A blessing in disguise?

[AtlantaRN, RN]

I'm just so upset right now, but I know I need to look at this as a blessing in disguise. I work for a national chain

hospice that has a local nursing home as a client. I was told by the facility social worker that "mrs jones has a hygiene problem since starting with hospice," now mrs. jones has been on service for 3 years. she is incontinent and gets a bedbath by our nursing aide twice a week. I would hope the nursing home would give her peri care on the days the home health aide is not there. Daughter insists that as of today patient receive a "shower" (although the patient hadn't been in a shower since middle of last year). I voiced concerns about safety. I got a call from the marketer asking me to increase nursing aide visits to three times a week for a shower, so against better judgement I changed the aide sheet. I got a call from my boss a short time ago stating that "another nurse" will have these patients as of tomorrow because of a "personality conflict" between me and the social worker at the nursing home. (my boss was nice about it...she said better to change nurses now than have us lose the account).

I've never had patients taken from me. I just cried and cried. What did I do wrong? I feel like i'm being punished and I didn't do anything wrong.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

linda

[Witiku]

It's not you.

Every nurse will have these things come by throughout a career.

It's likely just life throwing a curve ball to you.

Cry no more.

T

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

It's just public relations BS. I've seen it from both sides of a manager's desk, and I know where both you and your boss are coming from. Social workers at NH's are sometimes extremely controlling about what goes on outside their own little corner of the building. I've never understood how they get away with it; IMO, social services has no right to stick their noses in nursing business. (We have the same problem at my LTC, and frankly, when I'm on duty, the SW's "rules" about no-drinks-whatsoever-at-the-nurses'-station, and no-aides-sitting-there-during-breaks, are completely disregarded......that's the only way they can GET a break and stay hydrated. DUH.)

Anyway, try not to take this personally. That yo-yo at the NH is probably just on a power trip, and if it weren't you it would be somebody else. I guarantee it.

[AtlantaRN, RN]

Thank you for your kind words. What i have learned is it's more important for the customer to be happy than for the nurse to be right. What has ended up happening is another nurse is taking that nursing home, and i'm taking 4 of her home patients. It was actually the marketer that had my boss write for the nurses aide for shower 5 days a week.

I just get myself worked into a tizzy. I will gladly admit when I am wrong (and to my detrement apologize for something that isn't my fault--i'm just wired weird--everything is my fault). I just felt soooo bad. But today is a better day.

Although I left my lights on on my car, went to another nh to do an admission and had to call my hubby to jump start my car. at least I got to sit there for an hour and finish my paperwork LOL

i've got menopause brain right now... i'm a great nurse, but menopause brain is getting to me.

Thanks again

linda

[debblynn13]

We have been told that hospice is to supplement but not replace services given by the nursing home. So if the patient/client was getting a shower/bed bath 2 times a week prior to hospice then she still should be getting those baths as well as the ones your aide is giving. At least that is what my boss states medicare requires. I guess there could be exceptions I don't understand.

debblynn

[pammyf]

Golly, when you have to deal with a 3d party such as a nursing home, and the nursing home is trying to look good even though they are negligent of pericare, and dump that on as your responsibility it is quite pathetic. Changing a care plan to increase aide visits is appropriate but...I think the nsg home is remiss and they are using you as the fall back so the daughter will not blame them! Your boss/ and IDT should be made aware of this dynamic to reinforce you! ...take a deep breath and realize you were perfectly in the right.....

tell me more about menopause brain,,,i think i have it too but I do not exactly know which symptoms you are referring to: the dementia or the emotions!

[AtlantaRN, RN]

dementia AND emotions! It is EXACTLY as debblynn13 stated, the facility needed to provide that 1 extra bedbath a week (since 2007!!!!). IDT was today, and STILL to appease the social worker at facility, another nurse is taking my patients. At least NOW, I KNOW the truth! ((I called the charge nurse yesterday evening to just check on my patients, just a courtesy call and indeed she said that THEY were to provide that extra bed bath)).

Thanks again. Today is a much better day.

linda

[AtlantaRN, RN]

Thank you, pammyf, YES, I am the fall guy on this one for the nursing home. Marketer states my company was at risk for the nh going with another company. Everyone at IDT seemed to be actually nice to me yesterday, (that was different...usually the social worker and nurses aides seem to contradict alot of what I report...I have one patient that they swear speaks english, but i've never heard it...). this company is more concerned in what the social worker at the nh thinks, than supporting me. At least I know the truth!

linda