Aren't ADON's here to help...?

[CloudySue]

I work in a SNF, been there almost a year after graduating last August. I am pretty good at what I do and have developed a reputation for being cheerful, helpful, and cooperative with coworkers and supervisors. I work on one floor nearly all of the time, but once a week I am on a different floor. This week on this floor, we had two new admits, both with IV antibiotics that had to be given at 9a. I am not certified in IV administration, and when I come across this in the MAR, I usually have no problem getting somebody to help me. Meanwhile, I have been periodically (since my hiring, actually) asking to be certified, to which I am told that "We have a class coming up soon, we'll get you certified!"

The problem I faced this week is: our new administrator decided she could save a LOT of money by ensuring that all of us hourly employees punch out on time. Anyone clocking out late will get a write-up. Unfortunately, the day before my IV dilemma, this new rule was enforced for the first time, and several veteran nurses got written up, including the other LPN on my floor. (We all feel that this clock-out rule is dangerous, with nurses forced to leave before their work is thoroughly taken care of, dumping it on the next shift, but that's a whole other vent.) So when I went to my co-worker to ask her to administer the IVs for me, she responded (and I totally understand why people are doing this), "I can't help you. I need to be sure I get my own work done before I clock out, so I can't stop for anyone." Every nurse in the facility had the same attitude and refused to help. I had to go to the floor ADON for help, who called down for a nurse on a different floor to do it. (And that nurse was MAAAAD...) (BTW, the IV's finally went up at 10:15.) But... when it was time to unhook the IV's from the PICC lines, I couldn't get a soul to help again. So I went to the ADON again. She was silent and said nothing. Later when my women were STILL hooked up (about 45 min. after the pumps shut down) I asked her again (respectfully and nicely) to please disconnect and flush for me. She hauled me into the Med room, and admonished me for being so "annoying" with this, that she was in charge of TWO floors today because of another ADON's vacation and very busy, and that I need to solve this problem myself. I explained to her that because of this new policy, teamwork around here is non-existant, and the work environment has instantly become toxic. I told her it is not fair that these women have to sit around with tubing hooked up to them, and that I'm going to HER about it because I'm having trouble doing my job and I'm JUST asking for a bit of help here. Plus I reminded her that I've asked several times to get IV cert. She let me leave the room with no resolution to the problem, but she sure wasn't going to do it. I thought it ironic that in the time she took to talk to me about it, she could have flushed two PICCs easily.

So after I told the LPN who originally turned me down that I was hauled in and chewed out for being "annoying" about this, she felt bad and helped me out.

Later I went up to this ADON again, and asked very ernestly, "So what do I do on Tuesday to give these women their IV's then?" Her response: "I don't know. I'm going to be on vacation." My response, very cheerfully as if I just got a great idea: "I know... I'll just ask _______ (ADON from my own floor). I've always been able to depend on her when I've needed help." (My regular ADON was on vacation when all this went down, or else I would have gone to her from the start!)

[Leelee2]

'' (We all feel that this clock-out rule is dangerous, with nurses forced to leave before their work is thoroughly taken care of, dumping it on the next shift, but that's a whole other vent.) So when I went to my co-worker to ask her to administer the IVs for me, she responded (and I totally understand why people are doing this), "I can't help you. I need to be sure I get my own work done before I clock out, so I can't stop for anyone." Every nurse in the facility had the same attitude and refused to help. I had to go to the floor ADON for help, who called down for a nurse on a different floor to do it. (And that nurse was MAAAAD...) """

Nothing like some great teamwork...wow! That ADON with attitude NEEDS to take a Permanent Vacation. Unbelievable...Not setting a very positive example for the rest of the staff. Overwork, and lack of teamwork, and punching out on time(not even really possible most days in SNF-trust me, I Want to leave on time! But almost always have charting or duties to finish up before i leave work)

are the issues here. Can you approach the DON with these issues? Or administ.?

And to be told "being annoying" after that amount of time, when u are trying to be an advocate for your patient, well...that is just very unacceptable. I understand that she was busy too, but being the ADON, she should be able to prioritize and delegate!! Sounds like it is becoming a horrible place for patients, as well as nursing staff...

[sasha2lady]

i wonder how she wouldve felt if one of those ladies was her mom or grandma?

she needs a reality check big time.

[systoly]

Document carefully. e.g... date, time infusion of IV ATB complete, situation discussed with ADON in med room, ADON aware of required flush and disconnect. In other words don't chart anything that directly incriminates the ADON, but chart very specifically when, where and how the ADON was aware of the situation and intervention required. Alternatively, you could say," I will try to solve this myself and documentation will reflect your awareness of the situation."