Family always watching direct care?

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I have a new resident on my floor (Long term facility), ths resident has a trach and much more. The family of this resident is "nuts", they constanly complain, they call the state frequently, they demand & threaten your liceanse number...yada....yada...yada. Anyway, when staff is giving direct care, the family insists on being in the room watching your every move. So my question is do they have the right and by law allowed to be in room, or do I have the authority to have them step out of the room while giving direct care? Any info on laws on this (New York)? Thanks.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
I have a new resident on my floor (Long term facility), ths resident has a trach and much more. The family of this resident is "nuts", they constanly complain, they call the state frequently, they demand & threaten your liceanse number...yada....yada...yada. Anyway, when staff is giving direct care, the family insists on being in the room watching your every move. So my question is do they have the right and by law allowed to be in room, or do I have the authority to have them step out of the room while giving direct care? Any info on laws on this (New York)? Thanks.

You have every right to ask them to leave. The patient also has a right to privacy when being cleaned up by the nurse. I remember one night I was caring for a totally alert patient who wanted to use the bedpan, I asked the woman's sister to leave and she gave me a nasty look and asked her sister (patient) why she didn't ask her instead. The patient's reply was "The nurse just did ask you", just as snotty to her sister as her sister was to me. How about asking the family that if they think they can do a better job, maybe they should care for their family member at home?

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Personally, I don't see an issue with it unless it is violating the resident's privacy (hippa).....if you're going to be washing or changing them, that's a whole other story.

However, does the family being in the room really make you change the care you're going to give anyways?

I would more than happy to explain that A)If they are threatening you, technically that is "assualt"....B)If they do not want ME to provide care, then please feel free to do it themselves...C) That you are educated and trained to provide care for their loved one, but you cannot work in this environment....D

Perhaps the admin and family need to sit down and work out some boundries.....

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I find it to be very uncomfortable when doing things like starting an IV line, drawing blood, or other tasks when a person is staring me down. There is something about it that makes me fumble, so, I understand what you mean. But, if they chose to stay, then, I do the best I can to ignore their presence and do my job, because it makes them even more suspicious when we INSIST that they leave.

You can try hints like asking the patient if they wish for their loved ones to remain (you'd be surprized...many say "Yes", that they want them to step outside). I also live in New York, so, I would love to know if there is something that can be done, but somehow, I doubt it.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

You (the nurse) have every right to a spacious, free, safe, cleared work space that isn't crowded with people. Additionally, the patient deserves a degree of privacy. If you feel they'll interfere, you have every right to request that they step outside the room for a moment.

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Pt's sign upon admission that a nurse, doctor or other healthcare provider may ask family members or friends to leave to provide care and that if they do not comply they will be escorted off the property.

I'm just one of those people who doesn't want to see my parents butts wiped. Now, if I was taking care of them I'd have no problem doing it but in most cases I've seen it's family members guilt that makes them think they have to stay. They don't call for a year nor write, but the second dear dad is in the hospital with a hangnail they're right there breathing down your neck. I can spot those fakes a mile away.

I'm not aware of any laws pertaining to the rights of family members.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

One night we had a young woman on our floor. She wanted to use the commode and her dad wouldn't leave. She was crying and saying "I want him to leave" to the nurse. I was charge. I told the pt nurse that either he leaves becasue the pt asked him to or we call security. He locked himself in the pt bathroom. The pt nurse convinced him to come out and told him at the request of his daughter he needed to leave the room for her privacy. I couldn't understand this man. Finally he did leave without security being called. I just don't know what he found so hard about his daughter's request for privacy while using the bedside commode. I certanily wouldn't want my family to watch me use the toilet.

I do ask routinely for family to leave for my initial assessment at the beginning of my shift and for report. Some get huffy and others are great. I also ask them to leave if we have to clean the pt up after soiling the bed.

I don't usually ask them to leave if I have to start a IV or drawing blood becasue that dosen't bother me. However if NGT or something else I do ask them to leave.

However there are those famlies who refuse to leave and if the patient is able to say weather or not they stay I defer to the patient. You would be suprised to find out how many really want the family out of there.

If they will hinder your ability then you have every right to ask them to leave. If they reufse to leave put them to work. You can ask for their help if they insist on being there. If they refuse to leave for the bath, then ask them to help. Sometimes doing that they will get the hint and leave.

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I went into a room as a very new student nurse and there were a ton of people in there. I asked everyone to leave so the patient could get care. You would have thought I asked them to kick puppies in the waiting room. After they left the patient thanked me for removing everyone as he didn't want to have anyone see his incision and was afraid of asking them to leave for fear of offending them. Nice that the patient had additional stress on him, huh?! I explained to him he is entitled to privacy even amongst his family/friends and that asking for it isn't offensive in the least. I really think they were just too lazy to want to move. God forbid they be inconvenienced for 5 minutes. Yeesh.

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One night we had a young woman on our floor. She wanted to use the commode and her dad wouldn't leave. She was crying and saying "I want him to leave" to the nurse. I was charge. I told the pt nurse that either he leaves becasue the pt asked him to or we call security. He locked himself in the pt bathroom. The pt nurse convinced him to come out and told him at the request of his daughter he needed to leave the room for her privacy. I couldn't understand this man. Finally he did leave without security being called. I just don't know what he found so hard about his daughter's request for privacy while using the bedside commode. I certanily wouldn't want my family to watch me use the toilet.

I do ask routinely for family to leave for my initial assessment at the beginning of my shift and for report. Some get huffy and others are great. I also ask them to leave if we have to clean the pt up after soiling the bed.

I don't usually ask them to leave if I have to start a IV or drawing blood becasue that dosen't bother me. However if NGT or something else I do ask them to leave.

However there are those famlies who refuse to leave and if the patient is able to say weather or not they stay I defer to the patient. You would be suprised to find out how many really want the family out of there.

If they will hinder your ability then you have every right to ask them to leave. If they reufse to leave put them to work. You can ask for their help if they insist on being there. If they refuse to leave for the bath, then ask them to help. Sometimes doing that they will get the hint and leave.

?incest?

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
?incest?

I don't know about that. I just thought it was strange. This pt was about 22 years old and totally mortified that he wouldn't leave.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
I don't know about that. I just thought it was strange. This pt was about 22 years old and totally mortified that he wouldn't leave.

Yeah, if I was in that situation, I would be totally mortified.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

That whole situation with the young woman and the dad sounds odd. I think I would have had to ask her if she has privacy issues with him before, and left it open for her to comment that No, he is just freaked out that I'm in the hospital, OR Yes, he is a freak, and ..........:eek:

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