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Jen at NT
Experienced Member
Posts:197
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| 07/31/2009 4:39 PM |
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Most times having family members around the bedside can be very helpful in providing care for your patients. However, there are times when families can be more of a hinderance or can cause more stress as they are "high maintenance"
How have you handled difficult family members? Also, can you share your own experience on how you have been able to work with the family/patients caregivers?
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Advisor
Experienced Member
Posts:143
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| 08/13/2009 4:06 PM |
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Often, the thought of adding the responsibility of handling family members can add more strain to an already strained shift. However, one thing that has helped me is addressing their concern head on. During my rounds, I make a point of introducing myself to the family/friend in the room with the pt. I give them a quick introduction, an overview of what's going on and the best way to communicate with each other - if possible (and when I was lucky), I would also tell them the pt. tech's name that will also taking care of their loved ones.
I think it is important to stay professional and concise. I do think it is important that they feel comfortable with me, but in the beginning, I try to establish professionalism so that I can manage my time wisely and take care of all of my patients. What I have learned from experience is that if I "over do" the establishing of the rapport... I get pulled away every few minutes to tend to them exclusively. It is a balancing act, but one that can be learned with lots of practice.
The take away here is: Be courteous and professional, don't over do with the "friendliness" in the very beginning...learn to manage how patients/families interact with you. Of course, this gets harder as you get to know your patients and their families and I have to admit, it can be nearly impossible when you work at a LTAC where the family members sometime treat you as one of the family. ;) |
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shovelhead
Experienced Member
Posts:141
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| 08/14/2009 2:24 PM |
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| Establish ground rules, encourage independence (show them where the wash cloths, warm blankets, and bed controls are), and tell them YOUR expectations. oh, and I love the policy in our ER that limits two family members to a pt. Allows for great crowd control and if they get belligerent about it and want to see the CN, the CN just reiterates what I have told them. The rules are for EVERYONE. You came to MY "house" you play by my rules. |
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