I'm in a bit of a predicament. I work on a ventilation unit. There's a very large female resident on ventilation. Somewhat young. Alert and oriented. Just started speaking today. Wednesday she claims I said something about a number regarding her weight as in "7 people in 1" or maybe it was like "5 people in 1". I don't really know. I don't remember saying anything about it. That day and that event that happened allegedly, me and an LPN were trying to reposition her. When she was first admitted, we had 4 CNAs at all times when it came to things like changing her, repositioning, bed bath, etc. A few days later she all of a sudden went down to 2 CNAs. I understand I can't just pout and disagree with it, but to me it's a safety issue if there's 2 CNAs when doing something with her to get comfortable instead of 4. I think she's like beyond 400 lbs. I told the LPN like 4 times "I want more help" or "I want 3 people or 4 people" both in front of her, and outside her room. The LPN I worked with that run is energetic and motivated. He's a cool dude, but pressed for time. He kind of just blew it off and instead tried to encourage me to pull her up with him, both of us on opposite ends. I was irritated, but I can't recall myself ever saying anything about her weight. I don't see why I even would considering it has no importance to my job. Tonight, an hour or two before the end of my shift and before her mother left, I was escorted outside as house sup, mother, and lead CNA all talked about it and off the property as there will be an investigation Monday. I don't know what will happen, but I did document 4 pages worth of my side. She was able to speak today and she says I did in fact say something that hinted at her being big, but I don't see why I would because that's just straight rude. I apologized to both her and her mom when they were in there together. The mom didn't want to write a report, but the daughter (patient) did. Now the ombudsman is going to come in and investigate. Am I 100% guaranteed to lose my job and license even though I don't remember saying anything like that? Or could both sides (state and facility) say ok we'll let it slide once, but that's it? I've always been nice to her whether her mom was there or not, always greeted her, always had no issue with helping others who interacted with her like a nurse or CNA. I never turn down a request for help if someone needs it, except financially. Me and the LPN that were in that room were involved and we're both going to be investigated. Also, could this affect me going into nursing school? I was told by my house supervisor who is a really good RN that this could ban me from working in the healthcare field period, but I don't know if that's a little exaggerating. Also, I was told in CNA school that I think in Nevada, if you mess up in one area of certification so bad you can never hold that title, that it won't affect other titles. I'm not trying to intentionally get fired or lose my certification, but it took two days for the pt to find somebody to report it, but I can't remember ever saying it. What I documented I did remember doing and would do in a scenario that needed it, but I never mentioned that I said something to point at her weight because why would I? I took my test for nursing school and I might get accepted, why would I want to go downhill?
We definitely are not qualified over the Internet to diagnose and per terms of service we can't give medical advice. I am simply stating an opinion that has no medical bearing and should not be construed as a diagnosis or medical advice beyond that to seek out assistance in sorting out what appears to be a very complicated time in Beldar's life.
You are absolutely right, hence why I said "symptoms of" and didn't definitively state a diagnosis. Just made an observation.
If this is how you speak to your colleagues, you will never make it as a nurse; for that matter, you won't be successful in any profession unless you can manage to go straight to CEO, have no clients to please, and don't have a board of directors to answer to. It doesn't matter if their nursing practice needs improvement-there is no up side for communicating in that manner and you will NEVER get anywhere behaving like that. If you can't do a better job of conflict resolution, perhaps YOU don't belong in this field.
As already noted, you will run into slackers in any field you go into. Speaking like that to your peers and to those to whom you have to report is not only unprofessional-it's incredibly foolish, EVEN IF YOU ARE CORRECT in the gist of the issue.
Perhaps you could use some anger management classes. It would be a good idea to read a book like How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie. I can assure you that the way to get people to do what you want them to, the way to get people to help you, the way to manage a conflict of interests, and the way to gain respect does not involve cursing at people and questioning why they make more money than you.
What you wrote in bold isn't what I directly said to them. I didn't put that down. I wish I could say it to them, but I don't talk to any of my colleagues like that knowing they'll throw a temper tantrum over a reality check.
What you wrote in bold isn't what I directly said to them. I didn't put that down. I wish I could say it to them, but I don't talk to any of my colleagues like that knowing they'll throw a temper tantrum over a reality check.
Okay, when you put something between quotation marks, it means that it is a literal representation of what you said. ?
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
On 5/13/2019 at 11:30 AM, Beldar_the_Cenobite said:
I view this as a criminal complaint against me. Maybe I'm wrong and it's not that. I don't know. I don't know what a criminal complaint would be like. I don't do drugs, I don't steal from patients or from facilities, I don't hit patients, I always try to be really down to earth with some of the residents. Once I informed a patient who was having trouble with BM that if he lays in the fetal position, holds his legs up against his chest to make a squatting like position, he could release better. He told me it works. Every time he had his call light on to be changed, he thanked me for telling him how to release easier. I don't know if this is considered a misdemeanor or felony, but I am truly mortified and daunted by the venomous feeling of guilt and that I will never get to work as a CNA again or get into nursing school. I feel like it's that strict. Like one chance is all you get. Like nursing is a risky death trap for easy unemployment where all your opportunities you had are gone because you were frustrated at the lack of help you were getting and may have said something that the patient took the wrong way or what you were trying to professionally tell your supervisor who was doing your job while you were busy you were helping to remind him in the future when he wants help for that patient.
