would you let family take pt to bathroom?

MikeyJ, RN · Dec 28, 2007

what would you do if you have a patient who had stroke, one sided weakness and family member took patient to the bathroom? would you let them do it, would you just document it, would you tell them not to do it?

why would you want to discourage it? i am only a nursing student, but on my rotations, if a family member wants to assist their loved one to the restroom, then i (along with the nurses i have worked with) have always allowed them. if they need help, then of course we would assist them.

i would always should the family members the proper way of moving their loved ones to prevent harm to the patient as well as themselves.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2007

I work on a rehab unit where many of the patients are recovering from CVAs, MIs, recent surgical procedures, and so forth. When the patients are first admitted, PT and OT must evaluate them for mobility status before they are allowed to be walked to the bathroom. However, family members and visitors become flippant and angry upon hearing this, so they'll walk the patient to the bathroom by themselves.

I simply document my teaching in the nurses notes, and the family's noncompliant response. In case the patient falls or exacerbates their injury, I would hope that my documentation would cover me.

jackson145 · Dec 28, 2007

I'm currently just a tech but I was told that if the patient was cognizant and would allow family to help than we weren't to stand in the way.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2007

Is the CVA or weakness new? Has this person been already caring for pt at home? Does this person know what he/she is doing?

I would ask to be called thw first few times to see how they do together. If all was well, I would let them go with instructions to call w/any new difficulties.

casi, ASN, RN · Dec 28, 2007

I would let them with some education. Maybe have a CNA or nurse observe a couple of times to make sure it's safe, or maybe get PT involved in the education.

If this person is going home with their loved on, it'd be best that the loved one learn how to care for them in a more controlled safer environment with a lot of resources instead of getting home and trying to figure it out.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 28, 2007

I would be nervous if this was a new onset, and would probably check with the RN for the policy and procedure for this. But, if that is not available, I would probably go myself to assist for the first few times, then ask an aide to assist, and document this.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2007

what would you do if you have a patient who had stroke, one sided weakness and family member took patient to the bathroom? would you let them do it, would you just document it, would you tell them not to do it?

i think this is where your nursing judgement comes in. if it's the first time oob to the bathroom on a new cva, well of course not. if this is a family who has already cared for the patient, knows the patient's limitations, etc. then i'd be watching, since the patient's safety is ultimately my responsibility. but part of our job is to help transition the patient from hospital to home (or rehab) - so if a family is willing to learn how to assist, then i'll teach. and document, document, document!

blee

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2007

Sure, but I'd like to be there the first time. Many of my trauma patients are going home with family and are not 100% independent in this sort of thing and I need to know they are going to be safe at home. Many times our PT's will do family teaching with this sort of thing.

clemmm78, RN · Dec 28, 2007

what would you do if you have a patient who had stroke, one sided weakness and family member took patient to the bathroom? would you let them do it, would you just document it, would you tell them not to do it?

too many unknowns with this question to be able to answer it.

1- how weak is one side?

2- how recent was the stroke?

3- is the patient alert and oriented?

4- is the patient a little old lady who barely weighs 100 lbs, or a 6'2" man who weighs over 200 lbs?

5- does the family know what it is doing? one person or 2?

6- has the patient been out of bed before?

7- is the patient due to be discharged soon?

8- was the patient recently given a sedative?

9- was the patient recently given a laxative?

10- how far away was the bathroom?

11- did the patient have to walk the whole way or use a w/c?

the information you give isn't enough to give make a good nursing judgement.

Ahhphoey · Dec 28, 2007

I would allow this, but only after I or another nurse was present the first 2-3 times the patient was ambulated. If the pt is stable or needs little assistance, than I would allow the family to help. On the post-op floor I worked on, this was our unwritten policy. This is different in that most of our patients were essentially healthy before having the surgery, so were able to walk just fine before.

Ms.RN · Dec 29, 2007

too many unknowns with this question to be able to answer it.
1- how weak is one side?
2- how recent was the stroke?
3- is the patient alert and oriented?
4- is the patient a little old lady who barely weighs 100 lbs, or a 6'2" man who weighs over 200 lbs?
5- does the family know what it is doing? one person or 2?
6- has the patient been out of bed before?
7- is the patient due to be discharged soon?
8- was the patient recently given a sedative?
9- was the patient recently given a laxative?
10- how far away was the bathroom?
11- did the patient have to walk the whole way or use a w/c?
the information you give isn't enough to give make a good nursing judgement.

okay, i'll clarify this. this person used to be completely heatlhy like you and i, able to walk, independent with adl's, then all of a sudden, he had a stroke, very recently, he was stablized then transferred to our facility for therapy. his right side is conpltely flaccid, patient is oriented x2. this patient is male, about 200lbs. when he first came and evaluated by pt, we were told to use lift to take him to the bathroom, and that's what we've been doing. then family came and walked patient to the bathroom. i watched him walk him back to his bed, and he dragged patients feet on his weak side on the floor while walking him back to his bed.

so, if he falls, then who is liable for this?