Out of control resident!!!!!!

This is just boiling me over. I work as a CNA on the 3rd shift. We have a resident here who rings the call bell non-stop. Sometimes if you go in there he will come up with ridiculous reasons for assistance, like rubbing his feet, change his diaper(even though he's dry) can't find his cell phone, can't find his cellphone, and again..can't find his cellphone.

Lately he has been at war with the nurses and just rings the call bell for no reason. When we go in to assist him he tells us in the most spiteful way that he just wants it on and don't touch his callbell. It's every 5 to 15 min he rings the bell. If we shut it off he turns it right back on. The d**m bell is so tired of ringing that sometimes the thing stutters and has to reajust itself.

Now he has this new thing where he calls the facility number all night long and when we answer he says nothing. Then calls back over and over and just lets it ring all night.. This is becoming disruptive to the residents and staff and I'm sick of it. Administration is well aware of whats going on and nothing is done.

What can we do about this guy? HAs anyone been in the same situation? I just feel something needs to be done but I'm just a CNA so I don't know what to do?
Can we say Psych consult?

Yeah-- that behavior could be caused by a cognitive deficit wherein he doesn't remember ringing the bell 5 minutes ago, and thinks no one attended to his needs. He may not remember the reason he used the call-bell in the first place when someone comes to ask him why he rang the call-bell.If that's what it is- I have mercy for the hell he is currently experiencing as many have an awareness that something is seizing their mind and the alert and oriented area is being overtaken by something very scary and chaotic.

Could he be lonely? Could he just enjoy the peace of mind that having a call bell going off all the time buys him? Eventually, someone walks in his room because they're fed up with the call bell ringing... even negative attention is better than no attention to some people. And the phone calls could be to just hear another voice on the end of the phone. I know how busy LTC can be; he probably just would like a little more time, unfortunately, than you are able to give. Is there a way to get him a sitter, or a volunteer? I know some community organizations go into some of our LTCs and volunteer to sit and do activities with the patients there... if he had more interaction in the evenings, maybe he wouldn't feel the need to act out to garner attention, whether positive or negative.

i agree i think this patient may just be lonely. i was a cna in ltc and i know there is always that one patient that manages to get under your skin, but remember you are the professional and you must answer that call bell in a calm professional manner. hopefully the facility will address this issue and get to the underlying cause of this behavior. just do your best to make sure the patient is safe and his needs are met. hang in there, this behavior will pass.

If this is a fairly new behavior someone needs to tell the doc. His behavior is disruptive to the entire unit, and will make many people resent him.When does he sleep? And why does he need to have his cell phone with him all night long?Make certain he does not nap during the day. Have someone in activities make a pouch for his phone that can hang on his bed.This may be a sign that he is developing dementia.

He sounds lonely. Has he a room mate? Or perhaps he could be moved closer to the desk so he can hear people talking. Has he a TV or radio, newspaper?

Have him checked out (MD, psych, etc.) and if he checks out, behavioral contract...ieYou will only call with legitimate needs, we will check on you q30 min-1hr etc. and hold him to it.

wow, i so understand. the behavior consult is a good idea and you may can ask your nurse has that been done. i wonder if the patient is maybe just absolutely furious with being in a nursing home, knows that he/she is helpless overall, and coming to the reality that the place he/she has dreaded all their life has come to pass. nursing homes are thought of as where you go to die. we have all heard horror stories of how "old folks homes" were in the olden days and it is a hard grieving process emotionally for any person placed in one. not knowing the emotional abuse or life abuse this patient has had, they may be unable to cope and knowing "this is the last stop before the pearly gates" is not something anyone wants to have to deal with.it sounds like acting out behavior to me from someone that just has no more coping ability left and is angry at the world feeling helpless. just my thoughts.

Just wait until he discovers that he can dial 911 when you don't answer the call light quick enough for him. Have you tired setting him in his wheel chair at the nurses station? Usually if someone is on the light all the time, we just remove them from the temptation, and they soon find another distraction ie: watching the nurses. I personally would talk to the family about being allowed to remove the battery from the phone after say 10pm.

Quote from FinallydiditJust wait until he discovers that he can dial 911 when you don't answer the call light quick enough for him. Have you tired setting him in his wheel chair at the nurses station? Usually if someone is on the light all the time, we just remove them from the temptation, and they soon find another distraction ie: watching the nurses. I personally would talk to the family about being allowed to remove the battery from the phone after say 10pm.

Quote from FinallydiditJust wait until he discovers that he can dial 911 when you don't answer the call light quick enough for him. Have you tired setting him in his wheel chair at the nurses station? Usually if someone is on the light all the time, we just remove them from the temptation, and they soon find another distraction ie: watching the nurses. I personally would talk to the family about being allowed to remove the battery from the phone after say 10pm.

Unfortunately, I believe it's safe to say that there are a handful of us nurses who have been caught in a situation dealing with combatative patients. Although we have the mindset to "expect the unexpected", sometimes we find ourselves stuck in these tough scenarios. I wish you the best of luck while dealing with this hard to please patient, just keep on keepin' on. I also believe a psych consult is in the near future for him.