Parents!!!

exit96 · Apr 13, 2013

Adolescence is praised in our low end culture. This means that would be adults now act like adolescents, and adolescents continue to be just that. No one grows up anymore. Our hotel model health care system was borne out of a self indulgent, adolescent culture. The culture dictates which direction health care goes, not the health care professionals, sad. I like how the 80's are considered the "me" decade...we, our present society, has never emerged from that position, we are on the decline. As for the other 1%, it's all about the money that they make (the wealthy dogs at the top.) I like to refer to the phenomenon as "the dog and pony show." Management buys into the propaganda and then propagates the nonsense by passing it onto us. It amazes me the amount of "lemmings" that would otherwise think for themselves that are just followers in this foolishness.

txerrn6942 · Apr 14, 2013

My concern is that parents have forgotten how to parent? Gone are the days that if the baby is crying, you stay up all night rocking, singing, driving in the car.....and then sleep in the car if you have to. I don't know when the generational parental decline started but parents need to go back to "trying everything at home" and then seek help. An ER is not a substitute for your pediatrician. I especially like the parents that specifically asked if there is a pediatrician on duty! No....this is an ER, our doctors are trained in Emergency Medicine, which includes pediatrics!

flnurse51 · Apr 14, 2013

Parents today seem to be at the dumber end of the spectrum. Recently had a mother curse me out and throw tantrum in the waiting room upon leaving. Why was she so angry? Because the physician told her that her child had a viral illness, and did not require any medication other than some saline drops and a nasal suction bulb.

You just cant fix stupid.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2013

Sorry u feel that perhaps u should have just waited until Monday to get them in to their regular doc (hmmm).

I've had parents say this to me a couple of times, and each time I have been unable to stop myself from saying "yes, you are absolutely right."

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Apr 14, 2013

I had a little one...forgot the age, 18 months maybe? Anyway, they came in with asthma. Mom asked where the designated smoking areas were and I told her that there were none as this is a non-smoking facility. She then wanted to take her child (who was already tachypneic and NEEDED oxygen) outside with her so that she could smoke! :banghead: I told her that wasn't appropriate and that cigarette smoke is a very common trigger for asthma. She then tried to tell me that her child would cry and cry and cry if she were gone.

That just irritated me. Do you have no concern for your own child? She ended up calling someone to come stay with her child at 0200 so that she could leave the floor, go downstairs and smoke.

SweetMelissaRN · Apr 15, 2013

I had a little one...forgot the age, 18 months maybe? Anyway, they came in with asthma. Mom asked where the designated smoking areas were and I told her that there were none as this is a non-smoking facility. She then wanted to take her child (who was already tachypneic and NEEDED oxygen) outside with her so that she could smoke! I told her that wasn't appropriate and that cigarette smoke is a very common trigger for asthma. She then tried to tell me that her child would cry and cry and cry if she were gone.
That just irritated me. Do you have no concern for your own child? She ended up calling someone to come stay with her child at 0200 so that she could leave the floor, go downstairs and smoke.

Had a similar situation happen, parent ended up signing out AMA while the child was 92% face mask, and after 5 neb treatments. My charge nurse had to physically step in between me and the parent because I was about 2 seconds away from letting all the rage I have from horrible parenting out on her. It still gives me nightmares. I called CPS and BEGGED my NM to find a loop hole that would prevent the mother from taking the child out of the hospital. Still don't know what happen... Grrrrrr...

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2013

Had a similar situation happen, parent ended up signing out AMA while the child was 92% face mask, and after 5 neb treatments. My charge nurse had to physically step in between me and the parent because I was about 2 seconds away from letting all the rage I have from horrible parenting out on her. It still gives me nightmares. I called CPS and BEGGED my NM to find a loop hole that would prevent the mother from taking the child out of the hospital. Still don't know what happen... Grrrrrr...

We refuse to allow sick patients from being signed out by their parents AMA all the time. If there is a true risk to then going home, such as hypoxia, we get social work and child protection involved and security if necessary.

SweetMelissaRN · Apr 15, 2013

We refuse to allow sick patients from being signed out by their parents AMA all the time. If there is a true risk to then going home, such as hypoxia, we get social work and child protection involved and security if necessary.

I would love it if my hospital acted under such protocol. I tried every avenue, went up the chain of command, called security, and was told it was ultimately out of their/our hands. However my NM and the security officer said if the child died/had a bad outcome due to the mothers decision, she would go to jail for neglect.... As if that was supposed to make me feel better! Now, would this pt have ended up being intubated? Maybe not, however it was serious enough that we had started to initiate transfer to our big pedi hospital and the physician was planning on flying her out (we have pedi, but not an ICU equipped for pedi pt or a pedi pulmonologist on staff)

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2013

I would love it if my hospital acted under such protocol. I tried every avenue, went up the chain of command, called security, and was told it was ultimately out of their/our hands. However my NM and the security officer said if the child died/had a bad outcome due to the mothers decision, she would go to jail for neglect.... As if that was supposed to make me feel better! Now, would this pt have ended up being intubated? Maybe not, however it was serious enough that we had started to initiate transfer to our big pedi hospital and the physician was planning on flying her out (we have pedi, but not an ICU equipped for pedi pt or a pedi pulmonologist on staff)

Depending on the sitution.....

