Unrestrained pittbull

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Pt would not restrain pittbull dog 85lbs(barking at me at door). Pt said, "oh he wont hurt you." i wanted to say tell that to my 9 month old son when 1/2 his face was bitten and he was almost mauled! I left, not pt abandonment, unsafe working conditions. I called my agency.I thought aggressive dogs were to be restrained for clinicians in the pt home due to safety!Any facts on this would be appreciated.

TY

Where does it state nurses arent to have RIGHTS FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY just because they're are a homehealth nurse? I've have always explained to my patients that any dog must be on a leash. If its a large aggressive type breed. *pitbull* then the dog is to be in another room behind a closed door before I would enter the home. I've had the "oh she's a sweetie" pitbull almost rip the closed bedroom door open as I was making my visit. No.. sorry..it dont fly. Patient's have a responsibility to provide a safe place for the nurse to visit.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health, Case Management.

page 11 on my agency pt. home care booklet-responsibility to provide safe environment for clinician!Pittbull would not allow owner to put him in another room-OMG I'd entice him with his treat if i was owner.wc bound pt-dog wt-85 lbs. if pt cant restrin him and i entered home-do u think he'd bite me and nasty bite with his jaws clenched. pt only witness -he would deny it. IMO. no way does he want to be sued!!

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health, Case Management.

No, I told them I did not abandon him. its a MV per DON.

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Specializes in Home Health.

First of all, not all pitbulls are mean. The breed of the dog doesn't matter. I have been bitten a grand total of ONCE...by a chihuahua with no teeth. I wouldn't enter ANY home with a dog of ANY breed that I didn't feel comfortable with. :)

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

The primary nurse is wrong not to enforce standard pet policy: Dogs are to be restrained in another room/ back yard during visit,

Otherwise no visit performed. My employeer strictly enforces this rule as part of STAFF SAFETY policy and patient responsibility consent that was signed.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

I read a few weeks ago that 1/3 of claims on homeowner policies are r/t dog bites.

When I did home care, it was no dogs, weapons, family drug use nor any illegal activities while we were in the house.

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It doesn't matter what that ft RN says. Pets are supposed to be restrained. Do I have my pts restrain theirs? Not always. Especially this collie one has he's cute haha! But if another nurse goes in and says what you said I would not give her a hard time about it. It should be company policy so she shouldn't be giving you a hard time.

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You were very justified in leaving. My agency has a policy explained up front of no pets to be present that is explained upon admission. Any animal with teeth can bite you,Pit or poodle. I've had pits in the past, they are territorial but when raised properly very loveable. The patient would have been discharged from agency if that had happened to one of our care givers.

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A fellow field RN of mine was bitten by an unrestrained Rottweiler and I have been bitten by a small chi-terrier mix myself. You are completely within your rights to make decisions regarding your own safety. Even though the dog was not aggressive with your coworker does not mean he will be the same with you. I usually get along quite well with animals but I have seen these same animals become quite vicious around others for no apparent reason.

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