The legalities of having a relative on your unit of employment?

Published

Specializes in LTC.

There is a CNA on the unit who takes care of her mother in law, they even have the same last name? Isn't this illegal? If so how do I report it. I'm not usually a tattle tale but this girl is a big trouble maker anyway.

Thank you

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been in facilities where CNAs took care of their grandfather or uncle. A nurse's mother was a resident in a LTC facility. Nothing transpired in any of these cases. It was rather embarassing with the nurse's mother because of the way she was treated by the staff, did not get a lot of attention as she was wasting away. The opposite occurred with the CNA who was taking care of her uncle. She took care of him instead of doing her assignment. That was the way she was because she knew she could get away with that type of behavior.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Staff nurse.
There is a CNA on the unit who takes care of her mother in law, they even have the same last name? Isn't this illegal? If so how do I report it. I'm not usually a tattle tale but this girl is a big trouble maker anyway.

Thank you

Do you want to report her because she is a "trouble maker" or because you see a conflict of interest?

Who assigns her to her mil?

Is her care for her mil getting in the way of care for her other patients: is she neglecting her other pts. b/c she spends lots of time with the mil?

Just some thoughts for you to ponder.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I thought it was illegal, but no having her mother in law as a resident does not interfere with the proper care of the other patients.

And the unit would go alot more smoother in terms of employee civility if she wasn't there. I would go into it but don't have energy to. This place is already draining enough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MH/MR, post-op, oncology, GI, M/S.

On my unit, I usually opt out of caring for someone I know personally. I ask for a different assignment and it is granted. Mostly I do it because I don't want there to be an issue where I feel more compelled to help them and ignore my other patients, or I don't want to feel at risk for "making an exception" to help out a friend. I also want to protect any health secrets they may have, even from me, because when they get discharged I wouldn't want a friendship to be burdened with a secret. But I know of no legal issues involved, only ethical ones. And not even real concerns, but potential or hypothetical concerns.

I'm not in LTC though, so the conditions might be different as far as changing assignments.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
there is a cna on the unit who takes care of her mother in law, they even have the same last name? isn't this illegal? if so how do i report it. i'm not usually a tattle tale but this girl is a big trouble maker anyway.

thank you

i'm not sure -- is you worry about the ethics of caring for a family member? or are you trying to get "this girl" into trouble? it seems like the latter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Many places avoid that kind of situation because it's considered unethical (or, at least, a bad idea) by many, but, as far as I know, there's nothing illegal about it. It's entirely up to the individual facility whether it's considered acceptable or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

if it were illegal I think your HR would have prevented the situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CV Surgical, ICU.

Nope, I took care of my memere from admission to her passing this past summer. They didn't have any problems assigning me to her because they knew it would not interfere with my care of the other residents. No other role has given me more pride :)

But I suppose it's up to the facility?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Education, Peri-op.

My uncle was in my ICU for 45 days. I never set foot in his room as staff and left the room while report was being given. I never wanted my uncle to be uncomfortable with the the thought that I was privy to information that he may not want to share with me.

Legal or not, I feel it is unethical to care for your family members.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I don't like having staff family members as patients. If I have to take them, I make sure their family member does NOT take care of them. As far as I know, there is nothing illegal about it. I just think it's bad practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
I'm not usually a tattle tale but this girl is a big trouble maker anyway.

Thank you

It would appear you are just looking to start problems. If it is really causing a problem go to your supervisior. If you just don't "like it", let it go. It is not illegal and not worth being labelled a trouble maker.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion