I have noticed, from time to time, there will be that *one* family member who will question your each and every move with a client. They question --- EVERYTHING. They challenge you on EVERYTHING.
I had this one particular person come visit a client I was taking care of recently. I work on L&D, and we get the s/p surgical pregnant patients. This particular patient was s/p open appy, post op day #1. She was 30+ weeks gestation, baby #1. No complications from the surgery, and no OB complications. Most especially - no preterm labor/preterm contractions. Thus, why she was being cared for on L&D on continuous EFM.
Her pain was under relatively good control with Percocet. She was taking in p.o. fluids well. She was up to the BR with minimal assistance several times. IV converted to hep well. On colace and mylicon. Doing cough/turn/deep breathing to help reduce atelectasis. Basically, all things that can be done at home (other than the continuous EFM, which in my nursing opinion should have been d/c'd by this point, but I digress.)
I was just there to fluff, buff, ensure that everything was staying status quo and she was getting better. Enough for d/c to home the next day.
Then the family member know-it-all graces us with her presence.
"What is her status?" she asks me outside of the patient's room. I explain that I cannot comment on her health status without getting consent from the patient, so I suggest we go into the patient's room. We do, and the patient is fine with discussing her status and plan of care.
I once again, reinforce all of the normal healing functions that are going on - off of IV fluids, oral pain meds, taking fluids and can move up to solids now, urinating normally, bedrest with bathroom priv + MD orders to ambulate TID and prn, use of cough/turn/DB to clear lung secretions. And that she's more than likely going home the next day since she was doing so well.
"What?!? Go home?! But she's on bedrest! She can't go home!"
Last I looked, she's not on bedrest (strict), but rather, she needs to actually get up and walk more than she's doing (other than going to the BR and back), and walking actually helps promote healing. In other words: it's GOOD FOR HER TO TAKE SHORT WALKS. --sigh--
"Oh my God! Why is this fan on!? She can't have air blowing on her!"
Really? Tell that to her, when that fan was placed there per her request because she was feeling hot and wanted the air blowing on her for COMFORT.
"She can't go home!"
Why not? Everything she is getting here is the same things that family members can help her with at home, or she can do herself. Such as, swallowing her pain medication, taking colace and mylicon, walking to the bathroom, etc.
"What about a bowel movement! She needs to have one!"
Really? I do believe that if she has an urge to have one, she can get a little one person assist to the BR to do it. (To patient - when did you have your last BM? Yesterday? Ok, so you're ok, and right on track. Sometimes the next BM after surgery is a little delayed, but that's why we have you taking over the counter colace to help make it easier to go when you do have to have a BM.)
"But, you can't seriously think she can go home tomorrow? What if this was you?"
I have had several abdominal surgeries, and trust me when I say - home is better than a hospital. Yes, it's normal to go home on post op day #2..........or even the same day. She's not an invalid.
No --- I didn't say these things word for word. Some where thought in my head...........while I verbally was giving the absolutely best patient/family education for health promotion and good post op healing as I possibly could.
Fyreflie1980
3 Posts
Haha sometimes I have to remind myself to use my "inside" (my head) voice! It happens to everyone. I will, sometimes, refuse to communicate with those types of family members--or, as libby mentioned, refer them to the MD.....