Student project on the caring of families of patients by nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a first year nursing student at Virginia Commonwealth University. While we are learning about caring for our patients, we haven't heard much about caring for the needs of the families of adult patients. I have seen in my clinicals, different ways that nurses care for the families of patients - but there doesn't seem to be any agreement on how to deal with families. I am working on a project trying to put together a lists of hints and advice from other nurses on things to remember when dealing with the families of patients.

Any advice or comments from your experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN

1,711 Posts

I am a first year nursing student at Virginia Commonwealth University. While we are learning about caring for our patients, we haven't heard much about caring for the needs of the families of adult patients. I have seen in my clinicals, different ways that nurses care for the families of patients - but there doesn't seem to be any agreement on how to deal with families. I am working on a project trying to put together a lists of hints and advice from other nurses on things to remember when dealing with the families of patients.

Any advice or comments from your experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

1 - the family is often stressed, (this is no excuse for violent or abusive behavior) so don't take things too personally

2 - most important - YOUR PATIENTS ARE YOUR PRIORITY - don't let needy family members deprive your patients of your time.

3 - pastoral care can sometimes be very helpful if the family is in crisis.

4 - sometimes, arranging for the family to be present during physician visits can help them to feel better, as can passing on in report what has been discussed with the family, so the education can be reinforced.. Families like to hear the same thing again and again and again by a bunch of different people - this seems to make them feel that the care is better.

Good luck on your project.

gwenith, BSN, RN

3,755 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

We have to draw the line somewhere and we cannot care for the world - bottom line you are there to care for the patients not the family - you are not employed to care for them.

What sort of "care" are we talking about here anyway???

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN

1,711 Posts

We have to draw the line somewhere and we cannot care for the world - bottom line you are there to care for the patients not the family - you are not employed to care for them.

What sort of "care" are we talking about here anyway???

I took it to mean emotional support. If they need a nurse for themselves, I would have to tell them "look, the ER is that way"

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