I am tired of inconsiderate visitors . . .

mamamerlee, LPN · Nov 3, 2009

What happened to family members only, no kids under 12, etc. Many local hospitals have clamped down on children as visitors ddue to H1N1.

I worked on a reproductive surgery unit when I was preggo with my now 18 yr old, and the women frequently asked if they could touch my tummy 'for luck' ! Even though that wasn't my preference, I did not deny them their wish. I was 39 at the time, I think it gave many of them hope.

As for being concerned about your own family before someone else's - - well, do they think all nurses are nuns? That we don't have families? And, yes, the bottom line is - my family will nearly always come before yours. Why not???

JB2007, ASN, RN · Nov 3, 2009

I love it when a family member comes into the nursing home running a fever and states on their way out the door that their temp has been over 100 all day and their stomache just does not feel right. However, they just had to come and see their loved one that day. Hello, your 90 year old grandmother does not fight off the flu bug as well as you do stay home.

I have to agree with the OP. Yes, my family will always come before my patient's family. That is not saying that while I am at work I am worrying about my family. I try to leave the personal stuff at the door.

questionsforall · Nov 3, 2009

I love when a family member asks if their infant can come visit grandpa in the MDR Klebsiella contact room in the ICU. I am thinking, "Are you crazy!!!!!!!!!!1"

pageygirl · Nov 3, 2009

omg i know its usually the families that drive you nuts yesterday had a family arguing with the dr because they want any changes in medication cleared with them prior to the dr ordering anything yes the grandaughter works at wallmart she is qualified to say if her granmother needs to be on digoxin or amiodarone felt sorry for the dr hey its totally disrespectful. send her home on hospice then shes 96

Batman24 · Nov 3, 2009

I've politely told visitors it would be in the patient's best interest if they visited another day when they were feeling better. Don't come hacking up a lung when a patient is so vulnerable. Sometimes they just need a reminder and it works.

dusky1228 · Nov 3, 2009

These would also be the ones who insist on bringing their feverish, coughing child to visit a relative's severely premature baby in NICU--and lie about being the brother or sister of the baby just because they "just can't wait to see the baby"! :angryfire

ittybabyRN, RN · Nov 3, 2009

the overly cautious ones make me laugh too tho, I work in a NICU and the elevators to our wing are right outside the ER (of a children's hospital, lots of flu), I had a mom who would wear a mask from her car all the way to the entrance to our unit. Had another mom who wouldn't visit for 3 days because someone sneezed in the elevator she was on.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Nov 3, 2009

Rhee, If I were you I'd care more about your baby than someone elses. It doesn't mean you won't do your job to the best of your education and ability. Some people. :rolleyes:

Yes, I've had the "Well if your grandmother was in a nursing home" question to which I've replied, "my family always took care of both my grandmothers themselves" which I know puts them on a guilt trip, but it was the same BS they were trying on me.

And we currently have a sign up EVERYWHERE stating that we are not admitting school age children as visitors, yet they still come. Then they come up to me and want to know if the rules don't apply to them, just everyone else. Yes, the rules apply to you as well, I reply.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 3, 2009

me, i just looove having visitors! especially the ones who sit in my chair in front of my computer and won't move when i ask them to. (no, my hospital doesn't provide chairs for visitors, perhaps in the mistaken hope that they'll leave when they get tired of standing. unfortunately i *can't* leave when i get tired of standing!) especially the ones who bring in their big gulps, flaunt it to our patients who are all either npo or on fluid and carbohydrate restrictions and get all offended when i ask them to leave their drinks outside the hospital room.

i'm always happy to see the gangbanger visitors come with their foul mouths, fouler attitudes and their concealed weapons . . . which don't always remain concealed if you "provoke" them. (perhaps by suggesting they leave their big gulp outside or that you need to use your computer and your chair.) i enjoy seeing the nitpicky parents of a 40 year old who is trying to die -- a choice that seems to be entirely reasonable to the nursing staff, rt, pt. ot, and everyone else who encounters the patient except his parents and his surgeon. when i'm trying very hard to keep sonny alive and relatively comfortable given that his skin has all sloughed off from the hips down and he's having diarrhea, and mom comes in, sees a spot a blood from a blood draw on the bottom sheet and wants me to change him right now! i'm am just so happy to accomodate her wishes. especially when he's in agony when moved and mom insists that he not be medicated for pain because that makes him sleepy and she wants him to be awake to interact with her.

really, how can you not love visitors?

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2009

Unfortunately, they are like cockroaches.

They live and breed FOREVER.....

psalm, RN · Nov 3, 2009

Rhee, perhaps the comment about you caring more for your baby than the patients could be: they think you won't do all you should because your pregnancy may hinder you physically. To them you may use your condition to take short cuts or give only minimal care.

It is frustrating to give it your all and then for a patient or family member or visitor assume we don't care or don't give our best.