I got a pt the other night, 30 days inpatient, new CA. Fresh from ICU, the reporting nurse tells me, family nightmare. Within 15 mins of arrival, 3 nurses, and the CNA are besides themselves. The bed wasn't right, we need soda, we are staying the night, etc, etc. The day after we get another pt, similar deal in the next room, creating a group from hell. My thought on this is if everyone involved, the doc, admin, the floor staff draw a line in the sand, this crap stops. Instead I see nurses and aides in tears some days from sheer frustration. I mean the family actually barging into the staff
break room with demands. Does anyone work for a facility that actually has a protocol for this nonsense? It has become so common, and we all know, no matter what we do, how much time etc we put into these people they are still going to complain. To the detriment of the 5 other pts and families who are reasonable. Just wondering and appreciate any imput
on thanksgiving eve we had to block a room because a "party" of 30 people decided to visit their mother and take over our activity room and make it into a football party... needless to say I was mad... not to mention they took everything from on our pantry.
I would have gone in and asked, "So which one of you is planning on going to the store to replace what you've taken from the pantry? Our other patients are asking for snacks."
THERE NEEDS TO BE NO CHANGING OF THE RULES BY NURSES WHO DON'T HAVE THE GUTS TO STAND UP TO THESE NIT WITS. ONE SET OF RULES FOR EVERYONE! Nurses need to put their foot down and stop being doormats. To hell with Press Gainey!
Amen to that. I would have told the family member I was on break and to go ask someone at the nurse's station. I understand we are trained hard to not "pass the buck" but in my personal belief that doesn't count when someone is approaching me in the breakroom asking for a warm blanket/refill an icepack/etc. This has happened to me and I've passed the buck...I didn't feel bad about it, and no one ever complained.
Setting limits on these bipolar/co-dependent family members is very important. Press-Gainey is great and everything, but it doesn't dictate whether or not I keep my job. Family members don't fill out P-G forms, the patients do.
Case Management needs to know what is going on
No kidding, in my experience, at least on my unit, the case managers and docs will try harder to get the patient off the floor ASAP when there are demanding family members. Usually the next step for these type of family members is to start threatening lawsuits over really dumb non-sensical stuff.
Also, has anyone else noticed that when talking to these types of family members, the first thing out of their mouths is usually, "I"? As in, "I think...", "I was wondering...", "I need...", "I'd like to...", etc etc. Their concerns are usually pretty self centered in relation to their family members. Not always, but a lot of the time. Once I noticed that it started driving me nuts every time they talk to me that way.
Our facility has just announced a switch to "open visitation" for all units (including all the intensive care units). Anyone have experience with this?
Yes and it is a total nightmare is the ICU. Especially in the neuro ICU. Family won't leave the pt alone. I always ask them to leave for assessment and report. I cannot tolerate when family feels the need to visit at 2am and scream "Joe wiggle your toes" at the top of their lungs q5 seconds. I finally told that visitor to leave after 10 minutes and stated that it was time to give him his bath.
We try to put our foot down with visitation, but since visiting is open we get little backup. We have a new manager and we hope to change that.
I agree with all the suggestions especially consistency among staff. We just discharged a lady who was @ our facility for 22 days. The daughter was one of those family members and knew how to manipulate the staff. She got one of the night supervisors to allow her to spend the night once, and ofcourse, that set precedence that we couldn't fight. meaning she ended up spending every night for 12 nights at bedside, requiring more attention than my five other patients combined. Everytime we told her she needed to leave coz that was the rule, she would say there are exceptions, and every extra night she spent there, the stronger her arguement. Talk about a nightmare. Hopefully that house sup learned a lesson.
UUGGHHH! I just had that family on my unit last night! I go in for an assessment and brother says "Don't wake her, I just tucked her in, she's fine" and then after I did wake her he asks "Will you take my blood pressure too? Doc says if I'm two point above that top number it could be really bad" Then later I go in and mom asks "Will you please get me a warm blanket?" "Can you get us root beer?" "What's that pill for? Will she get sick? Are you feeling like your going to throw up my baby doll?" Guess what? Suddenly she does!! Time for you all to say your goodbyes so I can get princess to sleep!
I love my job...I love my job..I love my job... (My new positive thinking mantra!):bowingpur
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
If I were a patient, having a family member constantly hovering at the bedside would drive me insane. Go home, already!!
I have to wonder how many patients actually feel that way but are afraid to offend the family member? And, how many family members would really prefer to be elsewhere but are afraid of offending the patient? Not saying that people shouldn't visit but not move in to stay.
I have in the past encouraged people to go home by saying that they need to go home and rest, as the patient will really need them more after discharge. It worked sometimes.
I would think that open visitation in ICU's could potentially be detrimental to the patient. They get little enough rest as it is, due to the things that have to be done.
I agree with all the suggestions especially consistency among staff. We just discharged a lady who was @ our facility for 22 days. The daughter was one of those family members and knew how to manipulate the staff. She got one of the night supervisors to allow her to spend the night once, and ofcourse, that set precedence that we couldn't fight. meaning she ended up spending every night for 12 nights at bedside, requiring more attention than my five other patients combined. Everytime we told her she needed to leave coz that was the rule, she would say there are exceptions, and every extra night she spent there, the stronger her arguement. Talk about a nightmare. Hopefully that house sup learned a lesson.
Speaking of precedence, many times over the years I could have cheerfully strangled my day-shift co-workers who informed patients' families that why yes! They were allowed to sleep in the other bed in that semi. Then here I come in the middle of the night, trying to root them out of the bed and the room, calling for a stat clean because an admission is coming and the entire room looks like a bomb went off... all the while being yelled at by Jed and All His Kin that they have the right to move in and take up residence.
Years ago, I cared for a young man with a brain tumor; he was minimally responsive, but aware of his surroundings.
One night I walked in and found about 10 people in his room, all standing around holding plates, chowing down. They had moved the patient as far as they could to the side, pressed up against the rails. And laid out on the bed, like a buffet table, was their Thanksgiving dinner. Complete with roast turkey. (or perhaps... possum?)
TazziRN, RN
6,487 Posts
I would have gone in and asked, "So which one of you is planning on going to the store to replace what you've taken from the pantry? Our other patients are asking for snacks."