I am curious of others opinions on private duty nursing and the extensive boundary crossing that is seen in this type of setting. I've seen it all, gifts, vacationing together, planned lunches, visiting while on maternity leave. Both sides-family and nurse. Sometimes nurse is on duty, sometimes not. Just bizarre. I do understand the need to share phone numbers because communication is more accurate without a middle-man. But Ive heard of nurses bringing in loads of baby gifts after a minor disagreement between client's family and nurse. Yikes. I just try to follow the rules, but some of these families seem offended that I'm simply cordial and don't become their close friend. And then it becomes awkward. I'm not in this job to expand my friend list! The latest family, which I thought were the most "normal" yet, have insisted it's impossible to not be close with the nurse. I just don't agree.
I am, however, hoping and planning on switching out of this type of nursing soon. At any rate, looking for thoughts and opinions here. Am I too conservative? Is this as common as it appears to be?? Thanks...
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
I am the recipient of private duty nursing care, and I love my caregivers. They are both friendly and professional, and they also provide the services I request, including taking me to Church. Maybe it's the agency, I don't know, but I do know that the agency they belong to is the only agency I have ever had twice. I was placed in assisted living for a couple years and had to leave this agency, but now I have them back and I'm happy.
Covering your butt is all well and good, but everywhere I have ever worked, nurses are mandated reporters. At what point do you have an obligation to report neglect? Or do you just keep showing up and watch the kid's teeth rot over time? My field is child psych, and we report neglect and/or abuse of our clients all the time. Why wouldn't it be the same in home health?
In home health, the usual result of reporting neglect is that the status quo remains with the exception that the reporting nurse no longer has a job with that agency. Nurses that observe this phenomenon happen to another nurse soon learn how to protect their own paycheck, thus, perpetuating the status quo.
I have a home care client who gave me a few Christmas cookies, I did not consider this crossing a professional boundary. I WOULD consider an expensive gift a problem. I based this on policies from when I worked in the hospital - food gifts and flowers were okay, everything else was forbidden (food and flowers were considered okay because others could enjoy them too.)
FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I
3,619 Posts
I am the recipient of private duty nursing care, and I love my caregivers. They are both friendly and professional, and they also provide the services I request, including taking me to Church. Maybe it's the agency, I don't know, but I do know that the agency they belong to is the only agency I have ever had twice. I was placed in assisted living for a couple years and had to leave this agency, but now I have them back and I'm happy.