Attention med/surg/floor nurses

I was just reading the thread about what area of nursing you would NOT want to be in. I read so many posts from nurses saying they wouldn't want to deal with babies/kids because of their parents. I work in NICU, so I get it. But, don't your adult patients have family member who visit that drive you nuts?? Can you explain what the difference is between difficult family members of adult patients vs. babies/kids? Is it because the parents sometimes never leave? Just curious. thanks
I haven't worked in a pediatric setting besides for clinicals so I can't really compare, but I have to say some family members are SO annoying! It seems like Pt's act out way more with family around, and then there's your family who don't understand/bring Meds/foods that aren't allowed/get angry over everything/etc. when I meet good family members who take care of their parents especially I make sure to look them in the eye and thank them.

Also, significant others very often never leave and constantly ask for cokes/linens/etc. so I'm thinking it's not just parents of babies that never leave. :P

I've seen 30 yr old men with their mothers hovering at the bedside. Difficult/annoying parents never really go away, the patients just get older. Just my $.02 Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

Having worked Med-Surg and getting ready to go into NICU, I've had so many people say that they couldn't deal with the families in NICU, but that makes no sense because we have some of the nuttiest families. I figure that the families in NICU can't be that much worse than some of the ones I've dealt with on my current floor.

That's what I was wondering....I am sure adult floor patients get hovering family members. The NICU parents might be more overwhelmed. The NICU has become very family oriented. That's good, but bad. Sometimes the parents are in the way. Maybe it's harder in the NICU because our babies tend to stay longer than a typical adult patient?

Most of the time, with alert and oriented patients (the majority of floor patients, though perhaps a small majority on some floors) who are not in danger of dying, the adult family members have no actual authority or standing in the medical decisions. While they may be annoying, that by itself dials down the drama compared to minor child/parent situations.

Quote from loshie08Also, significant others very often never leave and constantly ask for cokes/linens/etc. so I'm thinking it's not just parents of babies that never leave. :P

As a parent, I can tell you that I would be a fierce and if scared for the life of my child, probably unstable cougar protecting my cubs. I would still fiercly want to protect my husband, my parents, etc but I would probably be way more labile and irrational if my children's lives or longevity were in question...so I totally get it and this is why I chose not to work in our ED or SICU because they both see peds patients (and their parents).

I work in LTC. Some families are great, others not so much. The hovering I understand, I would want to be sure my parent was getting the best care possible myself. It's the fighting over which kid gets control of mom or dad that I don't get. Sad when the dementia residents decline to the point that they need an oriented, responsible adult to make decisions for them. Sad when the spouse is that responsible party and you see their decline as well and know there is just no way that they should be responsible for these decisions anymore. Even sadder when the adult children may be oriented, but are anything but responsible.

Quote from KimbalouCan you explain what the difference is between difficult family members of adult patients vs. babies/kids? Is it because the parents sometimes never leave?

I hear you Commuter! I am looking at all the reasons why I am leaving NICU. Parents can be very stressful. I think I've ignored a lot of the stress i've been experiencing. Although, I have had really good experiences with parents who are grateful to the nurses and doctors from the beginning, even though their baby is sick. I used to see a lot of drug babies in the early 90's. Not so much anymore. We mostly see congenital birth defects that the parents didn't cause. Or we see premies due to mom having hypertension, pre-eclampsia, etc. I guess it is a different kind of stress regarding parents vs visitors of adult patients. I did my time on nights for 7 years. I know what you mean...it's less chaos usually...but I had to stop working nights after I had my kids. I am just happy to be starting a new job as an advice nurse next month.

Quote from KimbalouI used to see a lot of drug babies in the early 90's. Not so much anymore.