List the most frivolous complaints you've received

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2016

Do you have a cuter nurse to send, preferably a blonde?

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2016

RNinIN smiles too much...hmmm

Wow, this brought back a memory.

Not Private Duty, but way back in the early 80s, I received a performance review that said, in part, "Jensmom smiles and laughs too much. This is not professional."

I was working on a general Pediatric floor at the time.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2016

In the first and quite probably the last private duty job i ever did: "you don't do the rest of the dishes in the sink when you clean up after his breakfast." Ummmm...I was the patients nurse, not the family housekeeper. My patient liked toast, eggs etc for breakfast, so yeah I dirtied up some dishes. I had no problem with washing and putting away what I had used and if there were a few things (a mug or two, some bits of silverware, etc, I'd go ahead and wash those too, just because it seemed silly to leave it. I drew the line at cleaning the disaster area of a kitchen after an entire weekend of the family trashing the area. I guess i had spoiled them or something. Of course the mother also wanted to know why I did not mop the rest of the house when i mopped the floor of my patients room (he was wheelchair bound/TBI and had his own custom done suite with accessible bathroom, roll in shower, etc.)!?

I left that job when the same mother wanted me to put in my assessment, he needed RN homecare instead of a CNA/HHA. I made quite good money and I don't mind doing more than I am supposed to do, in regards to making my patient's environment more pleasant, but I don't fudge my charting. This was a worker's comp case and I honestly believe the family was abusing the benefits given from this guy's tragic accident.

Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN · Jan 2, 2016

You nurses use too much toilet paper.

YES!!!! I don't do do PDN anymore, but I can't believe the amount of TP complaints we would receive. The last case I worked required nursing to buy our own TP.

"The nurses are drugging my child." (After we administered Tylenol or Simethicone as per PRN order.)

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jan 4, 2016

Drying my hands with paper towels.

rnrg · Jan 4, 2016

You don't wear deodorant I prefer.

I don't like the color of your hair.

You keep the client area too clean and neglect the rest if the house. There are other kids to clean up after too.

Don't tell anyone we have fleas or bed bugs.

Your fired because OUR child got you sick and you called out. (First call out ever)

I don't like the color of your scrubs.

Don't make the tube feed formula at 659. Make it at 7p dp it out and make it over again at the time I SPECIFIED.

I seriously could go on forever. Omg.

Cactus Nurse · Jan 4, 2016

My last or mother started complaining or venting, more of a complaint, that the nurses and caregivers are using so much electricity and that the expenses of the new house are more than they thought so we need to be careful. She said we would leave lights on in rooms we weren't using? Umm I'm not there the whole night but I don't want to keep walking into a dark kitchen? She would also complain to her kids (who were adults) about how their house bills were too high.

oh and she said not to "bombard" her with things when she would come home from work. Ok, I never did anyways but as soon as she would walk in she would start complaining about something.

crc2015 · Jan 4, 2016

My story may differ, but I had a patient that said I tried to kill her. I work in a dialysis clinic and if a patient does not get heparin to keep the bloodline system from clotting during treatment, they get saline flushes every 30 minutes. I gave the lady her saline flush and she told everyone I put something in her lines and intentionally tried to kill her! It was the craziest thing, but luckily everyone knew this particular patient didn't like ANYONE, and I guess especially didn't like me that day.

It's funny to laugh at now, but at the time......

was really frustrating to even deal with a situation like that of being accused.

Sostuckrn · Jan 9, 2016

I could seriously write a book. Had a parent who complained about everything we did. You dripped. You left food in the sink. You turned too many lights on. You didn't turn the night light off at the crack of dawn. You talked too loud.

AdobeRN · Jan 11, 2016

I had two from the same mom - first complaint she had was that I didn't keep the childs area clean enough and I used too many gloves when taking care of her - sorry I will use clean gloves every time I suction and change diapers - what was I supposed to do?? Second complaint was that I left early alot and she needed someone that was reliable to stay all shift - I did leave early on occasion but it was never my request to do so - it was always mom saying "we are going out to visit friends" or "I have family coming over you can leave at ___." I would have her sign my time sheet, I would send a quick text to the agency scheduler on call to let them know whats up & why I am leaving a case early and then I would leave. Agency never had a problem with it.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 12, 2016

I was told I knew too much because I researched the client's rare condition, medication profile and potential risks/complications. So researching to provide best care and parent complains I'm too smart because I passed the parent's "quiz". (Parent was apparently known to quiz nurses in first few shifts. I did not know this. I just prepared like I always do. Parent dismissed nurses that didn't know the basics.)

Um okay then

I was also fired by a pre-teen because I was too much like their mother. Teen wanted a buddy to hang out with not a nurse that follows the plan of care. I almost died laughing...but I was given "permission" to fill in an emergency. As apparently I was better than no nurse.

SirJohnny · Jun 28, 2016

Client cancelled long-term private duty (pediatric) case a week before Christmas. Didn't want any male nurses in the house any longer. Three of the nurses that worked the account were males, and we were all let go from this account a week before Christmas. Only female nurses were allowed to continue to

work the account (24 * 7 pediatric case).

Since the State of Pennsylvania MHMR pays for services (through Agency), I thought about filing a sexual discrimination suit. But just let it go.

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Have had several parents cancel my case with them over the years for no reason at all. This has happened to several of the other nurses (both male and female) that I work with. Some of these nurses have been in the industry for over 30 years, and who you'd definitely want to keep around if you had a sick kid.

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Get shifts cancelled on a continuous basis (usually parents going out of town for a day or two, or else unable to get a day nurse [i work nights]). This is why I work multiple accounts (usually float 6 or 7 cases at a time).

Every month, I get scheduled for 30 shifts, and end up getting cancelled for 6 or 7 of those shifts. Sometimes the kids do get sick, but other times it's the parents going out on vacation for a day trip.

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Anyone out there reading this post who really wants to consider a career in nursing. My advice, pick up your shoes and run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.

Seriously, what the hell was I thinking leaving software to do this crappy stuff. After 10 years, I am ready to leave the industry. Nursing is not a profession. It's a coal mining job with no union protection, with slave owner mentality.

I've tried hospital nursing, where you run your butt off like crazy. Tried Long Term Care, which is more or less like hospital nursing. Now, I do Private Duty. At least I get to sit, but the pay is horrendous. Imagine $22/hour for a Bachelor in Nursing degree, which will run you $50 to $60K in tuition alone.

Run, run, run away as fast as you can.