Is this harassment by a family member?

[Sea_shell]

I am a CNA. I have been a CNA for a few years now and have just started working at this Skilled Nursing facility. A few days ago we recieved a patient who had knee surgery and happens to be the grandmother of one of the people who works in the kitchen. They have already created many complaints over the CNAs , nurses and staff for everything. Today I walked by an area that I wasn't working in to help answer lights. A bathroom light was on , so I went in to help out. This room has three beds and three residents in it. The patient who had knee surgery was near the front door , and her roommate was in the restroom on a shower chair who uses a stand-up lift to get up. The patient who had knee surgery had one out of many of her grand-daughters there in the room and I asked her grand daughter politely if she could step out just for two minutes so I can bring out this patient and use the lift. (For privacy.) The grand-daughter went outside and I figured she heard me so I said thank you and closed the door. I bring out the lady from the restroom who has no pants on, and the granddaughter opened the door without knocking and walked inside and stood there. My patient , who could be seen from anyone who walked down the hallway, covered her private area and said "they will see me." I turned around and asked for her to please step out just for a second for privacy, and she yelled at me saying , "My grandma lives in here. I can be where I want." I reported this to my supervisor and she said she would speak with the family. One hour later as I am working in my area down the hallway, the granddaughter stood outside and stared at me from far away as I walked around. As I walked down the hallway closer to her and passed her, she continued to give me a look like I would expect in a bad neighborhood in the streets (the only way I can describe it) and would not take her eyes off of me. She did not stop watching me this way for 15 minutes. She glared at me as I walked around, as I sat down, when I went to say hi to residents. I was very near her and was speaking to people and It got to the point where I could not take it anymore. I finally just looked back , smiled and said hello. She did not respond and continued to give me a look, looking me up and down like she was going to hurt me. I have never felt so threatened by a family member and I do not know what to do or even report what happened because I don't know if it is considered harassment? Has anyone experienced this?

[mimibrown, ADN, BSN]

Yes I would consider this threatening behavior and would have reported it to the charge nurse or supervisor. The roommates in this patients room deserve privacy. I think you did the right thing and you handled it well by not engaging this person. Sorry this happened to you! I would let my supervisor know to be on the safe side.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Wow, three patients in one room

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

We have a few rooms with 4:uhoh3:

It does sound like harrassment.

Are there privacy curtains in the rooms?

[sharpeimom]

What about wrapping a towel or a bath sheet around your patient before leaving the bathroom?

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

As you've described the situation, not only was the granddaughter's behavior inappropriate, it was downright creepy and menacing. I would report this to your supervisor.

[caliotter3]

I would ask to be assigned elsewhere in the facility until this patient is discharged so that you don't have to deal with the threatening family member again. Should she go out of her way to impede your work, take up the matter with the charge nurse. If your nurses were more effective, the family member wouldn't be allowed to treat you this way.

[NOADLS]

There are two issues with this.

1) Why aren't there privacy curtains in the shared room which allow patients to use the bathroom in privacy?

2) The family member needs to take a break from visiting. A month to cool off and forget things sounds reasonable.

[Sea_shell]

There are two issues with this.

1) Why aren't there privacy curtains in the shared room which allow patients to use the bathroom in privacy?

2) The family member needs to take a break from visiting. A month to cool off and forget things sounds reasonable.

There are privacy curtains to cover the area where their beds are at. Granddaughters grandma who had knee surgery was working with physical therapy at the time and her curtains were closed and there was no room inside the curtains so grand daughter was standing outside them which is why I asked her to leave.

Yes they do haha

[Sea_shell]

Yes just around the area where their beds are at. Physical therapy was working with her grandma and the curtains were closed for privacy so I could take the other patient out of the bathroom. There were no room for her inside the curtains so she decided to stand outside them. Which is why I asked her to step out

[Sea_shell]

Yes I still lift her to a standing position on the stand up lift though or the Sarah lift so she still would be shown

[ProgressiveActivist, BSN, RN]

Agree with avoiding this person or being reassigned to keep the peace.

If she does anything other than give you hard looks, notify the police and file a restraining order.