Family members pushing the boundaries

credit: pallamaio

Interacting with family and including family members is a fairly large part of nursing. I’ve come across some great, supportive family members who are really there to help and support the patient as much as they can. In saying that, there are also family members who constantly try to push the boundaries, and really have to be seen to be believed.

Sometimes these are family members who are loud, obnoxious or belligerent. Other times they are indignant, mocking and even scolding of the nursing staff. Obviously you have to factor in that there is a large anxiety component, and some people unintentionally vocalize their stress, but there is really no excuse for blatant rude behaviour.

Some recent examples of family members pushing the boundaries include:

• A mother who asked me if she could have a meal (for herself!) as her daughter was being WHEELED INTO the emergency department on an ambulance trolley (accident at school, hit head).  SUUUUUUURE, lady – while I’m at it can I offer you a nice chardonnay and some spring rolls?  Or maybe we should have a look at your daughter first….

 

• A man who thought it was ok to wander over to the co-ordinator’s computer and read up on all the presenting complaints of every patient in the department.  Errrrrr….  Are you quite alright there?!

 

• A lady who insisted her decrepit, bed bound, one-week post haemorrhagic CVA & documented NFR husband be brought to the emergency department to die, instead of his nursing home bed.

 

• A boyfriend from further down in the department who thought it would be ok to wander throught the resus bays and watch what was going on.

 

• Husband and wife split up, child brought to hospital after an injury at school.  Neither parent wanted the other to have access to the child, and both were waving restraint papers (against each other) & threatening to hold the hospital liable if we don’t allow them access.  Oh but they both refuse to see the child at the same time, and they both refuse to allow the other one in.  Great, thanks for including us in your mess – how great must that child feel?!

For some other great nursing (and family) related links and stories, check out this week’s change of shift over at code blog.