BP & Visitors

No you were not wrong for suggesting it, what was definately wrong was the lack of respect that the visitors were showing for the pt. and the nurse with the rude "real" comment.

Best suggestion for this is to privately ask the pt. if this many visitors are stressing or bothing them, and then maybe tack a sign on the door "only 2 visitors at a time please". We had to do that once when a pt. had SIXTEEN trying to cram into his private room, i swear some people think that a private room=party time.

Essarge

I replied to the other thread but I'll reply he also.

Yes I think it's appropriate to suggest that visits spread their visits. And It's OK to show them a lobby that's close by. You need to be careful in how you word it. I'm assuming that the RN was doing something else for his BP. But your suggestion could have helped.

There was a thread awhile back about using soft music to control BP.

Noney

Man, in our hospital those patients would be out so fast they wouldn't know what hit them! With a blood pressure like that no one would be in the room. How can they say they can't tell the visitors what to do? We are the nurse, we are repsonsible for that patient, and if something bad did happen, who would they be looking to? That's right! The nurse...

Amanda :)

side note: the nurse had given the patient something for the high BP but an hour later it was still very elavated. Also, when I went into the room to take the BP the patient was watching a Jets football game and very excited. I'm off today but will be interesting to see what the situation is when I get back!

I sometimes wish we had more strict visiting hours. I once had a male with an open tib/fib fracture awaiting surgery. The whole family was there, 4 kids grandparents, siblings. He was screaming out in pain. The TV was blaring, the kids were doing homework on the floor. Finally, I told them to go into the lounge because the patient needed quiet and less stimulation. They reluctantly left. I do not know what the mother was thinking. I would have never subjected my kids to seeing their father in so much pain. It was just not the place for them. Out visiting rules are so relaxed so we do not offend anyone. Half the time when I get a fresh surgical with lots of equipment, I am climbing over five people just to take a BP. I am now in the habit of having them step out of the room when I do my assessment. They do not like that...but these people just do not seem to understand they the patient needs rest. They are always fighting to stay awake to visit and do not need 5 visitors in the room.

A real nurse would do what's best for the patient, if this means restricting visitors to lessen stimulation, then so be it. Reasonable people would be understanding.

The one upside to SARS is that we still have VERY restrictive visiting policies!

Kind of a side note but as a night shift nurse I noticed that alot of the elderly residents who had been in for days kept their TV's on all night. I started to ask them if we could turn the TV off at about 10 pm. Most agree. I started to notice that many of these patients who had unstable BP's that seemed to go up at night were WNL during the midnight and 4 am VS. I truly believe that when sick people do not get their rest they will show elavated VS. So I believe it is good nursing to at least try to provide an environment that promotes rest and recovery. If that means requesting visitors to stay for a short time- then so be it.

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy

A real nurse would do what's best for the patient, if this means restricting visitors to lessen stimulation, then so be it. Reasonable people would be understanding.

You said it :) and most visitors respect the fact that you are concerned enough for the pt to 'run them out'.

I agree. This "customer service" and "don't offend the family" has gotten a little ridiculous!

"Offend the family", and you get a phone call from guest relations.

Where does patient welfare come in......after they code from too much stress and not enough rest?????