Polite way to document over-involved family members?

Nurses Relations

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How do you document when a family member is waaay too involved or excessively demanding?? I want to keep it professional & not look like I'm name calling, but I want my charting to reflect the family members actions... Especially with families who seem particularly litigious.

As it stands, our computer charting makes it easy to chart if guests do not participate in care or if they are disruptive to the patient, but lots of times the guests aren't really disruptive... They're just sort of "Grey's Anatomy" nurses :/

Any advice is appreciated :)

Specializes in ICU.
This reminds me of the time a fam member wanted to look at their parent's actual meds in the med drawer. Wanted to compare them to the MAR and also wanted to dc the ones they thought were not needed because they had "researched" them. Same person in denial about parent's anxiety issues and prohibited any/all anti anxiety meds. The parent would have such severe panic attacks they would literally vomit.

Be kind to me

Or treat me mean

I'll make the most of it

I'm an extraordinary machine

I would bet that that visitor caught you off guard on purpose when you were busy too. Say "I'm terribly sorry but all records are confidential and only staff members are allowed access to the medications. " ( visitors are not allowed to paw through the medication room/cart).

Next time send them down to nursing administration. If this family is a huge PIA you will see a discharge date set as expeditiously as possible.

I would bet that that visitor caught you off guard on purpose when you were busy too. Say "I'm terribly sorry but all records are confidential and only staff members are allowed access to the medications. " ( visitors are not allowed to paw through the medication room/cart).

Next time send them down to nursing administration. If this family is a huge PIA you will see a discharge date set as expeditiously as possible.

Yes, this person is the POA so I offered a copy of the medications but could not believe they wanted to paw through med cart!!! I also told them that I myself could not dc any medications without a dr.'s order. It is LTC so I see this family member on a regular basis and they are always trying to suck up my time-sigh...

Specializes in ICU.
Yes, this person is the POA so I offered a copy of the medications but could not believe they wanted to paw through med cart!!! I also told them that I myself could not dc any medications without a dr.'s order. It is LTC so I see this family member on a regular basis and they are always trying to suck up my time-sigh...

I don't work LTC but if I did I would not have time to cater to a pushy relative, POA or not.

That person would need to wait until all meds treatments and care were done. I would not discuss protected health information in the hall.

I would say: I am not the provider. Please make an appointment at the reception area with the treatment team/administrator/prescribingMD/NP so that he could address all of your concerns.

It's not your job to prescribe and she knows it.

Sounds like she is trying to manipulate you in order to stir up some drama so shut her down.

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