What to do if patient refuses the nurse relieving you?

[Blackcat99]

I take care of a private patient in a board and care home. In the middle of the night, he notified me that if so and so nurse shows up in the morning that he will refuse to allow her to care for him. He has already notified the agency that he does not want her period.

Anyway, no one showed up for day shift so I called the boss and he sent someone so I could go home. I ran for my life. However, I am worried about the good samaritan who relieved me. What if he gets stuck now if so and so does shows up this morning????? The patient did allow so and so to stay once when he was told that no one else was available. However, he made it clear that it was for that one time only. This patient is alert and oriented. If the good samaritan leaves the patient with so and so nurse and leaves is that patient abandonment?

[caliotter3]

Leaving the patient with "whomever" should be cleared with the agency before going out the door.

[shamrokks, ADN, ASN, RN]

I would express your concern to your boss due to the fact that you were uneasy about the situation. Maybe someone from where you work needs to discuss some things with the client. It's not usually like there is a plethora of people available to come into someone's home for care and I think at times the client forgets this and gets picky. I also believe that if someone does not like a certain person who has been there before they should have the right to refuse that caregiver. They would need to be made aware that they may possibly mean not having some shifts covered but it should be up to your boss to discuss this with the client and shouldn't fall onto your shoulders. Good luck.

[ventmommy]

I don't really know how board and care homes work but I know that if a nurse that I didn't allow in my home showed up for a shift and I said "no way, get out of here" than I would be responsible for my son's care and the off-going nurse would have to turn care back over to me.

[Blackcat99]

Thanks all for your comments. I asked him why he didn't want that nurse. He said she told him to quit bothering her when he felt really really sick. He said that she said "There's nothing wrong with you. Quit bothering me." He said she told him that 2 hours before he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia by the nurse on the next shift.

[ventmommy]

Wow. She should find her compassion or find a new line of work.

[Blackcat99]

Update: My client is out of luck. My supervisor said I am to leave no matter who they send for that client.

[systoly]

Your supervisor is correct. Staffing is an administrative issue, not a nursing issue. Your patient needs to address his staffing concerns with administration. Any discussion between you and the patient about likes and dislikes of other staff is inappropriate.

[Blackcat99]

I can understand why my patient doesn't want that particular nurse. The good news is that my patient told me that they have not been sending her to him this past week.