Parental supervision on ped floors(m)

luvBonjovi · Aug 18, 2005

I worked on Peds Oncology floor and we looked after kids all the time. We often would have a child whose parent was not there for hours at a time. Mind you, that was taken into account in our staffing. Imagine an active 2 year old with a central line hooked up to at least 4 IV lines :eek:

I think that the nurse should have definitely been more supportive. You only wanted to get something for your child and was thoughtful enough to do it when it suited her best. I think she should be ashamed of herself!

babynurselsa, RN · Aug 18, 2005

Do not feel guilty for leaving the room for a moment. Some parents are barely even seen when their children are inpatient. It was very courteous of you to plan your trip to the kitchen while the nurse was in the room doing her routine cares.

It doesn't sound like this was a problem for you or the nurse.

It is just the nature of the mom to feel eternally guilty about everything.

MarylandNsgStudent · Aug 24, 2005

Not at all there are children left for hours or days sometimes, not always parents fault. Keep in mind they may be a single parent who is the sole provider and missing work would mean no Health ins, money, food, etc.., So nurses need to keep that in mind. Yes there are the few parents who take advatage their child is in the hospital and choose to expect everything to be done by staff, but in that case, the child comes first, their safety is of the most importance, and it may call for a lot of extra attention to that child, but that is what must be done. So please do not feel bad for asking for a few minutes to watch over your child, so you can get her milk! Nurses are there to help, and should always do so in a caring and helpful mannner! That is why we became nurse! :)

plchavard · May 4, 2006

I feel really strongly about this situation. As a tech, I alway make sure that the parents have diapers, milk,food etc. Most times we are given around 12 patients because it is expected that the parents will be taking care of their kids. We are responsible for setting up rooms, admissions vitals, post-op vitals, Q4 vitals, Q2 Input and output, walking out discharges, collecting labs, passing out trays, bed baths,restocking rooms, walking patients to precedures and picking them up, answering call light after call light, making beds, auditing rooms , and so forth. Every time the 2 year old pulls off his electrodes we have to run to the room and stick them back on. Taking bp's on younger kids takes forever because they won't be still. The babies without parents have to be fed and changed - I'm the one who runs to the room when that child cries. Parents are constantly asking me to watch their kids for them while the go get something to eat and I do feel that its rude. If I really like the parent I will do it, but those times I do I fall behind on my charting, miss pages, and someone else's call light goes unanswered - which i have to answer for. Most parents want a "babysitter" around 12 - the same time that 12 o'clock vitals are due, the parent-less baby needs to be fed, trays must be passed and "covering" for another tech goes on. A new admit may come in while the parent is gone, another patient may need to go to radiology, another patient may need to be walked back from MRI. Many people are being discharged at this time as well. I simply do not have the time to babysit for my patients. I'd guess 50% of parents ask for this service and quite often for an adolescent. No one would dream of asking a doctor to babysit - so why should I be treated any differently. It is the parent's job to take care of their child. When I have a few moments to spare I will give the parent a break- but while I'm dedicating my time to one child eleven or more go unattended.

Gompers, BSN, RN · May 4, 2006

Wait a second here...

I'm a NICU nurse, but I do get floated to Peds and PICU on occassion. I don't understand the problem here. I never once saw any policy saying ANYONE had to be with the child 24/7, be it a parent or a nurse. I've taken care of many kids in Peds and PICU whose parents were not there. That is why there are bubble-top cribs and beds with side rails. I never expect a parent to be there 24/7. So many of my pediatric patients were alone because their parents had other responsibilities - jobs, other children, etc. - and we never made them feel guilty for not being at the hospital all the time. Why would a parent have to ask a nurse to "babysit" her child while she runs and errand? When I'm working as a nurse, I consider that child MY responsibility, not the parent's. I do appreciate it when a parent tells me where they are going so I know how to reach them and when they'll be back. But if a mom told me she had no one to watch her other three kids at home and had to leave for the night, I would in no way judge her or be annoyed by the fact that I now have to keep an extra special eye on that child.

I am just not understanding this thread, I suppose.

Beary-nice · May 4, 2006

I feel really strongly about this situation. As a tech, I alway make sure that the parents have diapers, milk,food etc. Most times we are given around 12 patients because it is expected that the parents will be taking care of their kids. We are responsible for setting up rooms, admissions vitals, post-op vitals, Q4 vitals, Q2 Input and output, walking out discharges, collecting labs, passing out trays, bed baths,restocking rooms, walking patients to precedures and picking them up, answering call light after call light, making beds, auditing rooms , and so forth. Every time the 2 year old pulls off his electrodes we have to run to the room and stick them back on. Taking bp's on younger kids takes forever because they won't be still. The babies without parents have to be fed and changed - I'm the one who runs to the room when that child cries. Parents are constantly asking me to watch their kids for them while the go get something to eat and I do feel that its rude. If I really like the parent I will do it, but those times I do I fall behind on my charting, miss pages, and someone else's call light goes unanswered - which i have to answer for. Most parents want a "babysitter" around 12 - the same time that 12 o'clock vitals are due, the parent-less baby needs to be fed, trays must be passed and "covering" for another tech goes on. A new admit may come in while the parent is gone, another patient may need to go to radiology, another patient may need to be walked back from MRI. Many people are being discharged at this time as well. I simply do not have the time to babysit for my patients. I'd guess 50% of parents ask for this service and quite often for an adolescent. No one would dream of asking a doctor to babysit - so why should I be treated any differently. It is the parent's job to take care of their child. When I have a few moments to spare I will give the parent a break- but while I'm dedicating my time to one child eleven or more go unattended.

