Forced to care

[KyRN😉]

Hi, I work in a LTC facility and we currently have ALOT of agency nursing support. On the weekend, I am typically the only staff nurse on the unit as I am weekend op. Okay, now here's the problem: I have cared for a resident who is, let's say, high maintenance. His family has numerous complaints, mostly valid, and really only likes 1 nurse who works dayshift mom-Fri. I have already had a poorly gone interaction with this resident in which I was accused of not preforming a nursing task (a bolus feeding) correctly. I documented this instance and expressed to my DON my anxiety surrounding this patient. This instance happened last weekend (this res's family ended up getting a CNA suspended for abuse). Fast forward to Monday, I get called into work to talk about the weekend and pressured to change documentation, which I ultimately did. I go home, then today (Wednesday) get told that I have to come in on Friday at 10am to watch the regular dayshift nurse give a bolus feeding. This realllllly rubbed me The wrong way. Like I've been a nurse for 13yrs, I know how to do a bolus feeding. I asked that I be able to switch out this res from my assignment and trade another nurse. I asked that I work a different assignment on my usual unit and was told no, bc I'm the only staff nurse working that I needed to come in Friday and watch the bolus feeding and if I didn't care for this patient this coming weekend I would be moved off the unit. I expressed concern, like this is my unit why would you move me for one problem child that's going to sue regardless? I feel really upset, I don't want to provide care for a resident who just flat out doesn't like me. I'm thinking of putting in a nurses note this Friday that states I spoke with the DON about having a different nurse provide care for this res and was told I'd be moved off my unit if I refused. This resident does not like me and I've tried to make amends with him after 1 interaction went poorly and he complained about me and had a CNA suspended for supposed abuse. I feel very uncomfortable and upset, like I was basically told I cannot refuse to care for him and if I did I would be punished. What do I do?

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I'm sympathetic to your situation, but I think your manager has given you a fair solution. I would go to another unit. Because if you are the only staff nurse there, you're going to wind up having to give the feed at some point, or do something else for this patient, and if the res or family has a bone to pick, or thinks you're no good (and this often happens for no reason) you're going to have more trouble. 

But if it's really important to stay on your unit (I know in LTC this can mean a lot) then you need to watch the bolus, and do the things to please this family.