List the most frivolous complaints you've received

Specialties Private Duty

Published

Here's a great opportunity for you guys to vent. I want to know what are the most frivolous/nit-picking complaints or comments that you have received from family members in private duty.

I called the doctor's office to obtain the order for the increase in a seizure med (pt was having back to back seizures all day.) Mom had already talked to the doctor moments before and gotten the orders as to the new dose and extra Diastat dose. I had TOLD the mom that when she got ahold of the doctor to put me on the phone with him so I could take the verbal order. We made it clear to her when she started with our agency that the nurses needed to get the orders from the doctors in order to implement them. But she didn't put him on the phone with me.

When I called, the nurse had to call me back. For some reason, the office nurse, when calling back, called the mom instead of me. The mom stomped into the room and reamed me out for calling the Dr. office. She yelled stating I am NEVER allowed to call a provider without her approval first. (I had TOLD her already I NEEDED to talk to them to legally give the meds myself and make the order official.)

Essentially, she treated me like a babysitter who snooped around calling her daughter's doctors.

A bit later she said to me, handing me a syringe, "here is the so and so dose of medication the neurologist said to give."

I looked at her directly in the eyes and stated that since she did not permit me to obtain the order, I was not legally allowed to administer it. ALSO that I cannot legally give meds drawn up by anyone other than myself.

She was flabbergasted. Despite having had nursing care for her daughter for 18 years (meaning she had experience with how orders work and she should have known this) And despite me telling her "Don't forget to hand the phone to me when the doctor calls you back so I can write the official order allowing the nurses to give it.

She just went off on me, trying to bait me into an argument when she reamed me out for calling the office after she hung up. I did not take the bait, simply said, "Ok." When she kept trying to bait me, repeating herself over and over, I calmly said, "Please speak with my supervisor."my

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Specializes in LTC.

Do you still work on the case?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

Something similar happened to me. The client's family had taken them to a medical appointment and the doc had changed some med orders without telling my employer. When I got there a few days later, Mom told me about the change. I could copy a med order from a prescription bottle or office visit summary. She didn't have either, so I told her I would need to call the doctor to confirm.

I'd had to call the doc for another reason, and when he called back, Mom wanted to ask him about something. I said I'd put the phone on speaker. She took the phone out of my hands and talked to the doc in another room. When she came back, I told her no one from my agency would be able to give the new dose until I talked to the doctor directly. I called the doc and got the on-call, who took his time calling back. I ended up staying past my shift to get the order, with my supervisor's knowledge.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Something similar happened to me. The client's family had taken them to a medical appointment and the doc had changed some med orders without telling my employer. When I got there a few days later, Mom told me about the change. I could copy a med order from a prescription bottle or office visit summary. She didn't have either, so I told her I would need to call the doctor to confirm.

I'd had to call the doc for another reason, and when he called back, Mom wanted to ask him about something. I said I'd put the phone on speaker. She took the phone out of my hands and talked to the doc in another room. When she came back, I told her no one from my agency would be able to give the new dose until I talked to the doctor directly. I called the doc and got the on-call, who took his time calling back. I ended up staying past my shift to get the order, with my supervisor's knowledge.

I would have taken issue with her walking off with your personal phone.(of course in addition to not having the needed orders)

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On my agency MARS,for emergency meds like diastat,it says "Ask parents/caregivers first".

It also says that for some prn meds.

How can that be legal?

Also,lots of parents want us to talk to them first before calling the physician.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
I would have taken issue with her walking off with your personal phone.(of course in addition to not having the needed orders)

It was the house phone. They lived in an area with no cell service. Still, walking off with it made my job that much harder.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
It was the house phone. They lived in an area with no cell service. Still, walking off with it made my job that much harder.

Sorry I misread I thought it said cell phone. It was rude when she knew darn well you were getting orders

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
On my agency MARS,for emergency meds like diastat,it says "Ask parents/caregivers first".

It also says that for some prn meds.

How can that be legal?

Also,lots of parents want us to talk to them first before calling the physician.

If the MAR says ask parent that is indicative that the attending physician authorized the order to be written that way. Parents lose a lot of control when they have a complex child needing PDN. k I have one case that nearly all medications except one plus an injection is given by parents. All of those medications require compounding and reconstitution for which the parents were explicit trained. All PRNs are must ask parent as parent keeps track of any meds given without nursing. The child has a specialized regime that must keep scheduled and PRN separate especially Motrin & Tylenol.

It's fully "legal" as this is exactly how the attending physician prescribed.

I've also had DCFS cases that PRNs and controlled are kept in a safe with only nurse access. Both were suspected munchausen by proxy with possible misuse of the controlled substances (one was giving 1/2 doses of Diastat for "headaches"). This was physician and court ordered. The child had 24 hour care at one point (16 paid by Medicaid, 8 by DCFS).

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Do you still work on the case?

The mom was removing PDN services the following week and placing her in a facility with a school. I was supposed to go back for 2 more days. I did not go back, and my company stood behind me. I will not tolerate anyone treating me that way. I had another kid who's mom was really something else, but I was able to handle her ok since she was nice enough to my face. (She complained about all the nurses behind their backs.)

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If the MAR says ask parent that is indicative that the attending physician authorized the order to be written that way. Parents lose a lot of control when they have a complex child needing PDN. k I have one case that nearly all medications except one plus an injection is given by parents. All of those medications require compounding and reconstitution for which the parents were explicit trained. All PRNs are must ask parent as parent keeps track of any meds given without nursing. The child has a specialized regime that must keep scheduled and PRN separate especially Motrin & Tylenol.

It's fully "legal" as this is exactly how the attending physician prescribed.

I've also had DCFS cases that PRNs and controlled are kept in a safe with only nurse access. Both were suspected munchausen by proxy with possible misuse of the controlled substances (one was giving 1/2 doses of Diastat for "headaches"). This was physician and court ordered. The child had 24 hour care at one point (16 paid by Medicaid, 8 by DCFS).

I just don't understand asking the parents during an emergency situation,as is the case with diastat.

For example,the child is having a five minute seizure,yet the parents say no,do not give the med.

Then what?

Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I just don't understand asking the parents during an emergency situation,as is the case with diastat.

For example,the child is having a five minute seizure,yet the parents say no,do not give the med.

Then what?

Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Then you call 911 and let parents refuse EMS. And contact clinical nurse manager immediately to advise of situation.

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