HHA turned maid

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

I would like to start off by saying yes I am grateful that I am employed but finding a job is not that difficult for me. Another thing is that I am grateful my pay is good but I am not a housekeeper, that is not what I signed up for. When I became employed for the couple I worked for I thought they both need medical care. Miraculously one of them got better even though he is not as strong. So I've now been employed almost four months with them and I do care for the other (basically total care) but all the other employees are not CNA's or HHA's. They typically start off as housekeepers and as their employers age they help take care of them. I see things from a more medical prospective and have recommended some things and they are not to thrilled. They also do not understand that I a mandated reporter. There was a lot of neglect before the man became sick and nothing was ever said. Anyways to the point - I get a phone call today that my cleaning isn't good enough. Not from my bosses but from one of the other ladies. She is always calling me while I'm not working. Yes I suck at vacuuming curtains, I'VE NEVER DONE IT B4. I keep the place clean but I guess I am supposed to polish everything constantly, clean windows, and all this other stuff I've never been asked to do. Urgh I actually miss facility where it was more about patient care. How do I get them to understand I am a CNA not a maid? I have no problem cooking a meal, washing soiled linen, and so forth but I'm not a maid. What would you guys do?

i think you are doing the right thing. I feel sorry for your client, and I think she needs a good advicate to make sure these pressure sores are taken care of and the rest of her needs are met properly. But the way the family is going about her care it is not the greatest, and she needs more monitoring of care. If they want to keep her at home with them I understand that but something has to change. Maybe you could ask the family if getting a agency to help them is even a posibility if her care is more then they can handle on their own.

0 Votes
Specializes in Long term care.

I agree! I think it's a good thing you decided to leave this family. This job has red flags all over it!

SO many things could easily go wrong for you here....ESPECIALLY because you are a CNA. I know you're only trying to help but, even the fact that you are sugguesting things to put on a pressure sore could be looked at as going "outside your scope of practice".

The client could get fall/get hurt, the family sues you. ...the family could sue you for what THEY decide is neglect by you for any reason and you have nothing/noone protecting you like a homecare agency.

I could go on and on too, but most of it has already been said.

The pay may be more, but it is SO not worth the risk! :nailbiting:

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych.

Quick update - I went in yesterday and called the MD. Normally that's considered out of my place but I want to cover all areas. They said they want to see her and I believe it will be a house visit. Today I spoke with the main housekeeper and I let her know that I cannot work like this. She insisted I wouldn't get in trouble, that none of us would. In the end she said she would find someone to replace me. I am going to email the daughter a copy of the letter I am giving to the mister. If I am missing anything please let me know. I want to tie any loose ends and make sure that I'm covered and that she is left under good care.

Here's hoping my luck with jobs hasn't run out.

0 Votes

I'm glad you gave us an update.

For all the legal things I am not sure if you should need to do anything else so I am hoping someone else might have the answers you need to that.

The main housekeeper apparently does not understand the reasons you are leaving. It is not just because of the pressure ulsers that you are leaving this job. It is because of the things that COULD happen in the future that could ruin your career. This won't effect her one bit in her job choice as a housekeeper, but it could you.

Also, I'm not saying that someone is going to get in trouble, but what makes her the fountain of knowledge and can be so sure someone couldn't get in trouble. Those type of sores do not magically appear over night. The household and cargivers need to learn a few things to do so that they can prevent these from happening again. You can do the right thing and be turning her every 2 hours as required, but if the other care givers and family are not doing it the prevention meassures your doing become usless. If they get educated on how to take care of a bed ridden person these type of things can be prevented.

If you do have any more communication with the family see if they can get some lambs wool. I had a client that was bed ridden for 2 to 3 years. He only would be up in a chair for about 1 to 2 hours and then back in bed. he never once got a ulcer or even a bed sore. All do to proper skin care from us care givers and his wonderful wife. We were there two different shifts a day that were 2 hours a shift. The rest of the time his wife did everything for him. He got a bed bath twice a day, and if his skin anywhere got the slightest red we would put bag balm on it. He also had a little lambs wool rug that his feet and ankles rest on and it worked great.

Good Luck in everything. I'm sure you'll be able to find something much better and wished you quit months ago

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment