Home health and scary dogs!!

[Mommytracknurse]

So I'm new to home health-I've done the mommy track for the last 3 years just picking up prn work in a local drs office when their nurse needed off. I was recruited by a local home health agency for prn work. I was feeling fairly confident in being overwhelmed but excited by home health- then today I was cornered outside my vehicle by a patients very mean chow/ boxer mix dog-agh!!!! It was a very large aggressive animal that was growling and showing me it teeth:(. She called the dog away but what is the best option in this situation??? I was getting my supplies from the back of my car so I couldn't have easily escaped it:( Can you ask PTs to put their dogs in an area away from you?? Just freaked me out- and I don't want to overstep and tick PTs off- but I also don't want to get bit:(

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Thank you all so much for your posts!! I was raised with beagle dogs as pets- which were sweet and furry babies-lol!! I know that I'm going into their turf and that the dogs are just guarding their space and their humans- but I was literally shaking after the episode- which was not fun when trying to lift heavy legs to change unna boots!! I know that patients feel like their dogs are part of their family- and as the female owner was telling me- oh she's harmless- her dog was showing me it's teeth and not about to let me pass. I know I was giving off a vibe- I could feel it- which I'm sure only more so made the dog want to protect it's people!!! It's not our company's policy to ask clients to put their animals away- but from a risk assessment side- seems like theres a lotta liability issues in not asking!! And the idea about dog treats is definitely a great suggestion- I'll stock up!! Maybe a few rawhide bones- that'd keep them busy a little while!:)

Just one suggestion ask before you give treats. My one dog can't have rawhide because she gets overzealous and gags on it. My other dog has chewing issues and can't have rawhide or traditional biscuits. My cousin's shepherd is on a specialty diet and will eat anything despite the risk of a reaction.

I think your agency needs to reconsider a contain-the-pet policy as they won't like the results of a WC liability claim when a field nurse gets injured by a protective pet.

[toomuchbaloney]

You have gotten and accepted a variety of supportive and appropriate comments/responses.

I live in the middle of dog heaven. It is legal to shoot someone who threatens your dog in Alaska. Dogs are a way of life for many here as they are kept not only as companions but as workers as well. Mushing is an old and renewed (growing) interest and pasttime here in the arctic although most mushing dogs are not house pets.

Having said all of that, most homes I have visited in AK have either cats or dogs or both, sometimes in alarming numbers given the size of the homes.

It should be a portion of EVERY ADMISSION assessment to describe the safety risks to health professionals who will visit the property. In my neck of the woods that means that those notes should outline clearly and specifically things like the dog/cat (including approx size and number, general attitude of animal, etc), the rotten steps to the porch, the hole in the kitchen floor, the weapons, etc.

If there are multiple disciplines visiting in the home the safety risks should be clearly communicated internally to each and every member of the team who might be in jeopardy.

I also carry dog treats (homemade salmon jerky type of things) but as mentioned previously, I don't distribute to animals unless given permission by the owner.

I am not afraid of dogs or cats but I request that the pets be confined when I am visiting whenever possible.

I wear "overshoes" for most of my visits, which I leave near the door so as to minimize soiling the floors of my patients. Cats like to get into them and dogs like to chew on them and then pee in/on them. Cats get into our bags and walk on our "clean" surfaces and they are unpredictable and moody little beasts. I had a cat bite me once while I was making Grandma cry with the disempaction...bit me on the butt with it's needle teeth. Sneaky little demon.

One of the responsibilities of the patient that should be clearly stated in the "Rights and Responsibilities" document that is presented to the patient at time of admission should address the need to consider the safety of the health worker who enters their property.

Animal bites are not fun, don't take chances and don't minimize your right and need to be safe when working.

Good luck.

[Mommytracknurse]

I was with my preceptor today- because there were some skills that I hadn't been checked off on- and I'm telling you- I'm putting off horrible scaredy-cat vibes- bc all of the houses we went to had dogs- and all of their dogs growled at me:(. I did have to ask one PTs wife to please take the dogs in another area while I performed a picc line dressing change- but really!!! Agh!!! I love all the patients I've seen I'm just really not sure how to overcome this!! Otherwise- I actually really like home health- paperwork is ridiculous! But I can do that when my little ones go to sleep-and I can actually be there to put them to bed!:) so I feel like I need to make home health work for me:)

thank you so much for all the suggestions- I definitely would ask permission before giving a pet something- unless there's no other way to get back to my vehicle- lol!!

[Mommytracknurse]

Oh!! How awful- sneaky sneaky cat!! You're right- if there's no clinicians to see patients bc they've been hurt on the job then that won't help patients!! I feel like the other nurses do minimize the risk factor- they all just seem to keep on walking. I grew up with dogs- I really didn't realize how scared I am of other people's dogs!! I also feel like I know when dogs are warning you- they mean business- and the bark- no tail wag- stiff posturing- to me means come any closer and I'm going to take a chunk out of you!! Lol!