Declining new patient soc

[MM008]

I just need some insight. I work as PRN nurse to a home health company. I feel bad today when my employer needed me to do admission on a new patient and declined it. I'm a fairly new grad nurse. I worked at an adult rehab for 3 months and transfer to home health after. I've been doing adult patients in this company for a couple months now. However, the patient that my employer is giving me is an infant that has g tube and so the family needs g tube teachings. I don't have experience with taking care of peds other than clinical rotation and also g tube feedings with infants and I honestly haven't seen how to set up the machine that they use to run feedings. My employer told me that it's just like the adults and to just look up the machine how to do it on YouTube. I told him that I am still not confident to do it . Is it bad that I declined it? Should I have just went ahead and do the admission based on what I see on the videos only? I just don't think it's fair and safe to do nursing care to a patient when I am not very knowledgeable of what I am doing and I haven't done it before.

[C0252786]

You did the right thing. If you are not competant at doing the task safely then don't do it. If you were to have done it, a small mistake could be fatal to an infant. Its better to just decline a patient then to put your license on the line or get sued.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

No, you are right. You are accountable for all care you provide.

Any error you make would create a result of greater magnitude compared to an adult. You could offer to accompany the nurse, or you accompany her, to bring you up to speed.

[caliotter3]

You are wise to recognize that you are not ready for this. If your company has a continuous care division, you might consider asking for some training and experience time with this patient population. The agency might have a stable case where the parents are amenable to providing support while you gain your confidence. There is no harm in asking. If the agency is interested in developing you and retaining you, they will not be put off by such a request.

[adreamdeferred, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Don't second guess your decision. It was a wise one not to be pressured into not only providing a skill but teaching one you don't feel you have received adequate training in. Good luck to you as you continue to learn and grow in home care.

[NurseCard, ADN]

You did the right thing. Kudos to you.

I don't envy you. One good thing about my HH agency is that we do not see peds and I am glad.

[toomuchbaloney]

I wonder if the parents of that child are aware that their home care agency is endangering the well being of their child by assigning the care to staff which they KNOW are not trained to safely accomplish it. sigh

[Mom2boysRN]

You were correct to refuse. I have never done peds and I won't take care of a child under 12. You are obligated to refused to care for a patient that is outside of your comfort zone and experience level.

[wripley1968]

Pediatric patients are not the same in any form or fashion. You did the right thing and never let anyone talk you into doing anything that you are not experienced in doing or comfortable doing. You have to protect your license. You worked to hard to get it!!