Well actually they can if what is occuring is causing their patient anxiety/harm, if there are health hazards, safety concerns etc, etc.  Why not actually listen and hear what the nurses are trying to tell you?  They only have the best intentions for their patient.

I have done home health nursing as field nurse, supervisor, team leader and case manager for many years.  A quesion I have is there cigarette smoke in the home?  Smoke is a lung hazard for all patients, worse for some patients depending what his diagnosis i is.  Is he e on oxygen at home?  Also, if some homes are extrememly dirty, we do have to speak to the caregivers.  I had an elderly patient who lived in very unsanitary conditions...........visible feces on the floor from multiple pets, famiiy smoked, always had the amonia smell from urine.  The patient was a copd elderly patient, with exacerbation of diabetes II............was on mega huge doses of prednisone so the glucos wasnt doing better.  When seeing this patient you had to do the ballet to get from the door to the patient.......she had abnormal gait with history of falls at home.  You bet I talked to her daughter about the urine, feces..........AND people smoking  with her on 4L O2.  I also reported my findings several times to the ordering physician, was intructed to tell the caregiver "she either gets the place livable within 3 days or we call adult protective services.  So Im the mean nurse who told the caregiver to get the crap picked up and put the dang dogs AND cats outside.  Even if the md hadnt verbalied the order like he did I would have called APS.  Ive done it several times in the past.  Nothing is worse than exploitation and neglect of disabled patients.   if your husband is disabled and I dont mean to sound high handed, but if this crap isnt reported I can get in massive trouble to include getting fired, losing my license, etc.   Your home health was ordered by the physician to perform a certain skill, and  TEACHING care to caregivers IS a skill...........per medicare guidelines. 

Sounds like you need a new crew.  Seriously, I'd call the agency and request that they not come back.  They're not behaving like nurses. 

RNdude says ...

Sounds like you need a new crew.  Seriously, I'd call the agency and request that they not come back.  They're not behaving like nurses. 

Man...............I was thinking you were upset over things that probably could be considered unhealthy  for the patient like in the smoke and poop, and pee <went through that on Tuesday this past week>..  As RN Dude said "new crew"...........one thing I wondered, did the agency go over the rights of the patient well?  The patient has the right to refuse ANYTHING he wishes.  If he wishes another agency, check out the state website for homehealth providers, let the physician know what is going on and  which one you are interested in and go from there.  Geez...........they didnt like the curtains?  Its not like they were sewn crooked and sort of didnt hang well <the ones I made for my master bath look like that>.  

I would be appalled too! The agency works for you - report the nurse and find another agency. And by the way, I'm an assisted living and long term care consultant. If it ever does come down to going into a facility, look into assisted living first - much, much more "homelike." Even if you think they won't accept him, try it - they will send someone to do a screening, and let you know if he qualifies.