Lazy patient

Nurses General Nursing

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Am I obligated to clean up a patient when they are perfectly capable of doing it themselves but are just lazy/want someone else to do it for them?

(Physical therapy has determined he is capable of doing it himself)

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Specializes in ambulant care.

I don´t think that they´re "lazy".

It´s a "call for attention".

Try to find out their social/family background.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

Hard to say. Some are lazy. Some want attention. Some think it’s your job.

it’s learning to judge, weather you need to be firm and tell them to do it or They may actually need minimal assistance/supervision or just encouragement.

Also things change, they may have been fine earlier with the physio, but are struggling later in day. You can’t use that as your reason why a pt was left in a mess. you are still obligated.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Me personally would assist them, ie get everything together and then prepare and hand them the equipment encouraging their independence and enforcing I will assist you but you are able to do a lot yourself

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14 hours ago, Katie622 said:

Am I obligated to clean up a patient when they are perfectly capable of doing it themselves but are just lazy/want someone else to do it for them?

(Physical therapy has determined he is capable of doing it himself)

Context is important.

Everything depends upon what is motivating the patient's behavior. If they expect that they are in a facility where nurses are employed to do this "for" them and that's their sole rationale for wanting it done, obviously that isn't okay. But there are a lot of other possibilities, such was what a previous poster mentioned: They may be actually worn out by the time you're on the scene and really could use some help.

Don't assume, do find out their rationale/motivation. Go from there.

Also, it's probably best to not think in terms of whether or not they are "lazy" or whether or not you have an "obligation" to help them. Instead, think in terms of what action of yours would facilitate that which is therapeutic.

Is it therapeutic to do everything for someone who is capable of doing at least part of a task for themselves? Usually not.

Is it therapeutic to demand that a patient do something when they have exhausted their energies and/or are not able to continue for some other legitimate reason that day? No, that isn't therapeutic either.

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27 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

Don't assume, do find out their rationale/motivation. Go from there.

Just so, need to find out what the barriers are to the patient performing (whatever) because until you know the "why" you can't move forward with education.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

NOTE: this is a newbie post which could make it just fodder for my wanting some popcorn.

But I just don't think it is for this one, and I'm giving OP my benefit of the doubt.

I don't know about 'being lazy', or 'call for attn' or 'needing assistance, supervision or encouragement'. Is he fully functional at the time for other tasks (to rule out fatigue)? I do think maybe there's might just be something 'kinky' there. HE wouldn't be the first.

If he's demonstrated that he's NOT incapacitated doing other functions, then prepare him for discharge. Make sure the Case Manager, Discharge Planner, Social Worker, is involved so he knows.

I'm usually one all for going the extra yard for the pt, but sometimes we all get the THAT gut feeling when we're think we're being taken advantage of.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

After I posted, I noted that OP had another recently opened, then closed SIMILAR post. I don't know if this is one and the same pt, but I do think it is.

The pt sounds like discharge-ready. He'll eventually run out his insurance coverage.

I will amend my prior post to say that yes, this pt DOES need some further interventions as to his motivation for his actions. And there well may be several to address. But I don't believe the bedside nurse is the one to have to be all the professionals needed here.

So to OP - someone else did comment that this pt still needs his care done. Just keep it short & simple and be done with it.

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What does "obligated" mean here OP?

If I was sure the patient could perform the task, I would not do it for them. Our role is teach independence.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

IF this a rehab patient in the US what are his RUG Scores where I worked if a patient was not cooperative with his rehab or not making progress in getting better Medicare stopped paying and the patient was discharged home or to a different level of nursing. Perhaps the patient needs a visit from utilization to be told that if he can't participate in his rehab he may have to be discharged.

Hppy

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Specializes in retired LTC.

hppy - that's EXACTLY what I meant as 'discharge-ready'.

Thing is he prob IS participating in formal Therapy sessions in the Rehab Room. Just not doing it on the unit.

Still he should then be maxed out and disch'd.

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Specializes in Oceanfront Living.

Your patients are to be taken care of. They are not scored individuals to be analyzed if they can "do it or not".

What has happened to human compassion?

Feel free to flame away.

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