Craziest PDN/PDN Venting Thread

Just last night I was walking up the sidewalk to a client's front door, and I slipped and fell on some ice. I fell on my knee and couldn't get up right away. The mom opened the door, and proceeded to argue with me that it wasn't slippery because she had put down enough kitty litter. I was still on the ground and thinking, "What, are you saying I didn't just slip and fall? Am I a liar here?" She even chuckled a bit. I limped into the house and she kept explaining that she made sure the ice was covered. I was just sputtering, "Well, I went down, so apparently there's still some out there." I wasn't badly hurt, but she didn't know that, because she gave a brief report and took off upstairs. No offer of an icepack or asking if I was ok. This was just the latest in this mom's indifference/nastiness/rudeness I've experienced for 14 months, once a week. I think it's time for me to find a new client for Sunday night. This was the last straw.[/quote']

It just blows my mind when family members/caregivers act like that. Would they laugh at a nurse if s/he fell in the hospital? I doubt it but they feel ok to treat HH/PDN nurses like garbage. Just because we come to your home doesn't mean you can treat us worse than a fly.

Just last night, I was walking up the sidewalk to a client's front door, and I slipped and fell on some ice. I fell on my knee and couldn't get up right away. The mom opened the door, and proceeded to argue with me that it wasn't slippery because she had put down enough kitty litter. I was still on the ground and thinking, "What, are you saying I didn't just slip and fall? Am I a liar here?" She even chuckled a bit. I limped into the house and she kept explaining that she made sure the ice was covered. I was just sputtering, "Well, I went down, so apparently there's still some out there." I wasn't badly hurt, but she didn't know that, because she gave a brief report and took off upstairs. No offer of an icepack or asking if I was ok. This was just the latest in this mom's indifference/nastiness/rudeness I've experienced for 14 months, once a week. I think it's time for me to find a new client for Sunday night. This was the last straw.

Had the same thing happen because the walk was not even shoveled, much less salted. (NOT my current case).

My current case's issue is not the family- it's the subdivision. They live REALLY far back in a twisty, winding subdivision which has not seen a plow this whole horrible winter. The street is snow-packed with a layer of ice underneath for good measure. AND about every hundred yards is a speed bump. I go super-slow and STILL manage to slide around corners. In the morning, the road I take back to the interstate has zero shoulder, and there are people walking in the roadway- just before dawn- and I swear they are ALL wearing black. I am truly afraid I'm going to kill someone before spring comes and it's light when I leave.

Just last night, I was walking up the sidewalk to a client's front door, and I slipped and fell on some ice. I fell on my knee and couldn't get up right away. The mom opened the door, and proceeded to argue with me that it wasn't slippery because she had put down enough kitty litter. I was still on the ground and thinking, "What, are you saying I didn't just slip and fall? Am I a liar here?" She even chuckled a bit. I limped into the house and she kept explaining that she made sure the ice was covered. I was just sputtering, "Well, I went down, so apparently there's still some out there." I wasn't badly hurt, but she didn't know that, because she gave a brief report and took off upstairs. No offer of an icepack or asking if I was ok. This was just the latest in this mom's indifference/nastiness/rudeness I've experienced for 14 months, once a week. I think it's time for me to find a new client for Sunday night. This was the last straw.

I hope you reported the fall to your company. Your injury may prove to be worse than you thought later on.

I am truly ok, barely a bruise. I did mention it to the clinical manager today but I didn't do it within the first 24 hours. Oh well. That said, I found out today that last week, one of their day nurses fell on their walk and broke her wrist! The punch line? The mom was angry that the agency had no replacements for the nurse last minute!

I am truly ok, barely a bruise. I did mention it to the clinical manager today but I didn't do it within the first 24 hours. Oh well. That said, I found out today that last week, one of their day nurses fell on their walk and broke her wrist! The punch line? The mom was angry that the agency had no replacements for the nurse last minute!

I'm glad your injury wasn't as bad as the other poor nurse! And that mom is a *****. No other word accurately describes her.

Today my client's foster Mom told me not to use so many paper towels. Apparently, she likes to reuse them. I don't think she did it to be mean, but it got my hackles up.

Today my client's foster Mom told me not to use so many paper towels. Apparently, she likes to reuse them. I don't think she did it to be mean, but it got my hackles up.

Used to work for an 'unusual' family whose father used to complain about the rate of toilet paper consumption in the downstairs (nurses') bathroom. And mom didn't like it when you brought coffee to work (on the night shift) because she didn't like the smell of it.

Today my client's foster Mom told me not to use so many paper towels. Apparently, she likes to reuse them. I don't think she did it to be mean, but it got my hackles up.

I have the same problem, but instead of talking about it they put all the paper towels away before I arrive. So now I either bring a hand cloth from home or uses the patient's, he has a lot of them in his drawers due to his drooling at night. I understand people are on a budget, but you would think they would be glad we wash our hands so much.

I have the same problem, but instead of talking about it they put all the paper towels away before I arrive. So now I either bring a hand cloth from home or uses the patient's, he has a lot of them in his drawers due to his drooling at night. I understand people are on a budget, but you would think they would be glad we wash our hands so much.

Carry your own paper towels.

While your at it, TP and soap too-have it in a travel container.

Problem solved. :)

I already carry my own hand soap and wet wipes, but I draw the line at towels.

Both agencies will supply nurses with liquid soap, hand sanitizer, gloves and paper towels to protect the employees. Some homes the clinical supervisor can drop off a box of gloves & supplies for the nurses. Other homes (especially if a particular agency splits the case as they are known for not supplying nurses with needed supplies) the nurses are given a personal supply and bring with them as needed on shift.

Not all DME companies supply gloves not all insurance companies cover gloves for family use (usually non trach-vent cases). Hence both agencies supply gloves for nurse/CHHA use upon request or supervisor assessment (meaning when clinical supervisor does the intake they are to check that adequate supplies are available and that the home is reasonably safe). It's the agency responsibility to ensure its a safe environment for nurses.

I know my one toddler the insurance co doesn't supply gloves as parents don't wear gloves to change diapers or feed child. Agency supplies because nurses do (or are at least supposed to). The insurance co supplied when he had a 3 week bout with c-diff gloves & PPE were sent home upon discharge from hospital (DME/supply co delivered to family at hospital)