I would have called Social Service and filed an emergent child in immediate danger/removal from custody as a mandated reporter and put my job at risk......for your manager and security are wrong....you need to make it very clear you took every avenue to protect this child including an endangered child report to keep that child safe for it is not only the parent who can sue you it's the child....until seven years after they reach the "age of maturity".

Why did this crazy person what to leave???

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2013

PARENTS, ASTHMATIC KIDS & SMOKING

I feel your pain on the smoking issue.

I worked in one ER where the MD actually went through the CPS when a kiddo was a 20+ x ER visit patient AND repeat vent patient due to exacerbation of asthma and EVERYONE that cared for that fragile little one SMOKED! Of course they had FREE healthcare, but plenty of cigarette money.

:cat:

Another time, there was a little boy (about 7 or so, but very small) that had spent HOURS in the ED trying to break the asthma. Now another nurse had this patient and family, but I was working resus and critical, so I was on the unit and saw some of the activities. Family in and out ALL DAY. Smelled like the cigarette version of "Pigpen" - I did let 2 back and they almost took my breath.

The ED doc explained to this family about the smoking and its irritants and the link to asthma and how the kiddo was NOT GETTING BETTER - although I'd bet my life that NO NEW INFO was shared by the ED doc, surely, the kiddo's illness had NOTHING to do with their SMOKING?

Anyway, I looked around and the kiddos nurse was wheeling him into one of my open critical rooms and handed me the chart "he needs to be intubated and vented & set for transfer now & we all figured you'd be okay taking over the patient" or something like that.

SURE. Anyway, I sent all family to waiting after consents and brief explanations. After all, the kiddo was almost OUT OF TIME. I'm sure they smoked up a storm. After kiddo was SAFELY on the vent - I went to get family in waiting. Mom and granny rushed back (the smoke hung on them) - go to the sedated, paralyzed, vented kiddo and mom looked up at me and said -

"I was out smoking will it be a problem?"

Me - "No, not a big problem now, he is on a ventilator now. It was only the problem for the 6 hours before he had to be put on the vent."

I hate people sometimes.

I'll spare you all the transfer consent episode - other than when it got to risks/benefits - the facts that he could "get worse, die enroute or the helicopter could crash" --- well, that got her attention and she took to screaming, "what do you mean the helicopter could crash?"

:eek:

I really hate people sometimes.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2013

Depending on the sitution.....
I would have called Social Service and filed an emergent child in immediate danger/removal from custody as a mandated reporter and put my job at risk......for your manager and security are wrong....you need to make it very clear you took every avenue to protect this child including an endangered child report to keep that child safe for it is not only the parent who can sue you it's the child....until seven years after they reach the "age of maturity".
Why did this crazy person what to leave???

Yeah, I would bring this situation to the attention of your hospital's risk management. It sounds like your policy is in serious need of updating.

exit96 · Apr 16, 2013

PARENTS, ASTHMATIC KIDS & SMOKING
I feel your pain on the smoking issue.
I worked in one ER where the MD actually went through the CPS when a kiddo was a 20+ x ER visit patient AND repeat vent patient due to exacerbation of asthma and EVERYONE that cared for that fragile little one SMOKED! Of course they had FREE healthcare, but plenty of cigarette money.
Another time, there was a little boy (about 7 or so, but very small) that had spent HOURS in the ED trying to break the asthma. Now another nurse had this patient and family, but I was working resus and critical, so I was on the unit and saw some of the activities. Family in and out ALL DAY. Smelled like the cigarette version of "Pigpen" - I did let 2 back and they almost took my breath.
The ED doc explained to this family about the smoking and its irritants and the link to asthma and how the kiddo was NOT GETTING BETTER - although I'd bet my life that NO NEW INFO was shared by the ED doc, surely, the kiddo's illness had NOTHING to do with their SMOKING?
Anyway, I looked around and the kiddos nurse was wheeling him into one of my open critical rooms and handed me the chart "he needs to be intubated and vented & set for transfer now & we all figured you'd be okay taking over the patient" or something like that.
SURE. Anyway, I sent all family to waiting after consents and brief explanations. After all, the kiddo was almost OUT OF TIME. I'm sure they smoked up a storm. After kiddo was SAFELY on the vent - I went to get family in waiting. Mom and granny rushed back (the smoke hung on them) - go to the sedated, paralyzed, vented kiddo and mom looked up at me and said -
"I was out smoking will it be a problem?"
Me - "No, not a big problem now, he is on a ventilator now. It was only the problem for the 6 hours before he had to be put on the vent."
I hate people sometimes.
I'll spare you all the transfer consent episode - other than when it got to risks/benefits - the facts that he could "get worse, die enroute or the helicopter could crash" --- well, that got her attention and she took to screaming, "what do you mean the helicopter could crash?"
I really hate people sometimes.

Ok, I know you are serious and I get it. Can I just say that this post brought a smile to my face and made me laugh tonight? Very comical, and point taken ;-)