too hot in the home

SDALPN · Oct 22, 2011

http://www.reference.com/motif/Health/are-there-laws-about-temperature-in-the-workplace

There are no laws stating what the temp has to be in a work environment. And again, this is the patients home. Part of the benefit of working for an agency is the option to find a good fit. If its not a good fit because you don't like the temp, you can find another case.

I'm on a case now that is extremely hot. The family can't afford to run their a/c like I would in my home. But I'm not in my home so I can't make that choice. The family has a choice between a hot home or paying for a/c and losing their home. They have to do what is best for them, not the nurses. If a nurse doesn't like it, the agency will find another that will work there without complaint. Part of our job is working in many different home environments.

No family in their right mind would allow a nurse to take over their home including the temp. I've seen nurses go in homes and rearrange things and change the thermostat. That is wrong unless permission has been given.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Oct 22, 2011

OSHA and CALOSHA are two different things and usually the higher state law applies.

http://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/heatillnesstexbdconsider.pdf

A safe and comfortable working environment is not the same as "taking over their home". But I guess your point is you think that private duty nursing should follow the same standards as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory? I mean when you work in an office the owner of that company OWNS the office it's THEIR office. Does that mean the employees have no say?

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Oct 22, 2011

Didn't you also post several months ago about not wanting to on an unsafe case?

If so then I think you need to lay off admonishing those for setting their standards of what makes a safe case for them. Also I would not be saying "some people are not suited for home care" because one could make that same statement about you.

Because usually where their heat their fire. I worked one night shift for a case where the mom kept on popping in at like 2am to see what I was doing and wanting me to do ROM at 2am. I decided there and then it was only going downhill from there.

SDALPN · Oct 23, 2011

There are unsafe cases out there. But the temp in a home typically doesn't make a case unsafe. If it is hot enough to cause heat or cold related illness then that would be unsafe. There are resources if the temps become that extreme. But most of the nurses I hear complain about temps are usually just not a good fit for the case.

The case I'm on now keeps it very hot. There was a menopausal nurse on the case (she told us she was, this is not assumed). The nurse changed the thermostat because she had a hot flash and the 80 degree temp in the home that day didn't work for her. The family let her go. 80 degrees would be too hot for my home, but its not going to hurt anyone. I think its silly that in those temps the patients mother wants socks to be on the patients feet at all times ("so she won't catch a cold"...don't get me started on that one). But it doesn't harm the patient even though it may be uncomfortable. But its their home and their child.

Either be flexible and adapt or find another case where the temps are suitable. When I orient on a case, I always take note of many things. I note the temp, the cleanliness, the attitudes of the family, how they interact with their children(I don't work with families that allow their kids to play with medical equip), what the family allows and doesn't allow. The majority of the time I can tolerate the home. If I absolutely can't I'll inform the agency of why, if its appropriate, and find another case.

I worked on a case where a supervisor barged in to the patients home after I answered the door and the parent specifically told me nobody was to go in the home. The supervisor ended up being charged with trespassing. The mother didn't want anyone there because she was sleeping. The mother was lazy and just didn't want to be bothered. But either way it is her home and she can choose who is in her home and when.

kids · Oct 23, 2011

If you don't like the conditions or environment in a home quit the assignment, just as you would with any job.

I live in central Alabama and never even turned the AC on this summer.

I agree, there is a point where heat can be hazardous but even then cooling measures can be effectively implemented, beyond that it's about comfort.

Unless you are paying the heating and cooling costs you don't get to dictate the temperature in the home.

caliotter3 · Oct 23, 2011

Look up heat injury.

ventmommy · Oct 24, 2011

I am here, tothepointeLVN! I have been watching this thread to see the nursing perspective on family rights vs. workplace conditions.

Yes, people can tolerate different things. I don't like sleeping in temps above 69F. I don't like existing in temps above 72F. Is my son's room warmer than the rest of the house? Absolutely! There is a ventilator, an air-filled pressure relieving mattress that is electric, an oxygen compressor that puts out a ton of heat, a water-filled electric-powered heating pad and about a dozen more things that use electricity for him. Not to mention the things that my hubby and I plug in like laptops. And also, we and our nurses like to see, so there is always a light on. Is the room uncomfortably warm? Absolutely not. There is a thermometer in his room. He does not have good self-regulation of his body temperature so we, and our nurses, are very careful.

The house that the OP works in sounds WAAAAAAAY too hot for anyone. I don't see why a nurse would not be allowed to inquire about cooling measures. Most DSS agencies have some sort of cooling program in the summer where someone can get a free window A/C. And many electric companies have special programs for low income people and for medically fragile people.

To the nurses that allow themselves to be abused, don't! It's just wrong. I hate hearing about some of the other cases our nurses are on. We have nurses that must sit in the dark, or on the floor, or can't use the bathroom. We have one nurse that is PHYSICALLY abused by the patient and the parents do nothing to discipline the child and the nurse takes the abuse.

If the house is so hot or so cold as to have the potential to cause an environmental emergency, speak up. Maybe the parents don't know that there are financial resources out there. Maybe they are scared or embarrassed to ask for help. Your voice might be the only one that speaks up for that child.

ventmommy · Oct 24, 2011

Just curious, do no other agencies give the families a questionnaire with this info so they can give a cover sheet to the nurse? When we first came home, the agency asked us all sorts of questions including thermostat settings, water heater settings, pets, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, food storage, bathroom use, etc. Over the years, I have made my own guide that I update regularly. Our DON gives it to any new nurse before he/she ever sets foot in the house. How else is a new nurse supposed to know important things in advance? Any nurse coming here will already know that it's 65 at night in the house, 69 in my son's room and 68 during day in the house, 71 in my son's room. If they don't like it that cold, they need to bring a sweater. If that's too hot for them, they should wear short sleeves. And we have a small fan on the table near the rocking chair that a nurse can use. I swear, I want to start a PARENT-TRAINING program for families that have in-home nursing.

SDALPN · Oct 24, 2011

I'm with a national agency and they don't provide us with the answers to the questionnaire if they give one to the parents. But I don't know that they give one to the parents. When I was with PSA a few years ago, they didn't. I've suggested it multiple times to supervisors. It would really help myself and other nurses before we go in to a home. I almost always walk in blind unless a supervisor chooses to give me info. Then I ask the parents what their preferences are and usually get an answer along the lines of "I don't know". Basic rules of the home and home environment should be discussed prior to going to the home.

I agree there needs to be a parent training program. These agencies just want the money and tell the parents whatever they want to hear. The agencies know the parent is wrong and allow the parent to continue and punish the nurse instead. (yes I know nurses can be wrong and parents can be right). The agencies would rather go through lots of nurses til one fits the family than correct the families behavior so that more nurses would be a fit for the home.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Oct 26, 2011

I work for a national agency, and the admission packet includes a list of things the families should provide for the nurse (ex. a chair and a small lamp). They also let the parents know that night shift nurses are allowed to use laptops.

Rodoon, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 27, 2011

Ventmommy,

Seriously, they can't use the bathroom? I never worked home health and I salute all of you that do.

ventmommy · Oct 27, 2011

That's what our nurse said and I have no reason to not believe her. She left after she got a UTI. She works for two agencies - the one I use and the other national one with a really poor reputation. That case was from the national agency.

Ventmommy,
Seriously, they can't use the bathroom? I never worked home health and I salute all of you that do.