I didn't know I'd be running a freaking daycare center

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So I started my first rn job three months ago. This job pays very well and it seemed to be a good fit. Little did i know the parents expect their kids to come home from school and "watch TV for tgree hours until they get home" this means while i am trying to care for my pt. His siblings are unsupervised..the youngest is 5 she it's always in the way. Hits, screams, throws temper tantrums, gets in the way of therapy. The parents honestly think she is just going to chill and watch TV. The oldest is 11 and is of no help. Meanwhile I can't do anything right. I have finally stopped communicating anything about my pt unless it directly involves his care bc mom takes everything the wrong way. I am always walking on eggshells. I hate my job

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So I started my first rn job three months ago. This job pays very well and it seemed to be a good fit. Little did i know the parents expect their kids to come home from school and "watch TV for tgree hours until they get home" this means while i am trying to care for my pt. His siblings are unsupervised..the youngest is 5 she it's always in the way. Hits, screams, throws temper tantrums, gets in the way of therapy. The parents honestly think she is just going to chill and watch TV. The oldest is 11 and is of no help. Meanwhile I can't do anything right. I have finally stopped communicating anything about my pt unless it directly involves his care bc mom takes everything the wrong way. I am always walking on eggshells. I hate my job

Are you working for an agency? If so, find out their policy on unattended minor siblings and at what age they can be left alone unsupervised. Find out exactly who you are responsible for and make sure your agency relays this to the parents.

If you are an independent provider, you need to think long and hard about your responsibility in the event of an emergency. Suppose any of the kids requires a 911 call and emergency transport to an ER. Who goes with them? Who watches the other kids?

Time you are occupied with the siblings is time taken away from your patient.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The scenario you describe is usually referred to child abandonment/neglect. Follow the advice of the other poster. If agency, get a manager involved ASAP. If independent, run away now. You cannot accept responsibility for an 11 & 5 year old sibling

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Agree with PP. Is there a social worker at your agency that can discuss with parents?

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Get a new case and tell your agency why you no longer are willing to work at this case.

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Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.

I had this happen at my first private duty job. The mom expected me to babysit the 6 year old sibling along with caring for my client. I immediately notified my agency that this was not acceptable. They in turn called the mom & told her none of the nurses would be allowed to watch the child & she would have to get day care. The next week mom fired the agency.

It is a huge liability to "babysit" kids in the home who are not your patient. Run, don't walk, away from this assignment before something happens!

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Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.

Just Beachy is RIGHT. It is NOT your responsibility to be watching other kids. You are there to provide skilled care to your client, not to babysit. Mom has essentially abandoned the other kids.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

This happened to me once at a new case. around 5 in the morning, both parents went to work and left me, my 6 year old client, and 5 other siblings sleeping in their beds. The mother was very offended when I questioned her, "Is there going to be someone here for the other children?" She assured me that the eldest daughter was in charge and I was not responsible for any of them. I figured the eldest was 18, turns out she was 14. Are you telling me that if there was a fire, I would just grab my client and run out? NO! Of course I'd be scrambling all over the house waking up the other kids. I'd be the nurse that left a bunch of kids to die if I didn't! The funny thing was, the mom fired ME for me questioning if someone else was there. I wasn't going back anyway. I think there were other nurses that never complained about it, so of course I was the troublemaker, lol!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I know of one infamous case with my former agency where there was a family like that...they would try to put me on that case, and I would avoid it like the plague-I think most nurses would stay on that case because they were paying top dollar to keep nurses on that train-wreck case.

Call like yesterday and demand a new case. :yes:

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