I am a RN at a LTC facility, I work night shift and am having issues with the new DON and her friends she brought with her from her prior facility. (She made them "managers" they are all LPNs except the DON). It starts with a resident who had a Foley replaced by myself and another nurse due to leaking, residents is a quad, and very contracted into almost a pretzel, anyways, me and other nurse inserted 1st attempt, urine return was good, and bag was full of yellow urine when I left at 630am. That day around 5pm, day nurse noted blood in bag (maybe aide repositioned, and tugged?) And he was sent to ER where he was admitted with UTI and hyperkalemia. Resident blamed myself, and long story short, hates my guts now. Literally left a scathing Google review speaking terribly of the staff, and openly voices his disdain for me to everyone. Well fast forward, new DON brought 2 managers and 5 charge nurses from her prior facility, the 1 LPN works days and started about a month ago, ever since she started, she has been vocal of her dislike and frustration having to give resident that hates me his daily enema (order was in place since his admit in January for day shift, now suddenly, he wants it nights and to be given by the nurse (myself) he hates according to DONs buddy) and the new UM (also Don friend) changed time to nights. Well, this resident does not want me around him more than giving him his medication which is fine, but now they're insisting I give him a nightly enema because nurse on days doesn't want to. Well, I voiced my concern having to do anything invasive to him following the Foley incident and fear he can say anything to get me in trouble and they pretty much told me too bad, first night I give it and he didn't go at change of shift so I told nurse in report and documented she was notified, next night he screams at me for "leaving him" for 2 hours and that the day nurse denied me telling her, well I apologize to him, and next day inform the manager he was upset. I receive a call later in the day from DON stating I "have" to meet with her (she's really mean and unapproachable) the manager and the RESIDENT regarding my "false documentation " my jaw dropped, I've worked here for 18 months, never been disciplined for anything, and now because this new group want to die on this hill I am at jeopardy?!? Remind you, I'm a RN with my BSN, the manager and other nurse re LPNs, which technically can't delegate to me. My thing is why not just put it backnto it's original time, that was in place for months until this new nurse started and didn't like it. I refused to meet with them, I asked for corporate HRs contact info and was denied by DON and HR. I got it from another nurse. Everytime I had to document a refusal on ANYONE I take a witness to see the refusal so this exact issue doesn't arise. I've filed a complaint with corporate compliance, my question is (finally) am I wrong here? I can't lose my job, I have 2 kids to raise and am a single mom! Please help if you can!
First, there are plenty of other places that would hire you.
As far as the resident, he has the right to refuse care from you or anyone else. It seems the reasonable thing would be to have social work set up a meeting w/him, you, the other nurses, the DON and med techs and with everyone present he can express who he is comfortable with giving him his meds, enema etc and who he is not & they then work around it.
It sounds like you REALLY need to protect yourself in this situation - if he is being untruthful, screaming at you or whatever - you need to limit ALL interaction with him and any interaction you have to have with him you need to ALWAYS have a witness.
In the mean time, FIND ANOTHER JOB. It's pretty obvious the new DON and her friends or whatever they are are quickly making the facility friendly to only some - its a battle you aren't going to win so save yourself and find somewhere else to work. Not worth the stress or the risk of them or this patient.
Marshall1
1,037 Posts
First, there are plenty of other places that would hire you.
As far as the resident, he has the right to refuse care from you or anyone else. It seems the reasonable thing would be to have social work set up a meeting w/him, you, the other nurses, the DON and med techs and with everyone present he can express who he is comfortable with giving him his meds, enema etc and who he is not & they then work around it.
It sounds like you REALLY need to protect yourself in this situation - if he is being untruthful, screaming at you or whatever - you need to limit ALL interaction with him and any interaction you have to have with him you need to ALWAYS have a witness.
In the mean time, FIND ANOTHER JOB. It's pretty obvious the new DON and her friends or whatever they are are quickly making the facility friendly to only some - its a battle you aren't going to win so save yourself and find somewhere else to work. Not worth the stress or the risk of them or this patient.