Are there any older nurses?

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2004

i'm "OLDER"

I'm going to be 60 in March.

I've been an RN for almost 38 yrs.

If a patient -in my state- refuses ANYTHING, even just vital signs, and we proceed to do this anyway, we can be arrested for assault.

If a patient refuses anything--we chart it; DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT!! of course, we can speak with the patient & try to get them to consent-- & yes we should do this. But never, ever just go ahead & do something if a patient refuses.

We can get the MD or other person's involved to talk with the patient.

If they are trying to let you go for being older or b/c you have physical problems--this is against the law.

You need a lawyer!! They have legal clinics if you can't afford one.

then, there is the power of the press--utilize them if you have to.

Mary Ann

Malt123 · Dec 31, 2004

I was afraid that I would only make matters worse if I went public. Nursing is my passion, unfortunately I have been used for the wrong reasons in it. You can't imagine what they can do if they find out you have a disability.

PamUK · Dec 31, 2004

Oh... I can imagine what they can do if they find out you have a disability. I am shocked at the way nurses are treated in the States!

But they cant have just found out surely? Are you not required to have a physical examination and screening with the Occupational Health Department before you were employed to ensure you were capable of carrying out the duties that were expected of you? If so, your physical disability would have been picked up then and an assessment made whether you were capable of carrying out nursing duties?

If your patient refused to have their vital signs taken, are you absolutely sure your subsequent actions were appropriate - did you try & persuade the patient at the time or go back a bit later on to try again? Did you inform your supervisor or the doctor or whatever the hospital protocol is? But most of all, did you document your actions? I hope so!

If your actions were appropriate, then this smacks of firing you because of your physical limitations. Has anyone complained about your physical limitations that you know of?

GET HELP... go public & get a lawyer!! Dont worry about the hospital's reputation or whatever, they are big enough & ugly enough to look after themselves. How can going public make it worse for you... you have been fired and cant get another job... Cant BE any worse

One successful case like this may make them think twice about treating another person in the same way!!!

mattsmom81 · Dec 31, 2004

I was fired once too (the old 'you can't quit you're fired' line) so I know how it feels. (((HUGS)) to you. I'm 50 and am currently not working as a nurse by choice...after struggling these past few years due to past injuries and depression RT chronic pain.

Right now you're feeling bad but when you get over the initial shock, and win your unemployment appeal and can reflect, try to put a different spin in your mind. I know right now this is hard.

Perhaps you were simply not a good fit at this facility. Other facilities may understand that...other managers understand a personality conflict and many will listen to an honest conversation about what happened, and what you learned from it.

Do you know nurses who will give you good references? Do you know some nurses or managers in other facilities? These can overshadow a negative facility reference in some manager's/HR's minds. It worked for me with the right people once I could have an honest and professional discussion of what happened leading up to the firing.

Can you do travel/agency nursing? Most agencies I know will give a nurse a chance if she has some good references to counter the bad. Mine did.

I know what you mean about word of mouth and blackballing as it goes on in my town too....my heart goes out to you. As we get older and develop health problems we can be seen as a risk to facilities and they will try to get rid of us unless we are indispensable. They create paper trails, etc...those of us who've been around awhile know how facilities get rid of 'problem nurses'.

Again, the challenge is find something we CAN do and then make ourselves indispensable. This may or may not be in nursing.

Anyway I'm rambling but you get the gist. Have you considered learning MSDS coordinating? This is a great career for someone with physical limitations in nursing...there are several nurses here learning this...check out our LTC forums and our specialty forums for ideas to spark your imagination.

Hope you win your unemployment appeal...that will buy you some time to consider your options. Ask your unemployment people for referrals to social services who might help you refocus your career.

You may qualify through your state rehab association for retraining if your disability is part of your unemployment. I know a nurse in Florida whose rehab association paid for her case management certifications...and they helped her get her social worker degree.

Don't be afraid to move in with your kids awhile...most kids are thrilled to help Mom out and repay her a bit...I was with mine and my kids love to do for me too.

PM if you want to talk. Lots of nurses in this forum who understand, and again (((HUGS))) to you.

bargainhound, RN · Dec 31, 2004

Lots of good advice has been given!

What state are you in?

Some of us can probably help you further.

Sharon

Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri (licenses)

bargainhound, RN · Dec 31, 2004

This is also a source...please, check it out.

http://www.nurseshouse.org/

Malt123 · Dec 31, 2004

The DON stated that a physical disability is no reason to get another position. I was attempting to get a supervisor position when all of this started. No I don't think that I charted that the pt refused on this day but I know I did on another occasion. There was just too much going on on that floor. An aid was retaliating because I wrote her up. She actually turned off a tube feed, took the bag off the pole and hung it upside down. Bed alarms would be disconnected after I had checked them. This was a LTC facility. Another aid was seen pushing an old lady into a chair and the woman was afraid of him, this was all reported to the DON and they supossedly investigated and found to be untrue, he still works there. A woman was put on hospice for CA her tumor was removed and the paper work stated that they got it all. The other nurse was a Phillipine and spoke broken English and I often had to answer calls from pharmacy, labs and drs. because they couldn't understand her. This ment going to her to figure out why she called and then go back and call these people back. I never minded a lot of this except it stopped me from doing my job. There was a lot more going on there. This is just a sample. I hope it doesn't sound too unimportant.

catlady, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2005

There was just too much going on on that floor. An aid was retaliating because I wrote her up. She actually turned off a tube feed, took the bag off the pole and hung it upside down. Bed alarms would be disconnected after I had checked them. This was a LTC facility. Another aid was seen pushing an old lady into a chair and the woman was afraid of him, this was all reported to the DON and they supossedly investigated and found to be untrue, he still works there. A woman was put on hospice for CA her tumor was removed and the paper work stated that they got it all. The other nurse was a Phillipine and spoke broken English and I often had to answer calls from pharmacy, labs and drs. because they couldn't understand her. This ment going to her to figure out why she called and then go back and call these people back. I never minded a lot of this except it stopped me from doing my job. There was a lot more going on there. This is just a sample. I hope it doesn't sound too unimportant.

No, it sounds like they did you a favor by firing you. Would you really have been happy to stay in such a place?

Take the advice others have given you; get references from friendly co-workers instead of your DNS. If you've been a nurse for 24 years, and you only worked at that SNF for a year, then you should have other employer references, too. As long as they're not threatening your nursing license, you should be ok.

I'm sure you know there are many jobs in nursing that don't require physical strength or agility. Look for one of those.

Malt123 · Jan 1, 2005

This place tried to put a wander gaurd on an alert and oriented pt. It seemed like I was always in a battle for these patients.