Resident refused to take meds.

[senvang2000]

I am a student nurse and coop in LTC. I have a resident who is alert and oriented x4 whom refused to take his meds when i give it to him just because I have different color skin. I work in a small town btw. One time he told me "to get the F$&@ out, i don't want it from you". I can always ask another nurse to give it to him, but i don't want to keep doing that. I am wondering if it is ethical to hold his meds and insulin if he refuses again? Please help

Thanks

[amoLucia]

Where is your instructor or preceptor during all this? All attempts to administer must be tried - he's not refusing meds totally, just from you. It's NOT right; and it's a disgrace that in today's society, there's still folk like him out there.

We've all run into pts like him. How do the regular staff manage him? I would guess that he has done this before and usually there's some counseling done. But other approaches must be tried before meds can be held.

[RN_2012, BSN, RN]

I think it is unethical not to ask another nurse whom he will take the medication from to give it to him. In fact I would talk to management about him not being one of your patients.

[chrisrn24]

Get the pills ready and ask another nurse to give them. We have racist residents, we just switch the assignments if needed.

You're not going to change an old mans mind so don't dwell on it. It's not ethical to hold them when you didn't even try to give them.

We have residents who have bonds with certain nurses and if the resident is having a bad day we grab that nurse to help pass their meds even if that nurse isn't their nurse for the day.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

As unkind as it is, he is refusing meds from you, not refusing to take the meds. Your instructor needs to be in on this and not assign you to care for him. This will happen once you get out of school and working on your own as well. A pt will refuse care because you are too old, too young, too kind, too forward as well as skin color and gender.. Management is made aware and assignments are changed. Is it right, not always but if saves the nurse a lot of grief..

[senvang2000]

Thank you all for you reply and inputs, really appreciate it. I left a high paying job to become a nurse because I like working and caring for others. It is unfortunate that I ran into this on my first real experience working. But it was an awesome experience and i found out LTC is not my thing. My contract ends with the facility at the end of this month so I am not even sure if I should bring it up with management. He is known to be an "ass" for the nurses here but he does not like me i particular as i've talked to him about why he was refusing his meds. You're right about not changing his mind at this age. I will keep an open mind and positive attitude. Thanks again.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Residents can refuse meds for any reason they want.

Don't pre-pour and expect another nurse to pass the meds to him. I never would give meds someone else poured...it's bad practice. You'll run into plenty of people who don't like you for whatever reason. Don't sink to their level and go about your job.