[squeakykitty]

Originally Posted by Don3218

Yes, you are correct. They should make you run, run, run right out the door and never look back. You have a license to protect...

I feel so sorry for the residents there. I'd be reporting that facility to the appropriate people. Yesterday.

It sounds like this place really needs to be reported to the labor board, ombudsman, state, maybe even the BON where appropriate. If they ask people to work off the clock, they are probably seriously cutting corners on resident care. I hope the OP gives us an update.

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by Suesquatch

I have to say, while we were always over-worked, we were never, in any facility, asked or expected to do anything dangerous orillegal.

Sue, I have to disagree with you here.Having been in the dungeons for almost 29 years, may have given me the opportunity to see more of this than you one year in LTC.On a daily basis nurses are asked to chart in a way that hides info from state, as evidenced by not using "flag" words, or outrightly being told to with hold certain statements from the nurses note altogether, or even worse being told to rewrite with false statements, certain legal documents including but not exclusive of nurses notes.

Chart parties, before state comes in( how do they always seem to know when they are coming?).Management KNOWS full well that staff cannot finish a med pass within the alloted times IF done by the book, and many other practices that are unsafe if not illegal.It happens on a DAILY basis,and we are told pretty frankly that we are to act as an agent for the employer and be complicit in these practices, or face the consequences of retaliatory discharge.

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by squeakykitty

It sounds like this place really needs to be reported to the labor board, ombudsman, state, maybe even the BON where appropriate. If they ask people to work off the clock, they are probably seriously cutting corners on resident care. I hope the OP gives us an update.

This type of reporting comes with the very real possibility of retaliatory discharge, I speak of this because this has happened to me and I am now involved in litigation with my former employer a LTC corporation.I think it takes a very strong committed person to do this, it is a long process and most who sue are consequently blackballed from ever working as a nurse again. It has been worth it to me and not a day goes by that I regretted my decision. There are laws in many states that protect the whistle blower from retaliatory discharge and gives that person legal recourse to sue.

http://medi-smart.com/whistleblower-protection.htm

[GoLytely]

mmm

Originally Posted by eldragon

The facility I work at wants everything : speedy gonzales on roller skates, ready and able to pass hundreds of drugs that are constantly being changed - from a MAR that has sheets falling out of it - and a med cart that is never stocked from the previous shift - and sometimes running low on medicines to boot;

and take everyone's vital signs, including temps and O2's, and pass a copy of it to them when we're finished;

and call the pharmacy and doctor whenever there is a question about anything;

and move our patients to their rooms to give them Lovenox shots, or meds in their feeding tubes, when we are already way behind schedule;

and document every thing we do and see throughout the day;

and do it with a huge smile on our face at all times;

and do it through our unpaid lunch if need be, and not become dehydrated or bitter at working off the clock.

It's hard to be all those things.

You summed it all up right there.

[iceyspots]

if enough nurses speak up by not working at these places they will eventually have to cave in somehow!

[GoLytely]

Originally Posted by ingelein

Sue, I have to disagree with you here.Having been in the dungeons for almost 29 years, may have given me the opportunity to see more of this than you one year in LTC.On a daily basis nurses are asked to chart in a way that hides info from state, as evidenced by not using "flag" words, or outrightly being told to with hold certain statements from the nurses note altogether, or even worse being told to rewrite with false statements, certain legal documents including but not exclusive of nurses notes.

Chart parties, before state comes in( how do they always seem to know when they are coming?).Management KNOWS full well that staff cannot finish a med pass within the alloted times IF done by the book, and many other practices that are unsafe if not illegal.It happens on a DAILY basis,and we are told pretty frankly that we are to act as an agent for the employer and be complicit in these practices, or face the consequences of retaliatory discharge.

It's a no-win situation. I was lucky enough to work for a small nursing home where the DON was sympathetic to our plight. It is a game and we knew what to do when the state was there. I don't feel ashamed because silly ritualistic formalities did nothing to enhance patient care and in fact only took away from time with the patients. So, we all played the game when those buzzards walked through the door with their clip boards.

Hope I never have to go back to the nursing home.

[eldragon]

There are so many "evils" involved in nursing home care.

First - there is the disease process that takes away the persons ability to live independently and with dignity.......

next - the family who can't take care of the person - because of so many reasons that didn't and still don't exist in many other cultures where family takes care of their own..............

then the facilities that are, of course, for profit - and the often greedy owner in the background - looking at the bottom line..........

the nurses who hopefully go into the profession for the right reason - but sometimes eventually become frustrated from overwork and many other reasons. You are only one person, after all.

The CNA's who do the almost thankless job of bathing and toileting often ungrateful and sometimes downright mean patients - day in and day out - and do not get paid enough, and have little or no job security....

and finally - the patient again, who often doesn't seem to recognize how much they are putting the entire staff through. It's easy to see that they are hurting in many ways, but again - you can only do so much to help. You didn't put them there.

And really, the list goes on and on.

[OldMareLPN]

I would like to thank everyone for their comments. In all cases you have validated my concerns.

After receiving a warning for complaining, I immediately gave my written notice. I am outta there!

Every day I try to remember the excitement I felt when I passed my boards. Every day I try to remember the lectures from my nursing instructors how to do the six rights, protect patients safety, and validate my own work as I work.

I would like to think this experience has made me a better nurse, knowing that my concerns, based upon nursing within my scope and correctly has brought me to this point.

It is quite possible I am not made to be a LTC nurse. Perhaps my standards are too inflexible, and I refuse to put the patient less than number one. So be it, I will continue to make my contribution as the doors open and as I am led to.

Your comments, again, have been so important to me (and perhaps to other lurkers now or in the future). What a great way to support each other in our tasks......and ultimately our patients we serve.

Hugs to you all,

OldMareLPN.

[squeakykitty]

Originally Posted by ingelein

This type of reporting comes with the very real possibility of retaliatory discharge, I speak of this because this has happened to me and I am now involved in litigation with my former employer a LTC corporation.I think it takes a very strong committed person to do this, it is a long process and most who sue are consequently blackballed from ever working as a nurse again. It has been worth it to me and not a day goes by that I regretted my decision. There are laws in many states that protect the whistle blower from retaliatory discharge and gives that person legal recourse to sue.

http://medi-smart.com/whistleblower-protection.htm

I've always figured that a person can always find another job or career, but the residents can't always change their circumstances or find a different caregiver if they're in a bad place, especially if they are bed bound. I did write an article on Allnurses about this.
http://allnurses.com/forums/f300/no-...es-264814.html

[Rexie68]

Originally Posted by iceyspots

if enough nurses speak up by not working at these places they will eventually have to cave in somehow!

I don't know about other places, but where I live, they're pumping out LPNs left and right. I can't imagine that the nurses who quit won't be replaced, because right now LPNs are begging for jobs. I just hang in there and do my best, hoping that I make a difference for the positive.