VENT: other nurses doing things "above and beyond"

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I put "above and beyond" in quotation marks because I'm specifically referring to things that we aren't supposed to do, per our company's policy. No Mom, I will not drive your kid to the doctor's appointment for you, I don't care that Nurse Nancy always does. No I will not watch your other children and their cousins while you run out for "just a few minutes," I don't care if Nurse Nancy does (and even disregarding the policy on this one -- I am NOT a babysitter and I am only getting paid the rate for single patient here, and it ain't a lot!!!). No I will not bathe your other child when I bathe my patient, I don't care what Nurse Nancy does. Maybe I'm just being mean on that one, but again, I'm not a babysitter! Sorry, I just needed to get all of that out of my system. Today was a long shift...

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

Been there done that type case...ran when the chance came. Its not safe to talk with supervisors because you look like you are creating trouble. The parent will weed you out and find a nurse that will do things like that, so your time is limited anyway. And talking to the other nurses welcomes backstabbing. And the worst part is you are doing the right thing. Maybe tomorrow will be better! Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

The worst is when one of the other nurses is a clean freak and she starts cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms because "she is bored". Then the rest of the nurses appear lazy. If this one mom ever hints again for me to clean, I plan to say, "Well, you're lucky to be getting that freebie, insurance would cut back your hours if they knew your nurse wasn't attending your child. They'd say it's insurance fraud! If I were you, I wouldn't tell anyone else about it, if that gets reported that could end." Same deal w any situation; if you're busy attending other children, you're diverting your attention from your client. Tell mom if the insurance company caught wind of that, she could lose her services completely! Act very concerned and scared for her. ;D

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Vent away! Drives me crazy. I just quietly ignore it. I am busy with your child, you clean your house!

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Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.

I hear you! I have a case where my client has sibs, and cousins who spend a lot of time at her home. Most of the time, I am "watching" not only the client, but the sibs as well. Mom is there, but in the bedroom with the door closed. So guess who hears "I'm hungry I want something to eat"? What really sets me off is one day I shoveled snow for an hour so I could go to work, then I get there, exhausted, and hear a lecture on how I wasn't doing a good job on scrubbing the tub. I went nuts. I cried, and I never cry, then I called my agency and asked for another case. Mom begged me to stay, so I reconsidered and said I'd stay, at least for awhile. It was a case of frustration plus weather related depression. Those of you who live in warm climates can't imagine how exhausting it is to have to shovel several feet of snow and scrape ice off your windows just to get to work. You're exhausted when you get there.

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I would quietly look for another case. The out of line nurses have a clear advantage, nothing will change. You should leave before the client dirties your professional name with your employer.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.
I get there, exhausted, and hear a lecture on how I wasn't doing a good job on scrubbing the tub.

Wow. Just, wow. Is this a tub that the whole family uses, or just the client? If it's for everyone, you should NEVER be doing the tub. Not only is that an abuse of services, but just plain nasty. I would do nothing more than be sure the bubbles are rinsed away, toys put away, and spilled water wiped up, if I have just bathed the child. If it were the client's personal exclusive bathroom, I can see keeping the bathroom decent, but not clean enough? How anal is that??

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I hear you! I have a case where my client has sibs, and cousins who spend a lot of time at her home. Most of the time, I am "watching" not only the client, but the sibs as well. Mom is there, but in the bedroom with the door closed. So guess who hears "I'm hungry I want something to eat"?

This is my every shift!!!! Plus the kids are AWFUL (including my very active/ambulatory patient -- the only nursing care he receives is neb tx so as much as I say I'm not a babysitter, it really feels that way), because there is ZERO discipline besides loud yelling and "popping," all of which the kids don't even blink at anymore... I don't have kids myself, so I'm sure a lot of their behavior is normal child behavior that I just don't have experience with (I'm also an only child), but I just know they seem very unruly.

Sigh... I am turning in my notice with the agency tomorrow as I have received an offer from another job after putting in lots of applications (pretty new grad here). I had hoped to keep working with this case on my off days, because when mom is gone and it's just me and the patient, it is very enjoyable, but her constant requests and the awkwardness that ensues when I have to say no are likely going to push me away, like many here have suggested it should. Thanks for letting me vent!!!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I ended up on a case where the nurse orienting men wanted me to do laundry for the entire family, which included 4 kids under age 12. I have no problem washing and putting away my client's laundry, but not the entire family's. I've been a maid, and I'm not going back to that. Plus, maids in my area make more per hour than home health nurses.

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Hey it is a possibility that Nurse Nancy doesn't do those things either but is being told that Nurse Nightowl does them, I work PDN and corrections. Hearing Nurse so and so gives me this or does that for me is common in the correction environment. And of course it is just a manipulation tactic. Not that your client's parent would ever be that way ..... . Just take it with a grain of salt is all I'm saying.

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Hey it is a possibility that Nurse Nancy doesn't do those things either but is being told that Nurse Nightowl does them, I work PDN and corrections. Hearing Nurse so and so gives me this or does that for me is common in the correction environment. And of course it is just a manipulation tactic. Not that your client's parent would ever be that way ..... . Just take it with a grain of salt is all I'm saying.

That's a great point, thank you!

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Specializes in Pediatric.
I hear you! I have a case where my client has sibs and cousins who spend a lot of time at her home. Most of the time, I am "watching" not only the client, but the sibs as well. Mom is there, but in the bedroom with the door closed. So guess who hears "I'm hungry I want something to eat"? What really sets me off is one day I shoveled snow for an hour so I could go to work, then I get there, exhausted, and hear a lecture on how I wasn't doing a good job on scrubbing the tub. I went nuts. I cried, and I never cry, then I called my agency and asked for another case. Mom begged me to stay, so I reconsidered and said I'd stay, at least for awhile. It was a case of frustration plus weather related depression. Those of you who live in warm climates can't imagine how exhausting it is to have to shovel several feet of snow and scrape ice off your windows just to get to work. You're exhausted when you get there.[/quote']

Wow what?!?! Is it patients tub? Or everyone's?!?!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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