Broken RN

[Herky980]

First off, I would like to say I spent 6 years as a CNA and I completely understand the low pay and hard work. however I never new that making someone do the bare minimum would cost me my job and self esteem. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a child. I love working in a SNF, however the one I work in completely lacks a backbone and discipline. MY CNA's take breaks whenever they want and how long they want. they do their work when they want. Some of them have been investigated but NOTHING ever happens. our DON and administrator say we need a paper trail, but then tell us to pick our battles and basically call me a nag. (my complaints are valid, such as not changing a resident for an entire shift) needless to say last week two nurses got corned by aides in our parking lot and were threatened for turning the aides in to the DON for abuse of a resident. Now, no other nurse will back me up. we literally had two aides this week get into an altercation over what hall they were assigned. when I broke them up and contacted my boss, the other nurses refused to comment and the aides denied it happened. I got pulled into my bosses offices for complaining too much. My boss basically told me I need to deal with it and wrote me up. In doing this my self esteem and feeling of power has diminished. after that I completely avoid my CNA's. This is no way to work. I am looking for other work but I am so obsessed with how to change myself so this won't happen that I am going crazy. EVERY nurse I have talked to says this is how it is everywhere and I need to deal with it.......I can't.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

There is no way you can change it without support of your fellow nurses and/or administration so don't even try. Just get out.

[IowaKaren]

This is not the way ALL LTC homes run. Sounds like for your health and welfare you should leave this place ASAP. Just breaking up a fight and the supervisors not handling the situation would be enough for me to say 'bye bye'.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

This place is a mess! I have never worked in an LTC like that. They all have their flaws (like all places of employment). I have dealt with lazy admin, nurses, and aides. I have dealt with insubordinate aides. I wrote them up when it was appropriate. Was I well liked for it.. Of course not, but when I worked everyone was expected to pull their weight. If a subordinate threatened me you better bet I'd file a police report, HR Report, etc. You cannot fix things alone so I'd get out ASAP. Good luck.

[tokebi]

Totally agree with other posters above. You need to get out of there. If your description is accurate, I am appalled beyond words. I've worked in LTC facilities as LVN and have encountered some CNA's who would only do the absolute minimum but none of those places would tolerate the kind of behaviors you describe. This is beyond working relationship problem. This is endangerment of the residents. This place should be reported.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

get out asap

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

This is not how it is everywhere. Not by any stretch of the imagination! Get out of there before those aides do more than threaten someone in the parking lot! Yes, that place needs to be reported.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

Many LTCs are like this, especially the ones serving the economically disadvantaged. My first job in healthcare was at an LTC and each and every day I am so thankful I don't work there.

Get out.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

In have been in your shoes . Just leave now. Not every place us like this

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

You know what, I fail to see why lousy work conditions and bad management (in which assessment we all concur) make YOU the broken one. Stop calling yourself that. You are a strong, professional person. You had a lousy job. Don't call yourself "broken." Look for another job, and be proud you had this learning opportunity, because that's what it is. But the victim-thing-- lose it.

[susumarie, MSN, NP]

You should leave this place ASAP. Not every place is like this. Maybe you would be happier somewhere else. Try applying to hospitals?

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I would call your parent company's ethics hotline. If I were "cornered" in the parking lot, then the police need to be involved. If you have an aide that leaves a patient neglected (and lets call it what it is) then you have a duty to report this. Especially when you are the only licesnsed person in the building. Because at the end of the day, it all falls on you.

I would find another job asap. Or I wouldn't continue at this job without malpractice insurance. And I would report to whatever state agency you can, the omsbudsman, your parent company. Nursing ignoring their ethical duties because aides threaten them in the parking lot?!?!?!?! You have GOT to be kidding me. This is criminal. Even more so that your managment is buying into it.