Do I have the right refuse this client?

[NurseKay13]

Hi everyone,

I work in respite shift nursing in patients homes (8 hour night shifts). I have had a client for the past year and a half that has had a number of problems in their house (mice, lice, bed bugs twice). The agency I work for does not seem to put any effort into resloving these issues- I reported the mice for a YEAR before something was done (and my poor client has many health problems that could be negatively impacted by mice). I have also had my car badly damaged when I was parked there one night. I am actively seeking another job but until then I am not sure what to do. My manager has been very nasty and rude to other nurses who have refused to go there, which is why I have continued to go there. Anyways, another nurse that goes there said she found bed bugs last night (I seen pictures too). I understand that as nurses we need to sometimes work in unfavourable conditions but I am having severe panic attacks before going to this client's house. If I were to bring the bed bugs home it would be very costly to try to get rid of them and the agency I work for would not reimburse me. My question is: do I have the right to refuse going there on the 8 hour night shifts I am scheduled for this weekend or until I have proof the issue has been resolved? Thank you for any help ?

[caliotter3]

If you no longer want to go there, then don't go there. You can simply resign from the agency. Or, if you want to remain with the agency, then tell them you no longer will work this case. However, it is probably a safe bet, that once you quit this case, you no longer will be working for the agency anyway. Agencies have a funny way of losing one's phone number when one does not do what the agency staffing coordinator wants them to do.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

My tactic is to ask for hours on another case. It's way more tolerable to be in a crazy house three days a week than five or six. Once your on the other case wait for it to have a staffing shortage. Tell the agency you don't want crazy case effective at least two weeks or a month from now. Transition to new case. Bam bobs your uncle. Find a new new case for when you have to transition from old new case. Also get up and running with a second agency and pull a shift a week, make sure your current agency knows about the new one. Now you have an immense amount of control because your on multiple cases and have a backup agency.

the conversation is pretty easy if the supervisor gets snippy. "Oh

Im sorry I actually have no availability next month, sorry"

[LilyRN99]

Don't these issues put the patient at risk for disease and injury? Seems like it should be reported to a higher agency then. Who is responsible for the patient when no nurse is present. Or the emergency contact? Sounds like a case for adult protective services. If they don't have a safe environment to live in the maybe they shouldn't be living there/at home.

[KR]

Yes. I would tell.higher up that I do not want on that case. I would in writing make a report describing deplorable conditions and also in the nursing note and send it into the supervisor. I would also let the supervisor know im calling CYS due to possible neglect. We r mandated reporters.

[tinky471]

I'm not a lawyer but as an employee and not a doctor, you have the right to refuse to come to work no matter the job, including there. Now if you arrive on the job and accept the case, you then leave without giving report to someone, you can be charged with abandonment. That said, if you refuse this case, you probably still can be terminated as in most places you can be terminated for any and no reason. The job just might have to still pay you for unemployment benefits however. Personally, I wouldn't work for an agency who was abusive let alone a client for them. I love what I do and my weakness is I generally care and get attached to my clients. I feel like each and every one is like caring for my family member; however, I am also a mother and my children are my most important clients in the world. I'd have to make the decision of do I really want to take vermin home to my babies? If you're asking the question, you have reservations. I don't know if I'd go back for my family's sake. Be blessed.

[oldnurse28]

They can't force you to take a client. You have done what you could but have reached your line in the sand. Bed bugs would definitely make me say nope, not going back.

Everyone keeps saying there is little private duty work but I am not seeing that in my area. Sure I may not love the drive or love the area of the city bit there are usually other options than staying a case that isn't working for me.

I am not really happy at my new clients. The parents are home 24/7 and hover and to me that just makes me think they really don't need care of they are here every minute and just constantly critique our actions. And they have all kinds of weird rules, no pens in the living room. We can't write our notes where the child is. We can't eat in the child's area. We are there for 12 hours! You just feel like you can't touch or even sit on the sofa next to the baby. They are super picky about everything.

And now they want me to cook the food for this kids blended diet. Yeah no.