overheard a CNA badly verbally abusing an elderly patient

You can always report this to the state BON, as CNAs are just as accountable as nurses. And if the facility allows the CNA to continue in this fashion, I'd report it to your state's senior and disabled services agency........anonymously, of course.........who knows what else is going on when the powers that be are looking the other way?

WOW, you are in a tough spot.

My experience was sort of like yours. I witnessed sexual abuse. I was with the nurse. This particular nurse asked me to help her with a procedure. She did not know how to insert a foley cath. So me being the nicey nurse and always willing to help my peers decided to help her. Mind you, we work the night shift. So I took time out of my busy schedule to help her. It was about 4 am when she decided to do this procedure. I did have a witness with me. A cna asked if we needed some assistance. I said yes. As we positioned the elderly lady, I draped her of course. This nurse who asked me to help her was not only holding the light near her private area, she was also stroking her clitoris up and down as though she was stroking a kitty cat, no joke. I did not get to put that foley in because I could not believe what I say. The cna who was holding her leg apart looked at me and turned her head. To make this long story short. I got fired! I got fired for not reporting the incident STAT! I should have did what my first mind told me to do. Stop and call the DON. NO, I went back to my unit and finished up my work, because I was behind schedule helping her. We worked 12 hour shifts at the place. I was also picking up an extra shift helping out. And I got fired! Always follow your first mind. Even if it put you off schedule a little bit.

The good thing about the incident. I can go back to the facility to work. The termination is for a year. I have 4 months left. by the way we did have to make statements on paper of the events that took place. And the cna did too. I do not know what else happened to that nurse. I just don't ever want to see her again!

I did report it immediately, I called another Nurse from another floor and exspressed my concern, we called the ADON at home, and she said to send the CNA home immediately, and write down what happened, this CNA from what I understand has been reported before by other Nurses for the same thing,, it was night shift, and the Cna was called in the next day along with the other witness that heard her, I understand,, they told this CNA she only had 3 days off, and it bothers me because this is patient abuse, and I immediately reported it, I have a license to protect,, what bothers me the most is: Other Nurses told me the facility doesn't do much, and actually listen to CNA's over Nurses. I am very concerned about this. She has deliberately shut lights off on me while I am passing meds, and also I put that in writing, prior to the verbal abuse I heard , the week before she had to be written up, nothing was done then either. I need answers, I will not let one of my CNA's abuse one of my elderly patients, and yet the facility is not doing anything. I always thought, you abuse a patient ,, you get fired. As I said this is not her first write up for this. She had the patient crying all night, and I would like to know what to do. Thanks

I reported the incident the same day but later on when I was at work that evening. I had to go home and rest. When I woke up and rested I realized that stuff did happen. I was so tired that night that stuff happened I just wanted to go home and get some sleep. The shift was 6pm-6am.

I went home to sleep knowing I had to pull a 12 hour shift. And because I chose my rest over reporting it. I would have had to stay over and everything. I was thinking about getting my kids to school and my family first. I did not want to stay over that particular morning.

Thanks for pointing that out to me Moogie.