Reasonable requests made to the med-surg nurses?

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My mom is in the hospital and I live out of state. I don't have phone numbers of my siblings, and when I called my mom she was so groggy and out of it she couldn't tell me their numbers.

My only hope is catching a family member at the hospital. I know the med surg nurses are very busy but would I be asking too much if I could ask them to maybe leave a note on her bedside table to call me when they got there?

I always kept in touch with my siblings through my mom, now she is incapaciated.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

To me that is a reasonable request asking to leave a message. Yes they are busy but aint we all these days

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Just my :twocents: ...

I wouldn't do it. I'm assuming you'll be checking in with your mom daily - when she is able, she can put you in touch with them. If your contact with them has been that limited up until now, it can probably wait, no?

Is there truly no other way you can contact your siblings? You don't know their phone numbers, addresses, where they work, nothing?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I am a med/surg nurse and would be happy to accomodate this request by a family member. I would go so far as to also leave a note on the Kardex to alert future shifts...this way (if the bedside note was misplaced or overlooked), they could also ask your sibs to contact you.

I don't feel that this would inconvenience your mother's nurses.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

Make sure you are HIPAA-compliant.

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Just my :twocents: ...

I wouldn't do it. I'm assuming you'll be checking in with your mom daily - when she is able, she can put you in touch with them. If your contact with them has been that limited up until now, it can probably wait, no?

Is there truly no other way you can contact your siblings? You don't know their phone numbers, addresses, where they work, nothing?

Communicating with them isn't the point, I want to find out how dear old mom is doing. You know the nurses can't tell me. The only sibling I really talk to (and who isn't a fruit loop) is my oldest sister, but even still I never talked to her on her phone. My brother lives at home with my mom and I have the number there but he hides away in the attic (and looks like the unibomber...more like the uni-idiot). Anyway, rather than go into the details, I just need someone's phone number who can tell me about her condition.

I guess I'll hold off, though, or else I might be reading a rant about some inconsiderate daughter who is too lazy to get off her butt and come to see her mother but calls instead and then has the nerve to expect the nurses to run an errand service...I know most nurses are understanding but you always have that one grouch and with my luck that is the one I would ask.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Mama, Please don't hold off...we receive this type of request frequently-especially if the relative lives out of town. We are more than happy to accomodate...We know how difficult it can be for families. As far as I can see, leaving a note for your sibs to call you is in no way violating any HIPAA rules/regs.

BookwormRN

P.S. In this era of "Customer Satisfaction" and "Press Ganey", I'd think the nurses would fall over backwards to help LOL!!!!:rotfl::rotfl:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
My mom is in the hospital and I live out of state. I don't have phone numbers of my siblings, and when I called my mom she was so groggy and out of it she couldn't tell me their numbers.

My only hope is catching a family member at the hospital. I know the med surg nurses are very busy but would I be asking too much if I could ask them to maybe leave a note on her bedside table to call me when they got there?

I always kept in touch with my siblings through my mom, now she is incapaciated.

I am a med-surg nurse and I would definitely honor that request. Just yesterday i called a patients granddaughter for her. Leaving a note is not a problem. I know we get calls from family members and are asked to relay messages to their loved ones if they are sleeping at the time of the call. I have no problem honoring such a request.

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Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.

I wouldn't have a problem with this request either!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Hope your mom gets better soon.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Is there some reason your mother cant verbally give permission for the nurse to talk to you and give you her condition. Unless she is totally incapacitated and doesnt have her mind a POAHC isnt a problem. As long as mother can identify you as her daughter and tell the nurse it is ok to speak with you it is NOT a hippa violation. We all have consent for information forms, and all your mom needs to do is sign it in front of the nurse with your name on it to allow information to be given. On the other hand, if your mother is confused and doesnt make her own informed decisions, there really isnt any place for you to go.

Then ask for the note.

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

I have really had a bad day - and your comments about your family made me laugh out loud - Thank you! :kiss

By the way, I think I might have been married to your brother - or maybe you have your brother confused with MY brother?

And I don't think your request is unreasonable at all.

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