overheard a CNA badly verbally abusing an elderly patient

Hi, This is cyndi_1985. I am extremely upset. I need some professonal advice ASAP. As most of you have read I posted a concern about a CNA that verbally abused a patient , I reported the incident as soon as it happened. There was another witness who also verifed what happened. Last friday I went to work,, this CNA was never reprimanded, and I wrote a 2 page write up on her, as the Nurse in Charge. On Friday, she was very defiant towards me, she refused to put a resident to bed who had fallen asleep in the day room, {he had just returned from the state hospital, was total care, had to be T&R Q 2 hours, incontinent} I asked the Cna to please put him to bed. She said "NO, he is sleeping in that chair" I asked her 3 times, and she still refused, {she was the only CNA on my shift all night to 20 residents} so, I am not really sure what she did to me, but I was off the week end, and got a call from my DON Monday, she said she wanted me to come in to speak with her at 1:00 pm,, I told her I was going to call her anyway due to this Cna's behavior on Friday night, she asked what the CNA had done, so I told her, it was not just not putting the resident to bed, it was being very defiant to me the whole night, {as though she had me for reporting the abuse, and not being repremanded} she had another CNA from the 2nd floor constantly coming down to our floor all night, and they were making snood comments to me, going outside to smoke, etc,, infact I left there in tears, knowing the facility had actually given them the okay to over rule me as the Nurse in Charge,, anyway, when I went in to speak to the DON, and the ADON, they told me I was fired. I was dumbfounded, I had done nothing wrong, I had been professional, and they told me they were firing me becasue the residents were not getting their 8pm medications from me until midnight. I told them that was not true at all, and that they were finished being medicated at approximately 9:00 pm every night, {they also make you START YOUR 8PM MEDS THERE AT 6PM}I in no way ever gave residents 8pm meds at 12 midnight, and they said the residents had complimed that their meds were not given to them until then,,,, this is a down rright lie. There is no resident in that facility that even has any sense of time, and as I said the meds were always given by 9:00pm. The 2 Cna's on Friday night, definately had it in for me, and I don't know what they could have made up to get me fired, I am at wits end, supporting 23 children, no job now because I reported abuse, and I don't know what to do. My License was on the line if I would not have reported it. From what I understand 2 years ago {I was not employed there then} a CNA took nude cell phone pictures of a resident in the shower, circulated them on the internet,, was reported and never fired either,, until someone from the outside called State, they came in investgated then the Cna was fired. Also, the facility does not make Nurses keep their CPR up to date, I was the only Nurse on nights that had an updated CPR. I know I am going to have to report this, but then will I not be able to get a job anywhere? Now, I have to try to find a job at least 40 miles from where I live, because this is a small town, and there are no jobs here, I called yesterday to every nearby place I could, and no one in this town is hiring. I am ready to give up Nursing, I am severely depressed because I only was looking out for the residents, and I am the one that was fired. This is hard for me to even write. If anyone wants to know the name of the place I am not ashamed to give it. I have been a Nurse for 30 years and have NEVER ran into this. I have never been fired from a job,, I am so upset. What are they telling this CNA? That it was okay to abuse a resident, and over ride a Charge Nurse? Do Cna's get to boss Nurses? I always worked in New York,, this is a very laid back town in Southern Indiana, I am scared to even go to work as a Nurse around here. The facility from what I understand {as I said has been investigated before} Please if anyone has any info let me know. I have been crying, and actually physically ill for doing my job, and getting fired over it. It is insane, and not legal. They lied, I was a good Nurse there. Cyndi Thank you

I am sorry, I put down I was supporting 23 kids,, no I am so upset, I am supporting 3 kids. I really need advice though, I just don't know what to do, I was clearly set up, I was doing my job, and was fired. Please if someone could help, I need to work, and as I said am I going to get a job? Am I going to be black balled for reporting abuse? I am so sick over this. How could they get away with it?

I don't carry Malpractice insurance though, I only carried that when I was doing Private Duty care. I don't know what to do because I have been so humiliated I would not want that job back anyway, but I did think the labor board or someone could do something, should I call an attorney? I know those 2 CNA's had to have said something very bad about me,, I never ever was still passing meds at midnight from 8pm meds, what a lie. It was the excuse the facility chose to use to fire me,, they knew I knew too much that was going on there, plus they knew they were wrong NOT terminating a CNA that abused a patient. Something to me sounds very fishy, I re checked every bit of paper work I ever did there before leaving, and took very good care of the residents, and was very professional. I am just so hurt to be accused of something I never did, and fired. TY for answering me.

I tried to E mail you but I can't. TY so much for the advise. I am kind of just in shock today,, I would like to talk to you. I think I can't E mail you because I am not a premium member. IDK, but it just didn't work, and right now without a job I can't pay to be a premium member,, I am giving you my E mail address, so Please E mail me, I don't care who sees it, I would like to talk to another Nurse that is concerned for me. I Thank you so much. here is my E mail,, oI will E mail you back, >>> cjbrant84@gmail.com. Thanks again!