Just got home from an orientation with a new client and in the chart was 3 pages of house rules. Some of them were really ridiculous but needless to say its' their house so us nurses have to abide by their rules.
Here are a few that stood out the most
- Don't slam the microwave door
- Don't accept phone calls on your cell have who ever needs to reach you call our home
-Don't go pass the neighbor hood speeding limit
- If you need to cut something, use a cutting board
-Answer all phone calls from house phone just in case its us calling to see how things going
and the list goes on.... There are several memos, there is a video recorder in the room... I hope I can list. :eek:
I have no trouble with being recorded, I prefer that it be with my knowledge. I have been accused of abuse by the parent of a non verbal client. After four months of unemployment and a police investigation, all resulting in no charges being founded, I wish there had been a vidio that could have been reviewed and put the issue to rest in under an hour. If they want to watch me provid excellent care, they are welcome to do so.
Having had some time to think about it, I'm no longer opposed to videotaping. I realized after I posted earlier that I try to do my job like someone is watching me because you just never know. And because thinking this way keeps me honest with myself.
But the business of having to receive calls on the family's phone wouldn't fly. Like I said before, I don't want my callers' information showing up on their caller ID. But besides that, I can't come up with a single good reason for someone to ask that. That makes me think they'd want to pick up an extension and listen in. And that's just ookey.
Sorry the case didn't work out. Hope they give you a good evaluation.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Wow, they must have had some real doozies in their house for the list to be that long! Your lucky your allergic to dogs!
Actually that list is pretty tame compared to some! I worked with a family who had more than one family member who needed skilled nursing which provided me the opportunity to hear the horror storie------oops I mean the learning experiences of the other nurses. As a person new to private duty I sat there listening with eyes as wide as saucers, lol.
I guess we now live in a world where you're considered guilty until proven otherwise - sure I get the reasoning behind trackers, cameras, credit checks, drug tests for illegal substances, drug tests for legal substances, background checks, etc. I guess an employer needs to know if I splurged and ran up a huge bill at Macy's, or if I smoke off the job or I suppose even if I'm unfortunate enough to live with a smoker who refuses to go outside.
I get it --- but it still makes me kind of sad. When I started nurses didn't have resumés. We (RNs and LPNs) filled out an application. They expected us to keep current on our education on our own!! Crazy. I better end this before I end up sounding even more like Wilford Brimley. ramble ramble ramble :)
provided me the opportunity to hear the horror storie------oops I mean the learning experiences of the other nurses. As a person new to private duty I sat there listening with eyes as wide as saucers, lol.
I feel that exact same way listening to our nurses talk about their other cases. One nurse was coming to work every weekend covered in bruises. I finally confronted her because I was really worried that she was being abused at home. Turns out she was being abused by the 4 year old on her other case. The parents didn't believe in discipline because the child had so many medical issues. Two of our other nurses work for families that don't allow CHAIRS in the child's room. One nurse has to sit on the floor. The other nurse can sit on a footstool. I was horrified and couldn't believe that these kind, compassionate nurses had to put up with that nonsense.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
. . .that is plain awful, ventmommy. Generally, I think it's our job to adaprt to the home - but we certainly have the right to be safe from hazards, have a place with enough light for when we chart, and a place to sit. I happily take off my shoes and refrain from banging, clattering, slamming doors, loud conversations on the phone etc. I have seen so many inconsiderate nurses -- they act as they would if it were a hospital, not a home. Or maybe worse because there is no nursing supervisor there.
Thankfully I did get to know one nurse there who had been working for 20 years in PDN. How lucky I was to have her as a role model!! She taught me so much about the subtleties of this job, as well as the practicalities.
She was very soft-spoken and circumspect. However, on occasion she would tell of the funny things that happened to her . . as once she was leaning against a wall in the room where the nurses worked and didn't realize the homeowners had a horrible ant problem.
She was startled when another nurse came in and said eeeek! Apparently the ants had created a four-lane highway around her to the point when she jumped away you could see the shape of her body outlined by the ants
Her patient passed away -- haven't seen her in a few years but her words of wisdom are still thought of daily.
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
I'll abide by all kinds of weird rules, but I will NEVER remove my shoes in a patient's house. First of all, I don't want to step in the cat urine on the carpet. Second, if I have to get outta there fast, (which happens in some areas of town fairly often) I don't want to be running to my car with no shoes. Third, I don't want to step on the insulin/crack needles.
One of my nursing supervisors told a client who insisted on no shoes, that it is a safety hazard for us to work without shoes on. So, shoes on when the nursing supervisor around, no shoes when supervisor not around. I agree about running to the car in an emergency, but having the job trumped trepidation on that particular case. I'll say one thing though, those were clean floors. Mom was a tremendous housekeeper.
I'll abide by all kinds of weird rules, but I will NEVER remove my shoes in a patient's house. First of all, I don't want to step in the cat urine on the carpet. Second, if I have to get outta there fast, (which happens in some areas of town fairly often) I don't want to be running to my car with no shoes. Third, I don't want to step on the insulin/crack needles.
Ewww...I guess there is a chance that our night nurse might have to avoid the occasional cat hairball but all our nurses where "houseshoes." I have seen slippers, crocs, clogs and tennis shoes. They are only worn in the house and they can leave them here (most do, one takes them to another case). This isn't just a nurse rule. Our whole family does this.
When you think about where your shoes have been and what you are tracking into the house, do you really want to let a toddler, medically fragile or not, play on the floor? Although it seems that NO CHILD ever should be on the floor at Lovingtheunloved's case.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Ewww...I guess there is a chance that our night nurse might have to avoid the occasional cat hairball but all our nurses where "houseshoes." I have seen slippers, crocs, clogs and tennis shoes. They are only worn in the house and they can leave them here (most do, one takes them to another case). This isn't just a nurse rule. Our whole family does this.
When you think about where your shoes have been and what you are tracking into the house, do you really want to let a toddler, medically fragile or not, play on the floor? Although it seems that NO CHILD ever should be on the floor at Lovingtheunloved's case.
Yes that 's what I meant.
I would never go in plain socks (a safety hazard for the nurse r/t possibility of slipping on tile floors, etc or ~~~shudder~~~ bare feet (which I only mention because there was a nurse on a previous case who did that . . .:uhoh21:)
Crocs, slippers w/ rubber soles, or clean sneakers you only wear inside their house. You can get really inexpensive slippers and canvas shoes at drug/variety stores. Some neighborhoods have lawns that are like an obstacle course of dog-doo.
:eek:
Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B
4 Articles; 857 Posts
I have no trouble with being recorded, I prefer that it be with my knowledge. I have been accused of abuse by the parent of a non verbal client. After four months of unemployment and a police investigation, all resulting in no charges being founded, I wish there had been a vidio that could have been reviewed and put the issue to rest in under an hour. If they want to watch me provid excellent care, they are welcome to do so.