Banned from facility need advice

[Leah R]

For the past year I have worked for a home health company giving insulin injections to elderly clients. I visited these people sometimes three times a day as they received shots with each meal. I have grown to care deeply for a few of them and since quiting the company I work for have been banned from visiting these residents.

I knew when I started there that the RN who was in charge at my former company wasn't very well liked but went ahead with the job. I did fine for while but realized she had been "throwing me under the bus" for a while. I was unsure how I kept getting in trouble (as I call it) she always said she fixed it but she was really bashing me the whole time. I am highly loved by the residents that I cared for and they never liked her even before I worked there.

Recently after finally quiting the company, I went to visit my favorite of the residents to wish them happy easter and was told I had been banned from the assisted living facility by the home health company since I was accused of talking badly about the company and the RN to the clients. They actually said are you aloud here? followed me in and asked me to leave. I Said why cant I visit these people? After I got emotionally upset ( I tear up when I am angry) she said I should just leave.

I am a nice christian girl and am very upset about being treated like a piece of crap.

Anyway the question is:

Can an assisted living facility keep me from visiting past clients of mine who are like family just because I quit working at the company? Did I mention these people have asked me to visit them too!!!

Thanks Leah

[caliotter3]

Anyone or anybody can ban anyone or anybody from the premises. If you have been told to stay away, for you to continue to go onto that property is putting yourself at risk for arrest and charges of trespass.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

You had a professional relationship with these clients, thus had access to visiting facility. Once you terminated your employment, reason for being on ALF property ended.

Patients are paying for assisted living services which include supervision of meds. In tristate Philly area, ALF facility staff LPN "Wellness nurse" or med tech administers insulin SQ as permitted by state regs; Florida is heavily abusing Medicare regs having home health RNs visit ALF's 3x day for insulin injections.

Some facilities have too cozy a relationship with Home Health agency re med administraion tasks/home health aide that facility should be providing, thus depedence on each other to protect each others reputation.

That said, HH agencys are within their rights to inform facility of staff no longer assigned to work there due to no longer working for company. This prevents patients from being exploted from unscrupulous employees-- many frail forgetful elderly who just love attention showered on them by visit staff would sign away on visit forms for care not actually provided. ALF facility therefore are within their rights to deny access.

Flip side is that ALF residents have rights too and when mentally intact, can choose who they wish visiting them---need to inform ALF staff they desire visits from you. A simple explanation that you were just stopping by for Easter visit, may have granted you access or still being denied. It's hard to break emotional bonds from clients you've visited long term, but needs to be done for your and clients benefit, otherwise stepping over professional boundaries.

[elkpark]

Just cut your losses and walk away -- trying to pursue this any further can only go badly for you.

Best wishes!

[KateRN1]

This month's Home Healthcare Nurse Journal has an excellent article on maintaining professional boundaries.

[AmPmRnoncall]

Maintaining professional boundaries is very hard but very important to protect yourself and your license. I'm sorry this happened to you but for the sack of you livelihood..stay away... Sometimes the worst professionals are the worst reporters the the state boards of nursing. Again i am sorry this is happening too you.

[Isabelle49]

Your agency is making sure you don't take your clients with you!