Safety policy question

[Technicalglitch]

I'm curious about what policies you guys might be working under when it comes to refusing to work in unsafe homes.

I did a home visit last week where the patient's daughter verbally abused me, raged at me repeatedly, and intentionally blocked my exit from the home, despite me saying repeatedly that I had to leave and that I feared for my safety. I did eventually get out, after she even blocked me with her arm and made contact as if to grab me, and then thought better of it when I said out loud what she was doing.

She had had a previous raging incident a couple of weeks prior to this at a co-worker, and after that the manager visited with the nurse and supposedly all was well and was to go forward on a "positive note"

There is also a vicious dog in the mix who growls, barks and snaps at nurses to varying degrees on visits.

After my incident, the next visit was 2-nurses for safety. That day the manger phoned the daughter and supposedly she is really sorry (probably partly true, and partly manipulation and fearing the consequences, she cried and apologized even before I got out) and will cooperate and everything now is fine again, and nurses can do solo visits safely.

Is this the way it is now in home care? I last worked in home care 25 years ago, and there is no WAY we would have been sent back to a home like this, especially after two incidents.

I'm in Ontario, Canada. I've been assigned to go again tomorrow. I've contacted the union and they will back me up in refusing due to unsafe conditions, and we have legislation that allows me to refuse to go without reprisal. BUT, what if the health and safety inspector (who will have to go) is clueless (as they may be, most workplaces are not private homes) and says that the home is now safe (as daughter won't rage at his visit, and vicious dog will be shut away)?

I'm just amazed that this is even an issue. The home care program is being run out of a hospital where the people starting it have no home care background, however, and is less than a month old.

[caliotter3]

When I have had problems of this nature with clients, the end result was that I ended up without a job and the ex-employer would denigrate me to future prospective employers. It certainly has impacted the way I view home health nursing and nursing in general.

[Wlaurie, RN]

Well I would be doing a lot of specific documenting as I was looking for another job. If this is a new program I would be speaking to them about this issue. But ultimately if they continue to want to place you somewhere where you feel unsafe you need to move on.