Private Duty Nurses...Let me know if I am insane please!!

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2008

Sounds like this "mom" is neglecting her children, big time. Talk about co-dependent nurses! I would not be buying these kids everything the mom refuses to. I'd be reporting the situation to CPS.

psalm, RN · Feb 12, 2008

Who else is in the family? Does the "mom" know how to deal with an emergency when a nurse isn't there? If not, why not? Shouldn't she know how to take care of her own kids? Who toilets them when there is no nurse there, or is there 24/7 coverage? No support system? Do they live in the boonies? Sounds unsafe.

Yes, call CPS.

Jo Dirt · Feb 12, 2008

Where is the good ol' social services?

For me to call them, it would have to be really bad, and it sounds like it is. I'd call them and then stay on their butts to get something done. Don't let them just come out there with their little clipboards and take a few notes. You will have to stay on them.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2008

I work a case that has 2 patients, they are twins and they have seizures, and g-tubes. One nurse for them both, am told by the agency that the state only pays just a tiny bit more for the second pt so not much pay increase for doing both of them. I am just wondering if they are usually ALL LIKE THIS? I welcome the comments! Thanks! OH and the agency just looks at us and tells us "its our job" to do all of it!!!

I did an employee evaluation on a nurse working just such a case. It was crazy! The family simply didn't care and the nurses were only "free" babysitters courtesy of the US Government (in other words the taxpayers). The agency is only looking out for their own pockets. You don't see those working in the office stepping in to do a shift do you? No, of course not.

I would not do a private duty case like this. No not all cases are like this, there are many good cases with caring families. It sometimes takes checking out several cases before finding a good case but they are out there. Good Luck.

radrook · Feb 12, 2008

Believe it or not Child services have been to the home SEVERAL times, and nothing is ever done! one thing, the nurses who are on the case are afraid to say anyting in front of the family, and number two, if you loose that case, because they find out you are the one who called you can't pay your own bills!! Well, I am just angry at the BIG COMPANY I work for who knows ALL ABOUT all of this and they just turn thier heads and keep saying that is what we get paid for. Yes, this case has 24-7 nurse so the parent does not EVER go without coverage and if something happens that one nurse doesn't show up that parent is YELLING at the company and you should see how Fast the company jumps for that parent!! THis is a company that answers to a corporation and I just don't understand how everyone is turning thier heads????

dria · Feb 13, 2008

so what if cps has been called....call them again. and again. and again. you have the option of making an anonymous report. somebody has to stand up for these babies and get them what they need.

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f you want to approach this a little differently, get your agency's social worker involved. since this is a medicaid case, there is a m'caid case manager somewhere....sounds like this family could benefit from community resources.

it is definitely not your job to provide the necessitites that a parent can't/won't provide. in fact, every agency i worked for has policies against these practices. it is also against most home health agency policy to have a nurse provide transportation for a patient....usually grounds for termination. i wonder what corporate risk management would think of this practice?? and do you really think this agency would do anything but let you hang if an accident should occur??

omg i could go on and on about this....no this is not what it's all like...i would pull out of this case and this agency. it's ridiculous that they allow this to occur.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Feb 13, 2008

first off...god bless you & every other home health/private duty nurse. i absolutely *hated* hh/community nursing while in that rotation...& i went out there with a classmate to boot! some of the families were (& i'm sure still are) very demanding & tried to take advantage of an unsuspecting or new to the field nurse. many expected us to be not only nurses, but their *maids* too! they wanted us to clean/wash their dishes & clothing! of course, i redirected them & let them know that we were out there for the nursing assessment/treatments only & that if they require an aide, they can certainly contact the company & pay for them to come out.

as far as this situation is concerned...it's quite sad. i'm at a loss as to why the single mother is working, yet is unable to provide the basic needs for her children. what type of job does she have that doesn't require their employees to have a telephone of some kind. how does she get to work (walk, car, or public transportation)? how can it be that other family members are around, yet you aren't able to take a lunch/dinner & bathroom break without coverage? that's something you'll have to settle with your company. personally, i'd leave this company as people (both the patients & their staff) aren't top priority. i wouldn't work for anybody that'll only look-out for their bottom line profits.

again ~ god bless ya cause it wouldn't be me!

cheers :cheers:,

moe

radrook · Feb 14, 2008

First thank you for all of you who are giving me genuine feed back, and I know I can't fully explain everything on here that I would like to to help you understand the full picture, but I have been putting in applications ALL over the place to try and get away from this place, but haven't had great luck so far. I am sure I will be able to find something sooner or later, but I have to pay my bills right now and feed my family so I have to do what I can to stay there right now. As far as the parent, yes they have a average job, not great, but not a minimum wage job either, granted they also get social security for BOTH kids, and now getting child support. So that being said, in the 3 yrs I have been there, they have never bought even a pair of shoes for the kids, no clothes, only diapers, and canned food. Nurses have bought sheets, pillows, toys, shoes, clothes. And when you stop and ask the nurses why are you doing this they just say they love them kids like there own and can't stand to see them suffer. So when a child services person walks in everything looks great and no problems. And as far as the agency goes..............I don't know what to think about them anymore. My jaw is droped to the floor with them and amazed, because this is not a mom and pops agency! I don't know what to do with them, because when I talked with my supervisor I was told that all cases are like this and maybe I was just burned out and should try another case. Thanks to everyone who listened to me though.................I feel like I have to bite my tongue until I can find something else that pays my bills. I can't go hungry or homeless! :cry:

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2008

Too bad these twin can't be adopted by someone who would really care about them. Their "mother" obviously doesn't.

dria · Feb 14, 2008

why would the family need to buy anything??

they have clearly manipulated the nurses into doing this for them.

so unhealthy for all involved...

caliotter3 · Feb 14, 2008

At some point in time you need to get away from this agency and this case because the person at the agency who told you that all cases are like this lied to you. Just keep biding your time and putting in those applications. Consider putting ads in the paper to do real private duty. Use this to supplement your income until you can find one or two agencies that you are comfortable with and that keep you gainfully and properly employed. The people at this agency are using the nurses on this case just as much as the manipulative family, and should be ashamed of themselves.