Craziest PDN/PDN Venting Thread

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I looked in here, and other places, and didn't see a sole thread dedicated to the madness that is PDN. As PDN's we go through... Well, a variety of experiences. Let's just say we could write one heck of a book.

So this thread is for:

1. Your wildest, craziest, saddest, happiest, most psycho private duty nursing/homecare stories (Pedi or Adults)

2. Venting about frustrating parents, cases, patients, etc

3. Advice on "should I stay in this case VS that one, etc."

I hope lots of people participate, I feel this is going to be helpful.... We can feel isolated out there in the field. I personally love sharing stories with other nurses. I'll go first, but I'll wait til I get home and can really type out some doozies. :)

Happy story telling :)

Specializes in Pediatric.

My agency will supply the gloves and soap if the client does not.

My agency will, only if they are harrassed- and even then, it can take a bit of time.

Haha, please, I've oriented with some nurses who gove me the impression they wouldn't think twice about taking an offer like that, unfortunately.

I've worked with many, many, MANY nurses who have admitted to doing it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Well, I had the OCD mom who counted everything. From the number of times I filled up my water bottle (from the tap, mind you) to the number of paper towels I used when I washed my hands, to the number of diapers that were in the pail by the end of my shift. Literally, 10-20 minutes before my shift ended, as I was cleaning up and getting ready to empty the pail for the next shift she would run into the room, don a glove, and take out the diapers one-by-one asking if it was wet, poopy or both. Sometimes she would just smell. Once, she said, "this doesn't feel like it was wet at all! Did you just throw it in the pail to make it look like you changed him more than you did?!" Awkward. Who does that?! Seriously. Counted. Everything.

BUT THIS TAKES THE CAKE. She came to me one day and said:

"I've noticed you never put any tampon wrappers or pads in the guest bathroom garbage. You're not putting them down the toilet, are you?" I just looked at her incredulously and blinked. Then we had to have the super awkward conversation about my menstrual cycle frequency and my choice of reusable, environment sustaining hygiene products...

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BUT THIS TAKES THE CAKE. She came to me one day and said:

"I've noticed you never put any tampon wrappers or pads in the guest bathroom garbage. You're not putting them down the toilet, are you?" I just looked at her incredulously and blinked. Then we had to have the super awkward conversation about my menstrual cycle frequency and my choice of reusable, environment sustaining hygiene products...

I need a jaw dropping smiley. Good grief! The lady is nuts! They make pills for that.

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Well, I had the OCD mom who counted everything. From the number of times I filled up my water bottle (from the tap, mind you) to the number of paper towels I used when I washed my hands, to the number of diapers that were in the pail by the end of my shift. Literally, 10-20 minutes before my shift ended, as I was cleaning up and getting ready to empty the pail for the next shift she would run into the room, don a glove, and take out the diapers one-by-one asking if it was wet, poopy or both. Sometimes she would just smell. Once, she said, "this doesn't feel like it was wet at all! Did you just throw it in the pail to make it look like you changed him more than you did?!" Awkward. Who does that?! Seriously. Counted. Everything.

BUT THIS TAKES THE CAKE. She came to me one day and said:

"I've noticed you never put any tampon wrappers or pads in the guest bathroom garbage. You're not putting them down the toilet, are you?" I just looked at her incredulously and blinked. Then we had to have the super awkward conversation about my menstrual cycle frequency and my choice of reusable, environment sustaining hygiene products...

What. The. Actual.

????

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Specializes in Pediatric.
Well, I had the OCD mom who counted everything. From the number of times I filled up my water bottle (from the tap, mind you) to the number of paper towels I used when I washed my hands, to the number of diapers that were in the pail by the end of my shift. Literally, 10-20 minutes before my shift ended, as I was cleaning up and getting ready to empty the pail for the next shift she would run into the room, don a glove, and take out the diapers one-by-one asking if it was wet, poopy or both. Sometimes she would just smell. Once, she said, "this doesn't feel like it was wet at all! Did you just throw it in the pail to make it look like you changed him more than you did?!" Awkward. Who does that?! Seriously. Counted. Everything.

BUT THIS TAKES THE CAKE. She came to me one day and said:

"I've noticed you never put any tampon wrappers or pads in the guest bathroom garbage. You're not putting them down the toilet, are you?" I just looked at her incredulously and blinked. Then we had to have the super awkward conversation about my menstrual cycle frequency and my choice of reusable, environment sustaining hygiene products...

Oh.My.

Best parent story ever. EVER.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.
Well, I had the OCD mom who counted everything. From the number of times I filled up my water bottle (from the tap, mind you) to the number of paper towels I used when I washed my hands, to the number of diapers that were in the pail by the end of my shift. Literally, 10-20 minutes before my shift ended, as I was cleaning up and getting ready to empty the pail for the next shift she would run into the room, don a glove, and take out the diapers one-by-one asking if it was wet, poopy or both. Sometimes she would just smell. Once, she said, "this doesn't feel like it was wet at all! Did you just throw it in the pail to make it look like you changed him more than you did?!" Awkward. Who does that?! Seriously. Counted. Everything.

BUT THIS TAKES THE CAKE. She came to me one day and said:

"I've noticed you never put any tampon wrappers or pads in the guest bathroom garbage. You're not putting them down the toilet, are you?" I just looked at her incredulously and blinked. Then we had to have the super awkward conversation about my menstrual cycle frequency and my choice of reusable, environment sustaining hygiene products...

TMI, way TMI :)

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I always wrap mine in a baggie and take them home for disposal, I don't want dogs getting into the garbage can... Can you say "mortified"??? I take all my garbage home. They don't need to know how many packages of Smarties I've eaten.

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I always wrap mine in a baggie and take them home for disposal, I don't want dogs getting into the garbage can... Can you say "mortified"??? I take all my garbage home. They don't need to know how many packages of Smarties I've eaten.

I think families knowing how much I ate during my shift would be more embarrassing than them knowing I was on my period. :D

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
TMI, way TMI :)

What made it most uncomfortable was I was trying something new at the urging of my sister, it wasn't even a regular thing. So.... yep. I really explained that to her and then she had me go online to show her the product because she as kind of a crunchy mom and thought it might be something she'd like to try???? I don't know. I left the case shortly after for other reasons. She was bat-poop crazy but her children were absolutely precious!

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IDK, How can there be this many crazy parents? I feel like only 1 in 10 that I meet via PDN are sane. The rest are coocoocajchoo with 2 scoops of crazy.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

Probably the same phenomenon that happens with parents on group support sites complaining about how bad nurses are. It's really 1:10 (most likely even less) but they're the only ones they ever talk about.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Probably the same phenomenon that happens with parents on group support sites complaining about how bad nurses are. It's really 1:10 (most likely even less) but they're the only ones they ever talk about.

Chances are the parents on those support sites and those we are talking about are one in the same... It takes a certain kind of crazy to paint ALL nurses (and doctors, RTs, HHAs, etc.) with the same bad, off colored brush. I especially love the ones with nary a high school diploma or GED who proclaim their superior intelligence over the medical team caring for their LO. Sure, you may know your child better, but WHO taught you how to care for them? Who gave your child the diagnosis that made you the graduate of the Google School of Medicine that you are today? Credit where credit is due, people. ;-)

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