Our hospice recently admitted a woman with a lot of health issues who may need on-call visits in the future. I have nothing whatsoever against helping this poor woman, but she is living in a very dangerous neighborhood in a large, urban area that our hospice doesn't normally service. So my question is, have you ever refused to make a visit if the area where you are supposed to go is dangerous and crime-filled? I do on-call during the off hours, and of course with winter coming the days are getting shorter and shorter and there will be more darkness as the months pass. I have already told my husband that if I am asked to make a visit to this patient I will have to refuse, on the grounds that I am not going to risk my life or getting my car stolen for a job, my husband and kids need me too much for that. My boss always says, "If it feels wrong or dangerous in any way, don't go," so do you think that will get me off the hook if I get called to this patient's address for a visit? What if it's a death visit and someone has to go? We have been told that we can call the police for an escort if we don't feel safe, but this is a huge city and the police dept. is already overworked and understaffed, so who's to say if they would even come, and even if they did, what would I do, have them meet me outside the city limits and follow me or let me ride with them? I am so stressed over this. Help!
I haven't turned one down yet, but I have come pretty close. I would not hesitate to keep on driving if I felt the neighborhood was extremely dangerous. I have however, insisted that a pt be put "in facility" because of dangerous living situations. If they had not put that pt "in facility" I probably would have refused to return.
I have gone out a couple of times and not felt safe so I would shorten the visit and report that it needed to be a daytime visit. Also have been advised by my boss that if it felt unsafe to advise patient of pcg to call 911. My boss would rather pay the hospital bill than lose her nurses to crime.
BerryHappy
261 Posts
I haven't turned one down yet, but I have come pretty close. I would not hesitate to keep on driving if I felt the neighborhood was extremely dangerous. I have however, insisted that a pt be put "in facility" because of dangerous living situations. If they had not put that pt "in facility" I probably would have refused to return.