Refusing food offered by patients

[Lev]

All to often patients very sweetly offer me some food, sometimes from their tray that they didn't touch or sometimes some home baked "specialty" made just for me. How do you tactfully refuse food offered by patients? Especially in cultures where refusing food is a "sin"...

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

If they bring it in a as a thank you, I wash my hands, and eat it up! Unless of course they were unhygienic while I cared for them. I LOVE homemade baked goodies.

[bluegeegoo2, LPN]

I was "cured" of accepting food intent on eating it from a resident early on in my career. A lady resident offered me some chips from a seemingly freshly opened bag. I obliged and thanked her. I reached in the bag only to grab a handful of damp chips. Suppressing the urge to immediately regurgitate, I quickly excused myself and disposed of the offending chips. I now either graciously decline stating that I "just ate" and thank them for the offer, or accept and throw it away. It depends on if I feel they will be offended if I decline. Items that are individually wrapped in their original wrappers are an exception.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Our policy is to smile, thank them for their kindness and then when out of patient view, toss it. If they want us to try it now, I tell them that it's against hospital policy for us to eat on the floor.

Keep in mind that I'm in psych, so not all of our gift-givers are AO3 and/or nobly-intentioned.

The only "Thank You" gifts we'll accept AND eat are from former patients and which come sealed (i.e., not homemade).

[Amistad, RN]

We are not allowed to accept food on my unit, but sometimes when my patient's family members offer to get me coffee from starbucks I want to be like "OMG YES THANK YOU OM NOM NOM" but I politely decline. ::sigh:: oh my coffee addiction

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I only accept foods sealed; I also go for the "I already ate" and the "food policy rule".

[Elizabeth Renee]

Fortunately I am Celiac so when this situation will arise in my future I can explain about my gluten intolerance and it be an honest answer.

Of course when family members learn this, then come back with something gluten free, I'll be in a new pickle. Hmmm...

[gcc8]

Excellent answers everyone.

[MattNurse, MSN, RN]

I tell patients I am eating a special diet and leave it at that.

[Biffbradford]

New, still sealed from the store food I offered up in the break room. Toss the others.

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

Years ago when I worked in LTC, there was a resident who was very social and often went to plays and outings. She always had some goodies because she got out a lot, and always wanted to share. Anyway, she brought back a container of welches juices (the kind that would probably cost $1.50 each in a vending machine). She practically forced these on us. We told her no thanks, but she insisted on giving the 3 of us each a juice. We accepted finally. I put mine by my computer.

About 2 hours later, she came yelling that someone stole 3 of her juices and she wanted to report it. The other 2 who drank their juices felt horrible as we were trying to refresh her memory that she offered these to us, but she adamently denied it. I handed her my untouched juice and she called us thieves.

I never take anything from a resident, patient, or family member. I don't make up an excuse, or feel bad about it. I just say "no thanks".

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Years ago when I worked in LTC, there was a resident who was very social and often went to plays and outings. She always had some goodies because she got out a lot, and always wanted to share. Anyway, she brought back a container of welches juices (the kind that would probably cost $1.50 each in a vending machine). She practically forced these on us. We told her no thanks, but she insisted on giving the 3 of us each a juice. We accepted finally. I put mine by my computer.

About 2 hours later, she came yelling that someone stole 3 of her juices and she wanted to report it. The other 2 who drank their juices felt horrible as we were trying to refresh her memory that she offered these to us, but she adamently denied it. I handed her my untouched juice and she called us thieves.

I never take anything from a resident, patient, or family member. I don't make up an excuse, or feel bad about it. I just say "no thanks".

I agree that in LTC, that would be a dilemma; it is best to say NO.

[motherof3sons]

When working in homecare years ago there was one home I went into that was less than clean. The lol was a sweet woman, one day I went in to see her and on the cool wood cook stove was 1/2 cooked slimy bacon(was pregnant at the time) and she had made some cookie or something, she offered me one and I graciously took it to " save for snack later"....and then tossed it out later on. To this day I can still see that slimy bacon.... ick!