicially he is essentially stable, but emotionally he is draining.

thank you for listening, any input is greatly appreciated.

linda

[tencat]

There are people out there who will take the proverbial mile if you give an inch. It was nice of you to arrange all of that, but I think it's perfectly acceptable to say no to further pushing from the patient. You can't accept $500 for selling the chair on e-bay, and it's not right to ask you to do that for him. As to the new prescription for a new wheelchair, not a priority, and you are well within your practice to say "no" and explain that it might be fraud if he obtains a new wheelchair just because he wants to make money and sell the old one. I would also document that conversation just to cover yourself.

[AtlantaRN, RN]

There are people out there who will take the proverbial mile if you give an inch. It was nice of you to arrange all of that, but I think it's perfectly acceptable to say no to further pushing from the patient. You can't accept $500 for selling the chair on e-bay, and it's not right to ask you to do that for him. As to the new prescription for a new wheelchair, not a priority, and you are well within your practice to say "no" and explain that it might be fraud if he obtains a new wheelchair just because he wants to make money and sell the old one. I would also document that conversation just to cover yourself.

Amen and Thank you!!! for your input. Some folks will just suck the life out of you...

Linda

[Dialysister]

In your position, I would refer this situation to the Social Worker on the case.

[leslie :-D]

In your position, I would refer this situation to the Social Worker on the case.

absolutely.

this is clearly a job for the sw.

i love passing the buck.

leslie

[shrinky]

God bless the Social Workers, for I also would refer this to them. When I admit a patient I always put the social worker in on the case even though some patients have wanted only a nurse. The nurse cannot be all things to all people and many burn out because they try to be it all. There is a line one has to draw and let someone else have the other side of the line to deal with, the MSW, the chaplain,etc. Good luck with your work and God bless you for the heart of giving.:heartbeat