brenrn06

I am a hospice RN of about four months now. I have recently been given my first SNF facility patients. I am having a problem clarifying my role vs the role of the SNF nursing staff. I am receiving phone calls regarding medical problems with these patients that are not comfort care related. The request goes something like this... "YOUR patient is having the following problem ... Can you please call the DR?" My response is "I am with another patient and am not able to leave right now to assess that patient. Since you have already done your assessment and identified the problem can YOU call the DR for YOUR patient?" I usually get the response from the nurse that they are too busy to call the MD. They seem to feel that their only obligation to our mutual patient is to notify the hospice nurse and document it. I thought the role of the hospice nurse was supportive and not primary? Can anyone help me clarify my role? Thanks in advance for your comments.