I was sitting with a patient in the CCU. He didn't speak any English. He needed his oxygen mask or his sat level would drop tremendously. He tried to take off his mask at least 5 times every minute, and I am not exaggerating. He also tried taking his foley out, his leads for the ekg, and kept touching the central line area. It was a busy day for me which I didn't mind. However, about 10 minutes before my shift was over, the patient's wife and son comes. While they were putting on their isolation gowns, the sons tells me I could leave since they are here. I told them another sitter is coming in about 10 minutes and I will leave as soon as the sitter comes. I guess the son went to the bathroom and the wife came in. I gave her my seat. The patient took his oxygen mask off again a few times within those short few minutes. I was standing waiting for my relief and the son comes in and says, he is just trying to adjust the mask. I told him politely, that he isnt trying to adjust the mask because he takes it off. He then tells me with the biggest attitude that I can leave. I told him I would and I would tell the sitter when he/she comes and ask the nurse what to do, until then I would wait by the door. He tells me thank you in the most sarcastic way. there was another nurse in the room, the one who takes care of the patient's dialysis. I'm standing outside the door and that son asks the nurse, so the sitter is just here because my dad takes his oxygen off? and that nurse remained silent. i was just very angry. i know i'm there to do my job, but i was there to help his dad out. i wasn't playing around. I just feel like people think it's just a useless job.
I think you did fine; although you might have put the call light on and explained the situation to the patient's nurse and let her deal with the family.
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I think you stood your ground well. Family members get all kinds of frustrated at their situations, especially after a long stay, and will take it out on the first person they see. Perhaps his son is sick of helping his dad and wants him to take the oxygen off? You just never know.
As a sitter it is your responsibility to stay with the patient unless the person who requested you releases you or your replacement comes in.
Do you work for an agency? If so you might want to report the incident to them in case the family tries to pull some crap on the situation. Cover yourself :)
You did fine, I probably would have added that I can't leave because I am assigned to this patient because of the MD orders ( wether thats true or not id still put it like that), and that its for his safety.
If his oxygen sats drop to frequently he's going to get an anoxic brain injury.
FLArn
503 Posts
I think you did fine; although you might have put the call light on and explained the situation to the patient's nurse and let her deal with the family.