Dr's children at pts bedside

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We had a meeting today at our hospital. One of the physicans brought up concern over Doctors that bring their young children on rounds with them. This doc was asking if we have a policy that addresses this. The doc was concerned in regard to the child's risk of acquiring an infection.I would like to know if there is any hospital that has a policy in place regarding this. Or how this is addressed in other places. I realize the obvious thing here is that the ones bringing their children in should know better, but that's not the case.:confused:

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

On occasion, doctors and other staff bring their kids to work with them, but they don't go in patients rooms. I don't see any problem with it as long as they are not exposed directly to the patients. If there is an infection control or confidentiallity issue then that should be dealt with, otherwise no harm done, IMO.

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What do you think about a staff RN who brings her husband to work? Believe it or not I have a co-worker who has been spoken to about this on several occasions. I work on an OB/GYN floor so we don't have any male pt's. This guy even put the call light on one evening because he was in an empty room watching TV and pushed it by mistake. This nurse is a good worker and I don't mind her, but feel very uncomfortable with the hubby at the nurses' station or hanging out on the unit. Very odd to me. My husband assures me he has no desire to hang out on my unit or any other place in the hospital.

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I recall a few times my small son slept in an empty room in my hospital wing...in an emergency. It was that or I not show up for work. My son thought it was an adventure and did not trouble the patients or staff, and luckily we had a room that was not needed. Should we do it all the time? NO! But we all need to understand the occasional emergency. On a nurse's part or a doctor's part, IMHO.

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I've brought my son to work in a circumstance where I was called in. He got to hang out in my call room and he actually did come and sit at one of the nurses stations while i saw a patient. The nurses were not expected to keep an eye on him. He is 10 and has been coming to hospitals for ages. TO him it is no big thing and he maintains good behavior. I have seen for years nurses who bring their kids in while they get their paycheck, attend a staff meeting, etc. It never bothered me. Generally it is nice to see a young healthy face with a smile .

If someone brings their child in and expect the staff to keep an eye on the child that's just plain taking advantage.

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Bringing the husband to work is really strange and inappropriate, in my opinion.

After being spoken to about it on several occasions why is it still happening or why is she still working there? I would think management would fire her. Maybe because of the "nursing shortage".

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Originally posted by imenid37

What do you think about a staff RN who brings her husband to work? Believe it or not I have a co-worker who has been spoken to about this on several occasions. I work on an OB/GYN floor so we don't have any male pt's. This guy even put the call light on one evening because he was in an empty room watching TV and pushed it by mistake. This nurse is a good worker and I don't mind her, but feel very uncomfortable with the hubby at the nurses' station or hanging out on the unit. Very odd to me. My husband assures me he has no desire to hang out on my unit or any other place in the hospital.

imenid37...i love cats too.

but listen...don't you think this it weird??? maybe the husband is controlling or something. It must be some sort of violation of some ridculous hospital rule to let this guy stay in an empty room.

Lastly,,,,i love my husband...but it's sometimes nice to be away from him and enjoy my coworkers. For God's sake how does she complain about him with him just down the hall??

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My in-laws brought my 2 year old to work yesterday because they do a church service with singing in our LTC every Thursday. My son loves coming in and "singing" with the residents. They love seeing him. Later I brought him up to where I work and he sat on my lap in the nurse's station coloring for awhile and then I introduced him to a few of my patients, who loved it.

I think it is normal to bring your kids to work, at times. You show them where you work. You show them off :D

We've had nurses bring their kids in early to catch the bus for school. We've had kids have to spend the night in an empty room due to mom working overtime and no one to watch the kids.

Very occasionally a doc will bring a child along on the weekend. They stay out of the way, do not go in patient's room and are not a bother.

We have had two of our doc's kids (different docs) work with our cardiac rehab program, doing paperwork, but they are hired employees.

We have employee's kids working as student volunteers in LTC.

Unless they follow the docs around into patient's room, I'd say this is much ado about nothing. And something that goes on in every walk of life.

Ever hear of "Take Your Son/Daughter to Work" day?

steph

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Yea, I've heard of that, but never "Take your husband/wife to work day". LOL

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Originally posted by stevielynn

My in-laws brought my 2 year old to work yesterday because they do a church service with singing in our LTC every Thursday. My son loves coming in and "singing" with the residents. They love seeing him. Later I brought him up to where I work and he sat on my lap in the nurse's station coloring for awhile and then I introduced him to a few of my patients, who loved it.

steph

I think in this circumstance it does more GOOD than HARM. I am sure that the residents really enjoy seeing children and i think this is very giving of you to share your family with them. Good for you.

I would actually consider that you gave your patients great care yesterday because you did this. THis is what makes me love nursing. You are teaching your children that life is about giving.

IT always filled me with a sense of saddness when we christmas caroled at LTC's and saw how lonely some of these poor folks were.

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Yeah, the husband story is over the top. :chuckle

I don't work in LTC . . that is through the double doors from my acute care setting. My patients are mostly med-surg and OB. Today I worked in the ER.

When I went back to work part-time, my son was 4 months old. My husband or my inlaws would bring him in a couple of times a day for me to breastfeed. He is 27 months old now and knows his way around the hospital. The first thing he goes to get is his cup of ice from the ice machine. Then we head off to a private area for breastfeeding moms and I nurse him. I've already asked ahead of time if my patients would like to meet him. The ones who say yes, we peek in and say hi.

Maybe, as usual, my experience is unusual as I work in a rural setting. And we don't have a sign that says "no visitors under 13".

My teenagers have been known to visit me on occasion too. . . (for money or the car keys). :D

steph

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Yes, we can understand the kids having to come to work with us at times. My oldest was with me a lot of times when he was a wee lad, had no choice, hubby worked two jobs. anyway but i never had to take hubby to work lol. guess the two jobs kept him too busy. hmmmmmmmmmmm!:rolleyes:

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Possibly these doctors are divorced and are having their visitation and it happens to overlap their turn on call what you gonna do... bring the kids. It should not be an everytime thing I would nto think but I don't see a real problem if the children are well behaved.

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