Families, are they getting more demanding?

[MrsWampthang]

The LTAC where I work has, lately, been getting patients that come with demanding family members attached. I.E. we have one patient that is unresponsive, and the wife insists that he gets morphine every 15 minutes for pain. This is even when he is sleeping and resting comfortably. She even insists that a certain nurse not take care of her husband because he supposedly refused to give the morphine. (He didn't, but that's another story.) We have family members at the bedside constantly interfering with the patient's care. Getting in the staff's way, and constantly demanding this or that for their loved one, requesting certain staff members not take care of their loved one for various stupid reasons, etc. I guess I am rambling, but has anyone else noticed a trend in the rise of demanding families? It's no wonder there is a nursing shortage. Nurses are overworked and overstressed out by the end of their shift. Just wondering what experiences everyone else has had.

Pam

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

As to the bringing in fast food, I really wish that wasn't allowed. I've seen so many do this and eat in front of that poor NPO patient. Then, they'll leave their mess for us to clean up.

That's when the patient needs to smack the family member up side the head. :lol_hitti

A short course in 2x4 etiquette!!