Elderly man

[JoAnnS]

Hello:

I am going to school this Sept for LPN.

I was just given a small job helping out an elderly man who has had a stroke a long while ago. Just recently fell and fractured his right shoulder and is also Diabetic. He also has sores on his toes.

He is the most stubborn, mean old man I have ever met in my life. But that isn't the problem. Well, it is a problem, but, my issue is this:

He doesn't have a Nurse who comes and sets up his weekly pills. He has to take pills from morning time to night time. This girl that he knows for a long time, in the neighborhood, has been helping him out, driving him to all appointments, makes all his meals, laundry, ... You get the picture. Her daughter is a CNA and sets up the pills, she also does the syringe needles of insulin. Says she knows how cause a LPN has been showing her what to do at the LTC facility.

I am there only 3 hours in the morning; to help the night girl help get him up and dressed and I make his breakfast and then leave little while later.

The issue I have:

A nurse isn't getting the med's together. A nurse isn't checking his wounds and giving us the direction we need. AND of course, he doesn't want a Nurse.

He is just so old fashioned, born and raised a farmer. When he wants something, he wants it and you have to do what he says in the order in which he says it.

I am thinking the reason why I have him to take care of is, GOD is showing me the true meaning of Nursing. Cause I have to hold my tongue. I can't yell back at him, cause I wasn't brought up that way. Second, it's his house, so that is another reason why I think he is that way. Now look, I understand, he can not drive himself around and go see the old farmer friends. So I took him again today for the 2nd time.

The main girl told me today she was speaking to a RN friend of her mothers. Says this man should not be riding around in the pick-up with his fractured shoulder. He is wearing a sling on it FROM the Dr's office. I can't see how riding in the truck will hurt his shoulder. It is the shoulder where he had the stroke on that side.

SO:

If anyone can chime in here and advise on the shoulder I'd appreciate it. Tomorrow we go to the foot DR so he can have his toe nails cut. I am sure the DR will give us the information on the toes. I make him soak his foot today in Epsom salt. The main girl has the toe wrapped with antibiotic ointment from CVS with those tubular bandages and tape on. Then he wants the socks on and wears shoes that he insists be tight. They have Velcro, so he makes me make them as tight as he can get them. He sleeps with socks too. A fresh pair.

ANYWAY I can get in trouble for doing any of these things???

Anything else you know from experience, please feel free to share with me. I start school in 3 weeks. Can't wait!!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

ANYWAY I can get in trouble for doing any of these things???

As long as you are not falsely representing yourself as a physician or licensed nurse, I don't think you can get into trouble for doing these things. Currently, you do not have a license for which you'll be held accountable if something goes horribly wrong with this man's health.

However, the ball game will change dramatically after you earn a license to practice nursing, because you are now accountable for your actions (inside the healthcare facility, as well as on your own free time). If you provide care for someone on your own accord and something goes wrong, that person can bring legal action against you for any incorrect advice you give, or any wound that might become infected.

[JoAnnS]

However, the ball game will change dramatically after you earn a license to practice nursing, because you are now accountable for your actions (inside the health care facility, as well as on your own free time). If you provide care for someone on your own accord and something goes wrong, that person can bring legal action against you for any incorrect advice you give, or any wound that might become infected.

Thanks.... Its kinda sad to see so many elderly people in need of services. For the most part, they trust the neighbors and friends they know for so long, but those people are not trained. I just hope everything goes good for him. And for the others out there.

Thanks for the advise. I have picked up a book on charting. Charting made incredibly easy. It's a good book. I have been reading it every day to pass some time. Writing some notes.

Have a good evening!

[Fiona59]

He's an old man and set in his ways, can you imagine what he'd be like if he was institutionalized?

The control he has over his meds, feet and his paid helpers is the only control he has left. His Doctor needs to know about the driving. It's a public safety issue.

Many family members draw up insulin. You don't need to be a healthcare professional to do so. If his pills are being set up so he takes them at the right time, no problem. Family members take care of their own. Now, if he's chewing down all his pain meds in one go, you have a problem that his Doctor needs to know about.

Unless the podiatrist gives you a wound care sheet, you have to do what your employer wants. Chances are once the podiatrist decides what needs to be done for the elders feet and tells him what needs to be done, he will be compliant.

Since we don't know what kinds of wounds are present on his feet, it's not up to us to decide on what is correct wound care. Most feet that I have been involved with do fine with good hygiene, ie: being washed before an antibiotic ointment is applied.

This elder may have hammer toes or some such problem. His diabetes makes healing these kind of wounds difficult.