Home Sweet Home: Setting Boundaries
At the end of the day, all of the care is being provided inside your home. If you address the following issues before getting started, you and your pediatric nurse can concentrate on keeping your child as happy and healthy as possible.
Knock first Would you prefer your nurses knock or just enter your home when their shift begins?
Parking Where should the nurses park?
Attire Do you prefer nurses wear scrubs or appropriate street clothes? Some patients or siblings may be wary of visitors wearing scrubs.
Shoes Do you want nurses to change into different shoes or use shoe covers after entering your home? Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules require nurses to wear shoes while on duty, but some of your family’s preferences may be accommodated.
Out of bounds Are there areas of your home that are off limits to the nursing staff?
Bathroom Is there a certain bathroom that you prefer nurses use?
Supply room Where do you keep paper towels, toilet paper, light bulbs, batteries?
Refrigerator Can the nurses keep food and drink in your fridge during their shift, or do they need to bring a personal cooler?
Microwave Can nurses use your microwave to heat their meals?
Dining area Is there a designated area for the nurses to eat, or can they eat in the child’s area?
Laundry and trash Where should nurses place the child’s laundry and trash? If you want these emptied at the end of each shift, where should they be placed?
Pets Are there special instructions for greeting pets once entering the home?
Nighttime calls How should the nurses wake you in the middle of the night if that’s necessary? Knock on bedroom door, call cellphone?
Non-emergencies Would you like to be informed in the middle of the night about non-emergency clinical changes such as fever, pain, restlessness, need to provide respiratory treatments?
Security blanket Does your child have a certain toy or blanket that he or she uses for comfort?
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