What do these family member expect

[JB2007]

The other day I had to send one of my residents to the hospital d/t illness. I attempted to contact two of the family members, but nobody was home. I left a message on their answering machines for them to call back ASAP because I had no other contact numbers availible. I sent the resident to the hospital. This resident needed to go, S/S of resp. difficulties and a full code. This resident needed to go where they could be treated. Well today the family comes in all ticked off because we did not notify them. I left a message and they chose to not return the call. I refuse to leave any type of personal info. on people's answering machines due to HIPPA. What do they expect when they will not return phone calls? I just had to vent.

[cloister]

Sounds familiar. I'm always amazed at the shirttail relatives who think the medical staff need to keep them personally informed. ("And how are you related to the patient, sir? You're married to his second cousin once removed? I'll have the neurosurgeon paged STAT....)

Years ago, I had a patient in ICU who had shot his mom and aunt and then himself (over a pair of pants improperly hemmed, of all things), and was succumbing to his wound on my watch. We had reporters calling all night trying to get info, (which we didn't give) but not really any family that I can recall. When he finally passed at 5:17 a.m. (ah, the things you remember!), the resident pronounced him and called the next of kin to inform them. Shortly after that, word somehow got to reporters, and the death was all over the morning news. Boy, did we get some irate calls from far flung family members! Seems next of kin hadn't informed them prior to the morning DJ, and they were none too happy that they hadn't been personally informed.

We stood our ground on the policy. Unhappy? Blame Uncle Billy Bob. He should have called you.

Sounds like you did all you could do. Perhaps they need to update their contact list?

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

shoot girl, with some of these families it wouldnt matter if you pooped them a gold brick. they'd just complain it wasnt shiny enough!

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

shoot girl, with some of these families it wouldnt matter if you pooped them a gold brick. they'd just complain it wasnt shiny enough!

That just describes at least half of my resident's families. Your comment brought on a chuckle and a big old smile. :DThanks I needed that because today was just one of those days.

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

That just describes at least half of my resident's families. Your comment brought on a chuckle and a big old smile. :DThanks I needed that because today was just one of those days.

anytime!

and just keep imagining that you are pinching their annoying leetle heads off when they are driving you nuts. that usually keeps me going for a little while, lol