Silly family members, Trix are for kids!

[kool-aide, RN]

We've all experienced some less than savory family members that seem to hang around LONG after visiting hours. You guys know the types; demanding, degrading, or just plain mean! Share with your AN family your best pt family member story and what creative solutions you or your colleagues have used to rectify the situation.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

flip on the lights if need be to see. I refuse to waltz around in the dark with a flashlight, especially if the patient is awake.

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

Lady (or Mister), I am a nurse and not a magician. I wish I were, because then I could wave my wand and your butt would be out of here so I can actually provide care to my patient.

[Jenni811, RN]

Just the other day my patients daughter would NOT leave the room. Literally, would demand a nurse sit with her mother if she even had to go to the bathroom. She didnt want an aide sitting with her mom, she wanted a nurse!! She was SOOOOO loud, watching her sitcoms at midnight, laughing hysterically. She then complains to me that her mother cant sleep and is demanding me to give her some sleeping pills or something to help her sleep. Ok..the reason she can't sleep is because not only are you keeping her up with every light in the room on, texting, and watching your crazy sitcoms (everybody loves raymond), but your keeping others up to. I told her that!!!

once in a while, i will grow a set of ovaries and tell people like this how it is. She looked at me said "Fine! your right. you nurses think you know everything" and storms out. I walk in the room, turn the TV off, turn the lights down, get the patient comfy in bed, get her a warm blanket and pull the curtain.

She fell asleep in 5 minutes WITHOUT SLEEPING PILLS!!!! BOOO YA!

...does the daughter thank me???? NOPE. she just yells at me for putting her mom to bed before she could say goodnight. Wow woman...that's all i can say about you.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

we dont have visiting hours- families can come in a 3 am if they want :-(

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Dealing with family members is something I wish that they would teach in school, I need help.

When I was an aide I worked in a different enviornment and when family got rowdy then the nurse would make them leave.

Now as a nurse I work in a SNF/LTC no visiting hours and we can not make family leave as it is the residents home.

One daughter will constantly question everything, so much to the point that I printed a detailed BM/pee report for the last month, so she could know how much and when her mom was urinating or have a BM. Mom dosn't have any issues, and is very regular, but daughter needed to know why dear mom hadn't had a BM yet that night.

She will complain that her mom stayed in bed in the morning, even though mom refused because she was tierd and in the same breath demand that the aides put her mom to bed right now, because dear mom could develop a wound if left up to long. Then daugher will stay in moms room untill midnight keeping mom awake and then complain again when her mom is too tired to get OOB in the morning.

[caregiver1977]

I have only been on the maternity/postpardum floor in my local hospital and I think the visiting hours cut off at 9 p.m. I don't think they are very strict about them. I don't advocate visitors being an a$$, but what if a patient doesn't have very many people to see them and the ones that can work during regular visiting hours? If those visitors behave, are the hours waivered or adjusted?

[fanfan8787RN]

Can someone say security? I would just call security when visiting hours are over.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I worked pedi several years and it was the families that made me quit. I used to try passive agressive combat. Smile, agree to anything, then do it my way anyway.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Dealing with family members is something I wish that they would teach in school, I need help.

When I was an aide I worked in a different enviornment and when family got rowdy then the nurse would make them leave.

Now as a nurse I work in a SNF/LTC no visiting hours and we can not make family leave as it is the residents home.

One daughter will constantly question everything, so much to the point that I printed a detailed BM/pee report for the last month, so she could know how much and when her mom was urinating or have a BM. Mom dosn't have any issues, and is very regular, but daughter needed to know why dear mom hadn't had a BM yet that night.

She will complain that her mom stayed in bed in the morning, even though mom refused because she was tierd and in the same breath demand that the aides put her mom to bed right now, because dear mom could develop a wound if left up to long. Then daugher will stay in moms room untill midnight keeping mom awake and then complain again when her mom is too tired to get OOB in the morning.

Is mom in a private room? We deal with these families by telling them that the roomate needs privacy / quiet time too. We have open visiting hrs too, but with respect for the roomate.

[Orange Tree]

I always encourage family members to stick around as long as they'd like to. Most of the time they're not too bad, but we did have one complain that the call lights ringing were "annoying" him. Um, sure...we just won't allow the patients to call for help while you're here. No problem :)

[alphabetsoup]

Ah, the overbearing family! A private room is a necessity so that other patients and their families are not disturbed. Expectations need to be aligned with reality. This is where it is essential to involve management and the facility's patient advocate service. It is better to get everyone on the same page when the problems are first observed rather than later when the problems have festered and tensions are much higher.