Do you ever feel like a social worker?

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 30, 2013

Yes. I work at an inner city clinic that is a "safety net" institution. All of our patients are either Medicaid or uninsured. So I see a lot of drugs, homelessness, abuse. It can be draining.

elkpark · Dec 30, 2013

Umm, he's not talking about "anything else in the world," he's talking (in your example, at least) about the real barriers in his life to implementing your suggestions. Telling him what he should do without listening and attending to the information he's giving you about how that's going to be hard for him to do is not going to get him to follow your directions.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 30, 2013

Umm he's not talking about "anything else in the world," he's talking (in your example, at least) about the real barriers in his life to implementing your suggestions. Telling him what he should do without listening and attending to the information he's giving you about how that's going to be hard for him to do is not going to get him to follow your directions.[/quote']
^This.
He was giving you important subjective information to help him be able to adhere to his diabetic therapy...when working in this setting the nurse is an important coordinator in helping the pt to adhere to therapy, as well as come up with strategies, despite his barriers-that's not a social worker's job, it's the NURSE's job.

allnurses Guide · Dec 30, 2013

He was giving you important subjective information to help him be able to adhere to his diabetic therapy...when working in this setting the nurse is an important coordinator in helping the pt to adhere to therapy, as well as come up with strategies, despite his barriers-that's not a social worker's job, it's the NURSE's job.

Agree!

The pt was communicating a real problem and was hoping for a solution.

It is certainly my job to listen and make sure that I work closely with the social worker to help resolve the pt's issues.

The nurse is the coordinator. I do what I can within my ability, but I'm obviously not going to be the one trying to figure out housing or food stamps, etc. Then I get the expert... the social worker who does this stuff for a living and knows all about what resources are available.

To hear such complaints and to brush them off is neglectful... as sure as noting that your pt has pain and doing nothing about. That's not being the advocate we should be.

Remember, nursing is holistic.

The pt cannot be successful if they are unable to attain the tools they need to be successful with.

Personally, I'm glad the social workers follow up on this stuff. It gets stressful and complicated. I love 'em but I wouldn't want their job :no:

iPink, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2013

I have patients who are struggling financially. When they tell me what's going on, I don't hear "blah, blah, blah," instead I hear "help." Unfortunately, I can only do so much but I immediately get case management/SW involved. I want do more but at least that much can hopefully help them. Remember, nursing is holistic which involves advocating on their behalf.

Lola Lou, BSN · Dec 30, 2013

If my pt brings multiple issues up that I feel I cannot address I make a note and bring it up in the daily MDT (multi disciplinary team) meeting. The Doc, Nutritionist, PT, Respiratory Therapist, and Social worker are there, along with other departments. It's the perfect place to brain storm, delegate, and being devising a plan to help the pt holistically. We are so used to delivering messages "to the point" when dealing with other busy healthcare workers that it may appear like the pt is just "blah blah blah" but in reality they're trying to paint a full picture for you to understand where they are coming from.

NurseDirtyBird · Dec 31, 2013

If you can't handle helping this patient overcome his obstacles to compliance, get someone who can. Sometimes you have to think outside the box to formulate a plan of care that will work, instead of giving him the boilerplate d/c instructions.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 31, 2013

At least you have a SW or Case Manager to help with these things. We don't. We try to figure out programs or agencies to assist our patients, but have no real person to manage this. It's heartbreaking.

BlueLightRN · Jan 1, 2014

The issue here is this though. I CANNOT SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. I cannot get him more money or food. I cannot even get anyone else in for food pantries at this point because there are no openings. I cannot get him transportation. How am I supposed to solve these people's life problems?

ClearBlueOctoberSky · Jan 1, 2014

The issue here is this though. I CANNOT SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. I cannot get him more money or food. I cannot even get anyone else in for food pantries at this point because there are no openings. I cannot get him transportation. How am I supposed to solve these people's life problems?

Sometimes, it isn't the solving that is needed, but the listening and understanding that that being compliant with a regimen just isn't the biggest priority that they might have at that moment.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 1, 2014

Sometimes it isn't the solving that is needed, but the listening and understanding that that being compliant with a regimen just isn't the biggest priority that they might have at that moment.[/quote']
^THIS.
We DON'T solve problems; we HELP managing the holistic issues of our pts; sometimes active listening is the way to go...we are "healing managers" we can't solve all of the world's problems, sometimes we can't solve our pts; listening goes a LONG way for our pts; sometimes we are the light at the end of their tunnel; we may get them to make appointments regularly in order for them to go from non-compliant to compliant; never underestimate therapeutic communication.