Whoa!! Where in the original post, or any others posts does criminal offense come into play? We’re the police involved and have you been charged with a crime? Me thinks you exaggerate a bit sir
Two people should NOT be lifting or moving 400 lbs, whether it be a person or thing. I would watch what you say in ear shot of patients because I'm sure it would offend anyone hearing that even if they know they're heavy. You should've stood your ground with the lpn or gone to the Rn if nothing was done. I understand you want to be friends with people but it's dangerous to move someone who is that big. My back hurts constantly from lifting and I'm only 30.
I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you, you have a certification not a license. And I do not think the abuse will be founded especially if you discuss with the facility, not allowing you proper staff, and risking your health.
On 5/13/2019 at 12:32 PM, CapeCodMermaid said:
To the person who said "you shouldn't have apologized", I disagree. If the patient was offended whether you purposely offended her or she took something you said in the wrong way, apologizing is the thing to do. Read the book by the malpractice attorney-I can't remember the title- but he is quite convincing that the number of malpractice suits goes down in the patient gets an apology.
I had a patient accuse me of being rude and saying "I don't want her on my floor." What I said was, "I don't want her on THE floor." She had already fallen 4 times in less than 2 weeks. I was very direct with her and repeated what I said. I said I was sorry if she misunderstood. She was fine and all was well.
cape, reread my post. I said you can be conciliatory without apologizing. apologizing contains the admittance of guilt. DO NOT GO THERE.
Your goals, dreams etc have nothing to do with the situation Beldar. So no, they will absolutely not consider any if that if you acted in a way that makes patients or their families feel less than well cared for.
90% of communication is nonverbal. That means only 10% of what you actually say matters. The rest is all tone, inflection, body posture, hand gestures, eye contact and the like. Nobody is fooled when someone is angry or resentful. It is very very easy to see it.
and oft willfully misinterpreted by the person wishing to be a victim.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
1 hour ago, CapeCodMermaid said:
An apology is not an admittance of guilt especially if someone misunderstood something that was said.
An apology is a good way of showing you care and take patient comfort seriously. It's good damage control to have done before you get investigated. But do not repeatedly apologize to the same person. That does no good.
Whoa!! Where in the original post, or any others posts does criminal offense come into play? We’re the police involved and have you been charged with a crime? Me thinks you exaggerate a bit sir
There's definitely a risk of criminal charges if the patient is a "vulnerable adult".. In my state, "verbal abuse" can be a fifth-degree felony, and with "vulnerable adults" heresay evidence is admissible - and the patient does not have to testify.. If at any point in time the patient reports feeling threatened, intimidated, or disparaged - the person they reported that to would be the one testifying- secondhand, of what they were told.
So, the ombudsman contacts adult protective services, who contacts the attorney general, who contacts local law enforcement & everything you've said (and written) to all of those people (and everyone in your facility) can be used against you.. All of this would be unconstitutional were it not for special carve-outs in the law to protect vulnerable adults.
I'm not saying this will happen in this instance, but those who work with vulnerable adults need to understand the risks they're taking by accepting those positions, and if nothing else - they need to learn when to shut up.
You have a right to remain silent - and the state has a right to take away your license/certificate if you refuse to make further statements - but participation in any investigation may enhance the possibility of criminal charges.
Google "don't talk to cops" & watch the YouTube video about interactions with law enforcement- then understand that *everyone* you talk to about this incident is effectively law enforcement. They routinely collaborate and use each-other's interviews to build a case for prosecution.
You're *not* going to talk your way out of criminal charges, but you can very easily talk yourself *into* them.
Yeah, so HR spoke to me last Wednesday and said that, "Our investigation concluded you are not found guilty of what happened" and they back paid me two days worth of work for this up coming pay period that I was supposed to work which was nice. I was supposed to work a double that day I was escorted out of the building, but HR said they'll reimburse two days worth of work rather than 3 (a 16 hour shift and a regular 8 shift before my weekend started which is Sunday and Monday). Pretty relieving. Now I can look forward to the nursing program's decision in June providing I don't get in trouble again which I hope I won't. The other nurse involved didn't receive any disciplinary action and wasn't even interviewed because the grievance filed to the night nurse never got turned in to abuse counselor, administrator, or ombudsman. Speak of the devil, Ombudsman was here today at my work in the front office. I wonder why. I hope it's not relating to what I got in trouble over. Some of the nurses at my work said "You shouldn't have even been escorted out of the facility".
NurseBlaq
1,756 Posts
You are absolutely right, hence why I said "symptoms of" and didn't definitively state a diagnosis. Just made an observation.