When a Resident Refuses

[Nightowl_RN]

A resident where I work has been refusing care. I don't want to say too much and risk violating Hippa but in general, This resident is somewhat new to our facility and as of late has been repeatedly refusing to be turned, changed, repositioned. She takes a LOT of pain medication but apparently it is not helping to alleviate the pain sufficiently to allow us to provide the necessary care. we have been documenting, documenting, documenting care refusals. I want to make sure this is approached correctly, before it potentially turns in to something much bigger. Can anyone please offer their thoughts.

[toomuchbaloney]

@toomuchbaloney: You are obviously assuming I/we have not considered this already. "WHY the patient is refusing is the problem and MUST be addressed ASAP."

It would be nice if your original information included that VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL. Do not blame me, or others who must rely on your inadequate communication of the situation for the confusion that your lack of clarity creates. Certainly you realize that your original post BEGS to have that primary question answered; and yet you chose to ignore it and not mention it in any fashion.

In our world, if you didn't document it then you didn't do it. Similarly, in an internet discussion, if you don't provide that essential background information when asking the opinions of other professionals you will get responses that are based upon the information that YOU provided or did not provide.

It makes me wonder how well you communicate essential information to other professionals that you work regularly with.

[toomuchbaloney]

Let me simply say that the two most common reasons that patients refuse care are discomfort and anxiety, in my experience.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

One typo in 30 years. Wow. We should all be so humbled to be allowed in your presence!!

@BuckyBadgerRN: I see the resident spelling police has descended upon the one spelling mistake I think I have ever made in 30 years. I posted this message while in a rush and was less concerned with the accuracy of spelling than the meaning behind the message. Yes, I am well aware it is HIPAA not HIPPA.

I will not hesitate to say I am thoroughly annoyed by your response. I posted a serious question and was hoping and looking for serious, thoughtful responses.

Here is a clue. Stick to the topic.

That is all.

[ksrn20]

It seems as though you were looking for better/more creative ways to document her refusal rather than explore how to actually help her as evidenced by whose comment you liked.

Maybe you should actually take the others' comments into consideration instead of coming back and acting so rudely. But hey that just my opinion.