I was shocked that aides would actually admit to doing this.
The CNA's at my job, told me last night, as some of them also do some work in home health, that when they go into a person's home that the resident will encourage the aide to "sit down, put your feet up, take a nap, honey!"
And they say they do it!! They say that they do whatever the resident wants them to do and if the resident wants them to sit down and take a nap, then they're doing what the resident wants.
I told them I didn't think that was what the Home Health agency is expecting.
I said I think you're supposed to be helping that resident with some of those household chores or hygiene needs, not sitting down and taking a nap while you're getting paid.
They said, "Well you can get their sweeping, mopping, making a bed done in 30 minutes and then sit down and take a nap for the rest of the 4 hours you are there. If that's what they want you to do, is sit down and take a nap then you're doing what they told you to do."
I was just floored. I couldn't believe that they would actually go into a person's home, someone they don't know, and sit down and take a nap on the job.
But you have to realize that if the patient or family says do something like take a nap, then in their eyes it is okay..In home health, the family and the patient are the supervisors...Management is not there..
But you have to realize that if the patient or family says do something like take a nap, then in their eyes it is okay..In home health, the family and the patient are the supervisors...Management is not there..
But it's unethical.
I've never worked in Home Health, myself, but I would bet a dollar to a do-nut that they would not approve and would have told the workers that sleeping is a No No.
Even if the family and patient says that it is ok to nap, there is a difference between napping and being unarousable. And you still have the responsibility of observing the condition of your patient and you can't do that appropriately if you are asleep. I had a vent patient whose vent power went off one time and there was no alarm. The equipment malfunctioned. Had I been snoozing or snoring, he could have died. That is why I'm paid to observe the patient whether or not I am on night shift. It is unethical and it is fraud to sleep on duty.
I've never worked in Home Health, myself, but I would bet a dollar to a do-nut that they would not approve and would have told the workers that sleeping is a No No.
One of my patients in home health lets another nurse watch movies and surf the internet a lot since he works long hours at their home...The patient encourages it..If this was reported to home health managment, then of course there would be like a lot of people saying, that is a no no also..But the bottom line, the patient and the family members have the final say on who can stay being a nurse at their home..
Even if the family and patient says that it is ok to nap, there is a difference between napping and being unarousable. And you still have the responsibility of observing the condition of your patient and you can't do that appropriately if you are asleep. I had a vent patient whose vent power went off one time and there was no alarm. The equipment malfunctioned. Had I been snoozing or snoring, he could have died. That is why I'm paid to observe the patient whether or not I am on night shift. It is unethical and it is fraud to sleep on duty.
Home health aides would not get difficult patients such as the ones that require constant looking after..The agency would get a LPN or a RN for the more difficult patients..
You state that HHAs don't get difficult patients, anybody can have a heart attack or emergency at any time. I've never seen CNA/HHA worksheets that did not mention observing and reporting patient conditions. Patients don't wait to go bad because they only have an aide present. It is still unethical and fraud for a paid worker to sleep on the job, unless specific instructions are given by the employer concerning the circumstances when such behavior would be acceptable, as in a sleepover position while the worker is officially off duty. These special situations are described in the worker's job description and it is very well understood by all concerned. Otherwise, there is no employer or program paid for by government or private insurance funds that are willingly paying someone to sleep. It doesn't make business sense. If the patient does not need nursing observation, even that provided by an aide, then he/she does not need a worker in the home.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I have had home health jobs as an aide, and used to read while sitting next to my resting patient. I love reading, and take advantage of any opportunity to do so. I see nothing wrong with reading, but I have an issue with sleeping. You are unable to call 911, or do CPR, or comfort a client that is afraid.
I do believe that the client and the family are the immediate managers, but I am sure that they did not literally mean that the person can SLEEP. I think that they may mean that the aide/nurse can relax, take a load off, but not be comatose. As a nurse, I had a pediatric trach patient. I used to sit right next to her while she was asleep and read about her condition, her medications, fill out the paperwork, and when that was done, I would read a novel, and stare at her every few minutes in case she needed me. My license and my conscience is riding on this. And, I would not want someone to sleep on me or my loved ones.
It's funny, my one client who I watched TV with would get upset if I studied. I could not bring books or even note cards to look at while she watched "Walker, Texas Ranger" before her bed time. But I could crochet. That was okay for some reason. People can be strange.
One of the family members of a client that I had at one time who was vent dependent, told me on my first trip to the home to orient, that they had to get rid of a nurse who slept through the vent alarms going off. People who have been around vents know that you have to be pretty "comatose" as pagandeva said, to be able to sleep through a continuous vent alarm. This is the danger of sleeping on duty, whether you are a licensed nurse or an aide. You are responsible for watching over your patient and taking appropriate action, that of a licensed nurse or that of an aide. You can't very well do that if a family member has to come to arouse you. Sometimes the family members aren't there. And how soon, once an adverse situation occurs, do you think the family will turn on you once something happens to their loved one? I wouldn't bet my bottom nickel on the "nice family" remaining that way when push comes to shove. If you don't sleep or neglect your patient, they can't accuse you and be truthful in their accusations. Better safe than sorry.
:down:
Dunno?
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But you have to realize that if the patient or family says do something like take a nap, then in their eyes it is okay..In home health, the family and the patient are the supervisors...Management is not there..