Give me some attention!

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Specializes in nursing home care.

Well not really me, but there's this lady in our unit and she is driving me crazy by her attention seeking behaviour. Seen by doc who says she has no mental problems, no infection either BUT she recently has decided she cannot walk and will actually push against anyone holding her so that she will fall, she also pulls buzzer constantly and denies it is her, did I mention she walks fine when doc comes in and and when she thinks staff are not looking, and she wants to hold everyones hand. Even the other residents are telling her where to go now (and it ain't disneyland!). Her family are irate with her and have told her so and it makes no difference..... Aaaargh. I ended up putting a chair in the corridor the other day because despite the fact she said she can't walk, she kept getting up with the zimmer taking a few steps and starting all over again. Staff are at their wits end with her. What can we do?:angryfire

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Oh, my, Margie, I feel for you. And I don't know.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I wish I had a suggestion. I really don't know what to do but I sure do feel for you guys.

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First, take a deep breath and see this for what it really is = a very desperate need for attention that she feels she is not getting from those around her.

Now, I would make time to sit with her and to truly listen to what she is saying to you about what is troubling her. You must be in the frame of mind where you can listen without judgemnt and allow her to tell you what is bothering her.

I would ask her what she is getting from her present behavior and what she wants to achieve by acting this way. Really listen to what she saids and encourage her to talk. Sometimes in our ramblings, the truth comes out.

If you do not feel you have the temperment to do this, find someone who can. Time and patience are the key and the ability to see that this person is asking for help in the only way she feels safe in doing so. Good luck.

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Specializes in Dialysis, Nephrology & Cosmetic Surgery.

This brought a smile to my face as we had a similar pt just over a year ago. She refused to walk although pysically capable of doing so, she would constantly use the nurse call bell for the slightest thing. I worked Christmas night 2006 and remember it well as I wouldn't even get out the door when the buzzer would go again. The reasons - "take the blanket off my feet" me - "there isn't a blanket on your feet" Pt - "well put the blanket over them" After about the 50th call, me "WHAT!!" pt "I don't know yet" I did laugh about this in handover but at the time it really wasn't funny. This was constant throughout her stay - her family were exasperated, worst of all, she was a retired nursing sister. I did ask the doctors at one point could she have brain damage from hypoxia - I wasn't being funny, I just couldn't comprehend her behaviour.

We never did find the answer but if I had the authority I would have got a Psychiatric opinion.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

well, first the MD needs to rule out physical/neurological conditions. If her behavior is consistent with psychiatric issues then she needs a psych consult, with someone from nursing having input. This is ideal, of course. But if you end up acting like a psych nurse (and ALLLLL nurses are psych nurses at some point) then I would make little contracts with her. Remember, anxiety is based on fear. Someone needs to get to the root of this, assuming it is anxiety-based.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Well this may work and it may not but we had a similar resident.The Dep.Matron read the riot act on her about her behavior and it did actually work! However if this lady has Picks or Lewy Body dementia then getting firm with her will probably have no effect whatsoever!!..........good luck.

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Specializes in LTC.

We have a lady like this too. She is a RAKA and LBKA but she is MEAN to almost everyone. Talks to most of the CNA' like they are dirt. She is SAD and LONESOME and just can't come to terms with being in nsg. home and having no legs. I try to listen to her and "do" things for her, but if she gets smart mouthed with me I just let her have it back. Not in a mean way, but just tell her that I will not put up with her being mean and hateful to me and that she is not the only person I have to wait on. Usually works, she told me the other night that she loved me! I guess the moral of the story is just try to take a few minutes each day to "talk" and "listen" to your resident. Yes, you might get behind a little, but in the long run she will stay off the bell and quit being so demanding if she thinks you are paying attention. Good Luck!:icon_roll

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We've had a number of problems with attention seekers in the facility where I work.

One was simply an extroverted type whom lacked social interaction. Once we started wheeling her down to the lounge (instead of putting her in her room after meals) with all the other chatty ladies, the behaviors significantly decreased.

Another resident sometimes "forgets" how to eat during meals, so we have to feed her. I personally do not mind this- I put the fork in her hand and put it up to her mouth. After about 5 minutes or so, she gets tired of me and, of course, she feeds herself like normal.

And then there are residents that are exceptionally irritating. We have a handful of these. Their behavior is so frustrating that it drives everyone away.

When someone is being unreasonable, I point that out as gently as possible. Same for things the resident can (and should) be doing for themselves.

If there is no illness fueling the behavior, the one thing that seems to work the best (overall) for me is acceptance. Not the willingness to accept bad behavior, but simply accepting the person. I wouldn't say it's easy to do, because a lot of times it requires letting go of a lot of built up anger and resentment towards the resident.

After finishing whatever tasks the person needs, I'll squeeze the resident's hand and give them a wink that says "You're allright", or something along those lines. I guess it's a matter of conveying a message that says "I'm enough, you're enough and there's enough". When a person feels like there is enough, they are content (and not acting out and driving everyone bananas).

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

However, some patients enjoy driving you bananas! I had a recent 96 yo, 98 lb woman, up WALKING on a fresh post-op hip because she couldn't find her husband....who's been dead 3 yrs...Wound up, and when it came down to it...she was upset because "nobody misses me, and I wish someone would just be around....wound up explaining that I had other patients, but I would check in on her as often as time permitted....didn't bother me again....

In this case, is patient alert/oriented....confused at times? Call her on her behavior if she's walking fine with docotr, but not with staff.....ask her what can I do for you that will make things better?....Maybe she's having some other issues on the fringe of her acting out....GL to you, hun!

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Specializes in nursing home care.

Lady has not got dementia, doc cant find anything wrong, her family have read the riot act as well as the manager and she just changes the subject. Now she keeps asking other residents to help her and they are all shouting at her to 'do it herself' or other less than pleasant comments. Social worker coming to review situation.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Sounds like she desperately needs attention,someone to say they care etc.Has she been Psych evaluated? Sometimes these "needy" people are just terrified of what is in front of them and constantly seek help and reassurance and are so difficult to care for because you just can't seem to calm their anxiety.

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