Night Shift Neglect.

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

The other day I was floated to med/surg to help out with charging. I ended up having a couple of patients, which was okay with me. At just before 8am I went in to assess one of my patients and realized he was laying in his own urine and feces. There was so much of it that it had migrated to his pillow and was on his head. The man had a diaper on, and was clueless as to his situation. This doesn't make it any better, but thank god he didn't realize the neglect that he experienced all night.

At that moment, I could absolutely not believe what I was seeing. I could not believe that this could happen in a place that I work. IT WAS SO DISGUSTING, it was outrageous. I was just speechless. I cleaned him up and during the process almost started crying. This cute little old man was smiling at me, and I almost cried. He was laying in his own waste all night. How could this be happening?

Then a little bit later, the day shift CNA came to me and said 5 other patients were very messy with BM's this morning. Some of them had dried feces on them. ALL OF THESE PT's belonged to the same night shift CNA.

At this point, I never want to see that night shift CNA again. I wrote her up, using facts, and left my emotions out... err.. I tried to. But I couldn't help to add a final sentence at the end of the page about how NO HUMAN should be treated like these patients were treated here in this hospital, and how I feel so angry that this happened to our patients.

I hope that something happens to this CNA. If nothing happens, I will not stop until something is done, hopefully she is severely disciplined or fired. She needs to know her job, and if she doesn't want to do it, she needs to leave and work somewhere so she can't harm these poor old people.

I'm sorry, I just had to vent. I had to get on here and tell my story. I am still in a state of disbelief.

Let me just add one thing... I spoke with the night shift charge and she said that this certain CNA was lazy and hardly worked at all. I just don't understand how it could get this bad, how could they let her be lazy and not say anything until something like this happened???

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Wow. I'm sorry you had to deal with that, but thank you for speaking up. I wonder if that floor has had a problem with tha tha NA in the past?

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

Yes, I found out AFTER this incident that they feel like she's "lazy" and doesn't do her job. I just don't understand why they didn't say anything before and why they let her get away with it.... and how it has developed into this neglect.. it is still mind blowing.

[britgirl37]

By what you've written, my first thought on reading this is that the RN had some responsibility in this too. If the pt was that bad, the smell would surely hit you when you entered the room. Did the RN not check on the pts during the night?

[justiceforjoy]

That's horrible that they know that she is a poor CNA... Seems like she's not the only one at fault here if they are keeping her on board!

Props to you for writing her up!

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

By what you've written, my first thought on reading this is that the RN had some responsibility in this too. If the pt was that bad, the smell would surely hit you when you entered the room. Did the RN not check on the pts during the night?

See, thats where I am still stunned. Did the nurse not go into the room to check the patient at all??? During the report I had asked if the patient had a bm during the night and the nurse said no. Obviously she didn't even go into the room and check, she was relying on the CNA..... I just don't understand,, still...

You are right, the RN is just as responsible for not going into the room---- it makes sense to me,, because if she HAD gone into the room, and even PEERED at the patient, she would have seen it.

[britgirl37]

If it was me I'd write the RN up as well.

[ncube]

IMHO, the RN as well as the CNA were responsible for the pt. If u write the CNA up, u should do same to RN/LVN or not do it at all. U can also call the CNA and hear what she has to say b4 d write up. Just my 2cents.

[cloister]

Doesn't surprise me.

I worked in a nursing home as a teenager before I went to nursing school. On 3-11 there were three aides, unless someone called in, which was often, and then there were two of us......for FORTY patients. I'd tear around like a chicken on steroids while the other aides sat in the nurse's station from 7 pm until 11 pm. Her patients weren't turned, or changed, or even looked at. There were no repercussions that I ever saw. It used to boggle my mind.

How could you live with yourself knowing that you left a helpless old person to lie in their own waste?

[RN1982]

I don't think the correct title for this thread is "Night shift neglect". How about patient neglected by RN and CNA? I'm sorry you had to deal with that but it happens on every shift, not just nights. I've walked into many disasters when working nights.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

If it was me I'd write the RN up as well.

IMHO, the RN as well as the CNA were responsible for the pt. If u write the CNA up, u should do same to RN/LVN or not do it at all. U can also call the CNA and hear what she has to say b4 d write up. Just my 2cents.

She was the RN, so she should write herself up? However, I agree that incontinent patients are indeed everyone's responsibility, not just the CNA. Maybe the CNA didn't know the patient was incontinent. That's doubtful since many incontinent patients were neglected that night. This CNA clearly doesn't have a conscience.

[lpnflorida]

I tend to agree it was not only the CNA who is responsible but also the nurse she was working under. A patient is to be checked on hourly most often it is alternated between the aide and the nurse. Between the two of them it should have been caught in a timely manner.

I will add. I had a patient last week, who the first day I was furious as they were soiled. I cleaned them up 10 minutes after I got out of report. Next day, this same patient had been soiled for the shift following me. We finally figured out this person needed to be toileted as his body just happened to be timed to go at our change of shifts. There after I or the aide would toilet him before going to report as would the next shift. No more huge accidents. This happened to be a patient unable to comprehend how to use the call light or make their needs known.