Resident sent me money

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

I work in LTC and when a long time resident asked me for my address I thought nothing about it. I thought that he was sending me a Christmas card which is sweet and totally acceptable in my book. When I opened the mail today there was a card from him and inside was a small amount of money. This resident has loads of money and I know that it was given to show me appreciation for the care I give him, but I can not accept the money no matter how small the amount. While I am touched by the thought; I do not feel it would be right to accept the money.

How on Earth am I suppose to give back this money in a way that will not hurt his feelings? I am just not sure how to approach this because many of the residents are very near and dear to me (almost like family). I would hate to hurt his feelings.

[nursingstudent221]

I would send it back to him in the mail with a note saying that it was a nice thought but i can not take it. I help care for you because I like careing for people not for money.

Or something on that note.

[leslie :-D]

why not buy something for the facility/residents?

heck, even $10 can buy many boxes of kleenex, for example...

(i know many alert elderly love their tissues)

i'm sure the resident would be fine with you spending the money on the other residents.

disclaimer: i am not a professional shopper and stink at gift ideas.

leslie

[prettygirllpn]

That happened to me last Christmas. Just just say thank you so much but it is against our policy to accept money from patients. But i appreciate the gesture.

[DogWmn]

Check with management but I'd donate it to the facility in his name and let him know that you can't accept the $$ but you put it to good use at the facility.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Check with management but I'd donate it to the facility in his name and let him know that you can't accept the $$ but you put it to good use at the facility.

Yup. Give it to activities to use for the residents who have no families. They'll use it for gifts and outings.

And thank him, and tell him what you did and why, and how much you appreciate the gesture and how much he means to you, to.

:)

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

First clue, he could have given/sent you a Christmas card at your work address without having your home address. The moral of the story is that it is never really appropriate to cross the professional line and give a patient in your care your personal details. If any of my patients want to communicate with me then know where to find me, where they met me - at work.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

My name and address are in the phone book. We live in a very small community. Shot I think the resident might even know my grandmother. Most of them do know her or my parents. You just got to love small communities.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and I think I will be giving the money to activities in his name.

[SimonJester]

talk to your management... follow policy... at my wife's facility it is also against the policies to accept money from residents. if a resident insists on giving them money they are to turn it into the don where the money will then be credited back to the residents account.

that to me seems like the best way to handle it.

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

If its just ur personal policy not to accept money thats ok. As long as it is a gift, a gift is a gift no matter what. Its just like in other professions the client appreciate and give gifts. And this is just not paying for a service but it is a gift about a season. Its just likfe birthday gifts and all that. Returning it might offend the client. You cna take the advise of others and buy something for the unit/ facility

[vivacious1healer]

Had a resident once give me expensive perfume set....it was left for me at the desk. I went to management to explain my ordeal with returning the gift, and that I felt awkward( I was young and new) So then management calls the resident's daughter, gets her involved....oh my! That resident would barely speak to me after all of it. Sad, because I was seeking advice in how to gently inform her of the policies without hurting her feelings....and I did anyway.

Another patient mailed a few of us $$$ with a X-mas card for the care we provided. We pooled the money and bought several pizzas for all of the shifts. Then sent him a thank you card explaining what we did with the gift of money :)

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

it's probably more difficult in the LTC setting or other settings were you really get to know your clientele. It's harder to refuse as you know it will hurt their feelings. I like the idea of putting the money towards something that will benefit the facility or benefiting staff as a whole.

I once had a celebrity for a patient who was very greatful for the care from the nurses. He ended up sending our unit one of those cool pod type coffee makers (Keurig, i think??)and cases of the little pods for as far as the eye could see.