Kinda sounding to me like you are on the verge of burnout or something here...so if you don't like me...you will not watch my child for a bit while I go grab a bite and my sanity...makes me sad.

I have worked peds and while there are a few parents who take advantage of staff watching their kids, most parents I have come across just needed to get away even for a few minutes or many did not have alternatives. You know many people have other children who are not sick, at home who need attention, some have jobs that do not allow any alternatives as well. I would take into consideration these issues. What would I want someone to do for me or my child???

To the original poster...I'm glad you were able to work out with staff to get away for a few minutes...that is how it should be. I too would have motherhood guilt though...it can get the best of us.

Beary-nice · May 4, 2006

wait a second here...
i'm a nicu nurse, but i do get floated to peds and picu on occassion. i don't understand the problem here. i never once saw any policy saying anyone had to be with the child 24/7, be it a parent or a nurse. i've taken care of many kids in peds and picu whose parents were not there. that is why there are bubble-top cribs and beds with side rails. i never expect a parent to be there 24/7. so many of my pediatric patients were alone because their parents had other responsibilities - jobs, other children, etc. - and we never made them feel guilty for not being at the hospital all the time. why would a parent have to ask a nurse to "babysit" her child while she runs and errand? when i'm working as a nurse, i consider that child my responsibility, not the parent's. i do appreciate it when a parent tells me where they are going so i know how to reach them and when they'll be back. but if a mom told me she had no one to watch her other three kids at home and had to leave for the night, i would in no way judge her or be annoyed by the fact that i now have to keep an extra special eye on that child.
i am just not understanding this thread, i suppose.

:yeahthat: couldn't have been said any better...you may tend to my children anytime gompers! very thoughtful!

plchavard · May 4, 2006

This isn't about parents who have to leave to take care of the childs sibling or tend to other affairs. It's about the parent who wants and expects you to come into the room and physically sit there with their child. I have no problem with a parent leaving - so long as I know when the child was last fed and changed etc.

Look at it from the other eleven parents point of view. They hit their call light because thier child peed in the bed. The light is on for a few minutes and the unit clerk answers and pages me to the room. I don't answer the page because I am fulfilling the parent's wish to stay in the room with that child- the other child is lying in wet sheets. Or a new admit comes in and thier vitals aren't taken for a half hour because I missed the five minutes between when the child first walks in and the when doctors arrive -limiting access to the child. The weight and height of the child isn't measured and then the child codes. What about the child that doesn't get to eat because you are watching another kid instead of passing out trays.

As a military wife I understand what it is like to not have anyone else to care for my child. But I don't expect someone to stop doing their job in order to give me a break.

We offer the parents guest trays, we bring them everything they need for thier kids, milk, diapers, clothing, toys etc. We bring the parents coffee, donuts, snacks and water. I just feel that it is unreasonable for a parent to stop and ask me to sit with thier kid so that they can go out and smoke while other children have needs that are my responsibility to care for. As for the original poster - I would have brought her the milk myself - we don't expect our parents to need to get anything for their kids - we even supply breastpumps! I love and adore all of the children that are in my care but if I babysit for one I am neglecting the others.

Gompers, BSN, RN · May 4, 2006

Upon admission to the pediatric unit, maybe the parents should be told that it's okay to leave the child alone as long as the crib/bed side rails are up and they let the nurse know they are leaving. When a parent asks if you can sit and watch their child while they go somewhere, why not just say that the entire staff is around and will keep an eye out for the child, but that it isn't necessary to have someone sit in the room at all times? If this issue is addressed from the very start, maybe it wouldn't be a problem and the moms wouldn't feel bad about stepping out for a few minutes.

That's what we do on our peds floor and PICU. From the very start, the parents are encouraged to go and take breaks and understand that they are not responsible for staying with their child 24/7. These kids are OUR responsibility when they're in the hospital, not the parents' responsibility.

Beary-nice · May 4, 2006

I do not get upset if a parent asks me to watch their child. I do appreciate if they tell me that they are leaving, when they might be back and where they can be reached if necessary. I am thinking of the original question posed. And I can understand you being upset at seeing other sick children who seemed to have nobody...there can be many reasons for that. We are fortunate that our peds unit is staffed so that parents that need to leave can do so. I myself also would not have expected you to have to get your child milk, but everywhere is different. Sometimes, you just plain need to get away if even for a few minutes, its hard not to feel guilty about that, I know.

RN-oneday · May 4, 2006

I am not a nurse yet...When I do graduate, I want to work in Peds. I cannot offer my advice on that end of perspective.

But on the other end...the parents side...My son had croop & pnuemonia when he was around 8 months old. He was admitted in the hospital and was put into a tented bed. I did not want to leave him alone because he was so young and he was sick. I was so scared for him (I was a young mother). When the nurses would come in to check on him, they kept telling me to go home and get some rest. They told me they would take care of him if he needed anything. The hospital did not have "beds" for parents to stay in, I slept in the chairs. I am not sure why but can only assume it was so the parents would go home and get some rest.

I guess what I am trying to say in all of this..The nurses here suggested that the parents get out of the room and get some rest. They seemed very concerned for the parents as well as the patient. I always thought that is what pediatric nurses do...take care of children...at least this is what I want to do when I become a .... :nurse: