Tricks to getting patients to do what you want?

[AragornSkywalker]

I had a patient who hasnt had a bath for 4 days post-op & foley catheter! I told the husband she needed a bath ASAP to prevent UTIs since she didnt speak english. He wouldnt cause she didnt want one. I offered to let a female nurse do it but she still didnt want one. I tried to convince him its for her health but he didnt seem to budge. In the end, my instructor lectured me about how its my responsibility and not the husbands.

So do any of the more experienced ppl here have tricks to getting patients to do what you want? Especially female patients who are apprehensive about guy nurses? I was entirely professional. This was only my 3rd clinical btw.

[ellakate]

Suggestion: Fill bath basin with warm water during or after vital signs. Set it up on her bedside table and offer her a warm, damp washcloth to wash her face and hands. Then let her know that you will come back to empty the water. Let her know that she has to wash around her foley to prevent a bladder infection. Most people enjoy getting freshened up. Maybe her husband just doesn't know. Since you are the nurse (Smile!) let them know together that a bath is needed. If you run into more trouble, ask the patient's staff nurse to help.

[MissBrahmsRN]

this sounds like a cultural thing, the spanish-speaking men are extremely uncomfortable with other men seeing their women, at least in my experience. i mean absolutely no malice when i say this, it's just a cultural thing. no amount of convincing you could have done would have worked, he was going to tell you she didn't need a bath period. frankly the best thing to do is have a fellow female nursing student trade baths with you & she come in all ready & say, "ok, time for your bath!" that's usually the only way to get some people to bathe, just come in ready to go & say, "alright, time for bath!"

[AragornSkywalker]

Re: Centex, she was entirely dependent on the husband. Even though she has no activity limitations, she had activity tolerance and could barely lift her extremities. I told the husband I can get the supplys and he can do it, but he said that she just didnt want one. I told the staff nurse but they didnt seem to care enough to intervene. I forgot what they said. I told the husband about the UTI risk, but I dont know if he relayed the info or not. I guess I should have told him to do so to see what she says.

Re: 13going, they were hindu, but thx for the spanish insight. The husband didnt seem to mind me taking care of the wife as I did an abdominal inspection and everything. It was more of the wife not wanting me to see anything.

My instructor said that I should just come in and say "alright, time for your bath!". But my lecturer said I should let patients direct their care as to when they want a bath/etc. So im really confused.

[ItsTheDude]

if common sense and education don't work, u may want to try making her think something stinks in her room, she may get the hint, u can do this non-verbally n a subtle manner.

the language barrier is another matter and u being n clinicals may limit ur approach.

[MissBrahmsRN]

go with the clinical instructor. pts can direct their care, to a point. but we have schedules and we are not a hotel, we are a hospital and we have other patients also. so things like baths are worked in between meds & procedures, i've had patients say, well i usually take my bath at 0900 so i'll have it then. i explain very politely: we have a schedule, i have n other patients, and there are meds scheduled for 0900 how about after everyone's had their meds we do a bath? most patients are totally understanding of nurses somewhat. most of them know they aren't the only ones there. in fact, sometimes i run into the opposite, patients that won't tell me when they are in pain, etc cause they know i'm busy. i assure them that i am happily busy & pain is one of my number 1 concerns.

[Bug Out, BSN]

This is what I typically say.

"I am going to go and get some stuff to do/give you your ________, I will be right back." The end.

or

"Do you want your ________ before or after ________ time?"

[K.P.A.]

post op for what? it may be significant. look it up or call the translation desk and ask them.

i'm just a student but have found that the same 'trick' one applies to children works well with adults.

give them two choices, both of which are acceptable to you.

-K.P.A.

[AragornSkywalker]

Brain surgery for a ruptured cavernoma.

[K.P.A.]

As a rank amateur, I would ask a female nurse to talk to the pt about bathing preferences. Obviously not what your instructor wanted. I've got one instructor who is adamant about doing what needs to be done and doing it on my schedule, not the patients. I can see her point if time is short.

[stripec30]

Brain surgery for a ruptured cavernoma.

Umm... It sounds like not taking a bath was her technique for controlling something in her otherwise chaotic life. You said that she was Hindi; does she have any kids? Sometimes the more 'western' children of immigrants hold sway over getting the parents to participate in their care.

[AragornSkywalker]

Eh, i dont think it matters to continue to divulge patient info at this point. Thx for the tips ppl.