Courtesies to families

[THAT Nurse., BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN]

No, I can't take your family member's blood pressure. My butt would get fired so fast, you wouldn't be able to see the flames.

The quote came from another poster in another thread.

I know a certain male tech on my floor, a really awesome guy I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to (and everyone reading this knows exactly who this certain anonymous male tech is), who will often do little things like that for family members when asked as a courtesy.

Is there any law or regulation prohibiting such courtesies, or is the other poster likely dealing with a local policy?

[EJSRN, BSN, RN]

NO don't do it. Not unless you want to be sued

[caliotter3]

Like the previous poster says, not while on duty, not on someone who is not a patient, or your assigned patient. You are asking to be terminated and to be sued. That person can go to their own physician or go to a walk in clinic and obtain this service.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

When it is done on hospital/facility property with their equipment and on their time it is not a courtesy, it is a professional service! Nuff said.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

You can and I have directed family members down to ER to be triaged if they wanted thier BP taken.

[Farmer Jane]

Know the policies at your individual facility. I used to work in a small rural hospital where people could come in to have their BP and HR monitored as a service to the community. In other hospitals this is not done.

[THAT Nurse., BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN]

Appreciate the responses.

I don't think I ever saw something like this mentioned specifically in the facility guidelines, however, as a general rule, they encourage us to go above and beyond to provide for the families. Kind of puts this anonymous tech in a bad spot.

P.S. To the mods, would you please edit my thread title? It is embarrassing to have a typo like that.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

What happens if the BP is 185/92,..or 93/48? What do you say to this person? What do you do for this person? DON'T do it! It isn't "just checking a BP,.it's what you do with the information obtained.

[Dolce, RN]

What happens if the BP is 185/92,..or 93/48? What do you say to this person? What do you do for this person? DON'T do it! It isn't "just checking a BP,.it's what you do with the information obtained.

That is the problem. Suddenly you have assumed responsibility for someone. And furthermore, usually people don't ask because they have a normal BP and are feeling 100% fine. They want their BP checked for a reason--either they aren't feeling good or they suspect that it is high.

[caliotter3]

If they are experiencing symptoms or suspect something or want a second opinion of another reading, then that is good enough reason to go to a professional who can do something about diagnosing and treating them if necessary. Don't put yourself in that position while you are working for your employer. Not safe at all. I wouldn't even do it if a policy allowing it was in effect.

[THAT Nurse., BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN]

Well, I guess the lesson I just learned was that liability is everywhere.

Thanks all, I really had not ever considered that something as simple as a courtesy BP would be an issue.

[BEDPAN76]

No good deed goes unpunished.