What did you do

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Specializes in New PACU RN.

What did you do/say to patients who ask you to do things for them (help them void, change, bring them stuff near them, etc) when they are perfectly capable? And what have their reactions been? Were they almost always angry if you refuse?

Can you get into trouble by refusing to do things for the patients can do for themselves? Esp. Can you wash me when they can. I hate that.

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Specializes in ER/ICU, CCL, EP.

I say the following:

"Part of your recovery includes doing your regular activities. I need you to try to brush your teeth (etc) yourself and then if for some reason you cannot manage it, we will see what we have to do to make you self sufficient for when you get home"

And usually, they grudgingly do it. :)

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I say the following:

"Part of your recovery includes doing your regular activities. I need you to try to brush your teeth (etc) yourself and then if for some reason you cannot manage it, we will see what we have to do to make you self sufficient for when you get home"

And usually, they grudgingly do it. :)

That sounds very classy, kind and yet firm. I am learning so much about the type of nurse to be from people like you!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

We have some rehab pts and we can tell them that part of their recovery includes doing things for themselves. Many are anxious to go home and we have to point out that the slower their progress the longer their stay. We also have to lay down the law about spending too much time in bed.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I had a patient once who asked me to dial a phone number for you. Mind you, he was perfectly capable of doing it himself. I pointed to the phone which was no further than 5 inches away and said you can do that for yourself.

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Specializes in ICU.

i once had a pt who was alert, ambulatory and had no sensory deficit call me into the room to move his newspaper from one side of the table to the other.

no chest pain, no sob, no pain - just newspaper maintenance.

how did i deal with it? i moved said newspaper then i counted to ten silently and moved onto the next pt:saint:

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i once had a pt who was alert, ambulatory and had no sensory deficit call me into the room to move his newspaper from one side of the table to the other.

no chest pain, no sob, no pain - just newspaper maintenance.

how did i deal with it? i moved said newspaper then i counted to ten silently and moved onto the next pt:saint:

you are a lot nicer than me!:D

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

My favorite is the pt that can use the urinal but still expects you to wash his genitals. No go. If you can reach it you can wash it.

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Specializes in ER, SANE, Home Health, Forensic.

I say if you can reach your mouth you can reach your....

Maybe that's the ER talking in me... LOL

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Specializes in Emergency.

On my unit I have what I call "Pillow Fluffers." These are pts who have always cared for themselves independently, but will insist that they cannot do anything without a nurse present while they are hospitalized.

They constantly call us to the room to rearrange their pillows or blankets, yet they can get up on their own to go to the bathroom. When they get too demanding, I say to them that the case manager is researching nursing homes for them since they can't care for themselves. You would be surprised at how many of these patients suddenly become self-sufficient again! It may sound mean, but I will not tolerate a patient who is capable of caring for themselves acting like they are total care.

Amy

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.
I say the following:

"Part of your recovery includes doing your regular activities. I need you to try to brush your teeth (etc) yourself and then if for some reason you cannot manage it, we will see what we have to do to make you self sufficient for when you get home"

And usually, they grudgingly do it. :)

I usually say something similar to this...if they insist they are too sick/hurt/etc to do their own cares (that I KNOW they're capable of)...I ask if they would like me to set up a meeting to arrange long term nursing home placement. They usually have a miraculous recovery. (great tip I learned from experienced nurse) I'm kind- but firm.

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See... I think I'm going to have a problem with this after I graduate. I have a hard time telling "no" to people unless its totally unreasonable. I think I'm more of the "count to 10" type of guy... but I would definately give them the dreaded, "what are you on" look that I am so famous for. lol

P.S. You can observe this look in my profile lol.

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