Are all newer nurses scape goats?

[kambra]

i feel and have felt that i and other "new" nurses are scape goats for management.

here is the looong story!! i worked a double yesterday. all was well. i have worked there not quite a year but close. half way through my day i get 3 new admits. then my manager calls me into the don office. they have written me up for an admit i did on last week. they say i didnt chart a stage two on the buttocks, i only charted the heal and bruises. she asked if i really did the assessment, i stated i did. the aide and daughter were in there with me. she then says well you know we have had issues with skin assessments with you before.

brief history...months ago i came into work with a write up for not doing a skin assessment that was scheduled to do. i did actually do the assessment but didnt initial it. so i took the write up because if it were not signed it wasnt done right. prior to this i have never even had a verbal or talking to aobut this. then three days later i got a call to come in and work from 7 p to 11p, i did it. well the nurse that worked from 7a to 7p that i relieved didnt do any of the 3 skins that were due that day, so i did get two of them done along with my charting, the third was not done. they wrote me up, still had not talked to the person writing me up. two days later, i got sent home at 7p due to low census. i didnt know about this till 6:30. well again there was 2 skins due, i made sure one of them was done and passed or endorsed the next one to the nurse finishing the afternoon shift. well i recieved a write up when i returned to work for the skin not being done. i spoke to the mgr about it and they said ok they would take care of it. so i really only was responsible for one of them.

so yesterday when she said "we have had issues before with skin and you" really ****** me off. anyhow, i supposidly missed this stage two (1 by 2) however the next am the nurse did her daily skin and wrote off. skin clean dry and intact, with a scab on the heal, exactly what i seen!! then the next afternoon they ordered cream for this wound that the aide found. the mgr went and crossed out my daily skin assessment and changed the braden scale by making my 2's into 3's so it would be a weekly skin instead of daily and added the stage two to my assessment. i went back into the don's office to talk to her about this but she was gone for the day. now i have to wait till tuesday to talk to her.

now i dont know if i should bring this all up because it involves my mgr and i dont want back lash or if i should just go and try to defend my case of the following nurse not seeing the stage 2. i like my job but i dont stick up for myself and i think they have caught on to this. i am worried that my job is in jeapordy due to skin issues that i am not even responsible. i also dont want to rock the boat so much that everyone hates me.

i am very anxious about this and dont know how far to take it. my husband is laid off and i can not afford to lose my job. please help!!!!! if you have any ideas or something similar let me know how you resolved it. oh and let me add i hate conflict.

[kambra]

well here is the update.....I have had two talkings with DON and mgr. Mgr talked to the next day nurse who is a awesome experienced nurse whom did the skin assessment, and did NOT SEE THE WOUND. The mgr and don said the write up stays because she can not accept a "aquired". We went 3 months with no wounds and now this is like 3 or 4 this month. The mgr says, she knows they were there because the CNA said they were. I asked her if she seen them herself. She said she seen them with the other mgr the next am. The mgr wouldnt even turn around and look at me. I told them both at the same time that I do not agree with it and dont understand why I, LPN and another seasoned admission nurse RN can do a skin assessmetn and see nothing then a CNA can say it was there. adn that is it. I told them that I was not going to sign that and that I would like to attach a statement with it as to the reason that I do NOT agree.

After venting to a couple nurses, I have heard so many things that majority of our nurses are very upset about. And the top 5 reason are always the same. The term walking on eggshells seems to be a theme. I asked why they personally have not done anything. Their reason are the same as mine, we need our jobs. I do not believe the "higher ups" or owner know how we are being treated. I would love to do something but as I stated I need my job.

Oh and DON said she does not condone the adding to or changing my documentation and she would take it up with the person whoom done it.

[A_Simp]

The mgr says, she knows they were there because the CNA said they were. I asked her if she seen them herself. She said she seen them with the other mgr the next am. The mgr wouldnt even turn around and look at me. I told them both at the same time that I do not agree with it and dont understand why I, LPN and another seasoned admission nurse RN can do a skin assessmetn and see nothing then a CNA can say it was there.

I would add that the CNA is making a "Nursing Assessment" and is part of the "Nursing Process" which according to most state's licensing boards would be a voiloation considering the CNA would be practicing out of their "scope of practice."

See if that helps!

[kambra]

excellent point!!!

I am writing up a statement today to add.

I just hope they are NOT trying to get rid of me.

[A_Simp]

Also, at my facility, I have to go through annual compentencies including skin care. Not sure if the CNAs have the same requirements.

Stick to your guns and good luck!