CNA very upset

Published

I am a Certified Nursing assistant I have been one for almost 40 years. I've been there and done it. I've seen it all. Our work load is getting harder and harder everyday. I decided to take the night shift thinking it was easier but it isn't. I have been finding it hard to get out on time in the morning and the supervisor talked to me about it.

Well to the problem. To me it's a big problem. I got fired May 23. The 7-3 gal found one of my residents laying soaking wet in bed. I didn't see it but they said she was wet from head to toe. The problem is is that she has a urostomy. The resident told them that I spilled urine all over her and left it for the 7-3 gal to clean it up. I emptied her urostomy in the graduate about 700cc's drained out and I poured it down the toilet. I never spilled a thing on the resident. I was already home when I got the call that I was fired. I asked if they checked her water cup and they said no. Well I got fired anyway and now they reported me to the board of nursing and I am being investigated. I just found another job this time I am going to agency to work. I'm done in nursing homes.:crying2:

Hospice... now that's nice. Good for you!

40 years?

Awesome... I bow down to you.

This is not an easy job to stay in and you really must love it.

Kudos.

I totally believe you could have been sabotaged.

I was in your position as a new aide. I did not get fired as the facts were plain, but it turned me into a hardcore cynic at the tender age of 18.

I cannot understand why this job draws such nasty people.

I think it's the unfortunate fact that it is so easy to get into and it pays more than Burger King.

These are not the folks employers are fighting to get, but nursing homes will take them because these facilities are so cheap and greedy that they gyp on supplies, equipment and staffing... and nobody will stay... and they are positively desperate for barely warm bodies to fill in the holes.

That leaves the staff, that gives a flying flip, will a bunch of unethical, unprofessional, lazy, careless and stupid people to work with.

peppylady: I wish you peace!!

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The of these young aids have a small child at home, her man left her, no child support, just plain miserable young girls. This was an easy job for them to get into I agree. They have no life experience. They talk of becoming nursing OMG please help. They would make terrible nurses.Now I praise male aids. Most of the male aids I have worked with are awesome, they are professional and don't gossip just do their jobs. I hope there are some young men out there reading this. My son is a CNA and he is awesome. You see the female aids don't bother the male aids. It is a given.

Thanks for letting me vent. I still have to worry about the Nursing Board and the wet bed. What honestly could happen to me. Pay a fine? I didn't suspend my license or anything. They are just investigating. They want a statement and I'm afraid to tell them I think I was sabbataged. What do you think>

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You don't have a job because of this. Write on the statement that you think the other CNA sabotaged you. Be very explicit about her behavior during the entire incident, as well as the fact that you never put the resident on the bedpan, and it was time to clock out, your work was complete. What else can you say? What more can they do? You are not guilty of anything other than not getting the resident up so that the day CNA would not have to do her work.

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I would not put in the statement that the resident normally gets on the bedpan by herself or they will state that it was your responsibility to check on your way out the door.

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Why not go ahead and write down exactly what happened in your own words? There would be a record something in writing from you just in case there was an investigation. Be very detailed and state all the facts. Then just move on with your career.

I agree with you about nursing homes. I will never again work for one. Appearances are more important than quality of care, no wonder they like the younger aides. I recently resigned from LTC and am now working for an agency doing private duty care, my first assignment is tomorrow !! I'll be getting better pay, great benefits, incentives to earn raises, and just an overall better work environment. It will feel really nice to be appreciated for a change.

Best wishes to you !!! :heartbeat

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Let me add -- if the resident stated that someone poured urine over her, then it is obvious that SOMEONE did a terrible thing to her. Is it possible that the resident could identify who did this? Does she have the presence of mind to tell the difference between you and the other aide? This might be very easy to clear up if she is able to do so. Otherwise, if it is just your word against the other aide in question, if you submit a written statement of exactly what happened and conduct yourself in a professional manner, you will be the one that is credible in this situation. There's got to be something said for a CNA with 40 years' experience. What an accomplishment !! You would not have been able to do that if you were committing abusive and negligent acts all those years. Give us all a big massive break !!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

:redlight: Reminder: No one here is allowed to give legal advice!! :redlight:

I will leave it open so that you can vent, but if people start giving legal advice..the thread will need to be closed.

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The woman in question had a urostomy bag. I emptied the bag and poured the urine in the toilet she said I meaning me spilled urine on her and then poured it in the toilet. I emptied almost 720cc's in the toilet. They said she was soaked from head to toe in urine. No way. I say she spilled her water cup while trying to take a drink. She and her roommate each had 2 cups due to the fact they wanted more around 5:00 am both had water in them. This woman would have screamed yelled if she was wet like that. I never saw the sheets. They are over reacting. She never even put her light on I did my rounds on her at 6:15a and checked her again round 7:00a 20 mins before I left she was sleeping.

I am not asking for legal advice either this is not going to court. Look they always believe the resident no matter how demented they are we all know that so I guess I'll pay a fine and move on. I still can work as usual. My license in not suspended like they do in some serious cases. The guy told me no one will even know if I don't tell them. They guy from state couldn't even find my paperwork when I returned his call. I don't even think anything is going to come of it. The woman was not hurt. Social services wasn't even called they never contacted me and it's been since May 24th. As a CNA I am sick and tired of having to justify everything I do. One little complaint and they are on you like white on rice. The past 5 years it has gotten worse and worse. Just the thought I worked my butt off at that place for slave wages and this is the way I got treated. The DON should do the job for a night. She told me she was a CNA for one week and quit. They really should look at what they hire too. They hire them and we have to put up with them while we are working.

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm sorry this happened to you; it sounds like total BS.

I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a CNA job because you can make more money than in fast food when you have a kid, maybe an abusive boyfriend, and a not-so-great life. The male CNAs that you speak so highly of, in my limited experience, still live at home with Mommy and that's why they aren't so miserable or struggling. It doesn't excuse unprofessional behavior but I noticed you seem to have a judgment against young "romper room" aides.

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I love young people don't get me wrong. I have 5 kids they have very high work standards. They take their jobs seriously, but the ones that start the problems in the nursing homes are the young girls who are butt kissers. They look busy but do no work at all. I had a hall partner in New York that was only 20 years old and she was awesome. This place I work at has some of the worse workers I have ever seen.

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Here's a new one for you. An aid went home sick in the middle of our shift. 3am. We had to take her residents and divide them up. You know how that goes. Well I had about 6 of her residents 4 men and 2 women. I went into the men's room to check on these guys after the aid left. I found a urinal inside place inside the man's brief (diaper) and then the diaper was taped shut. It was so tight. When I pulled back the covers all I saw was this tremendous bulge inside the brief. I could not believe it. The aid put it there so she would have to change him all night. This man was not alert and oriented. So he didn't know what was going on. I could have ran out to the nurse and tattled on her. I just shook my head took it out and checked to see if he had any cuts on his private from the sharp plastic edges around the urinal. Luckily there wasn't. See if I did that they would right up there in the nurse's face tattling on me. When I saw the girl the few nights later I said something to her and she told me that they all do that cause he's a heavy wetter. We don't all do that, I don't.

Can you beat that one?

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
When I pulled back the covers all I saw was this tremendous bulge inside the brief. I could not believe it. The aid put it there so she would have to change him all night. This man was not alert and oriented. So he didn't know what was going on. I could have ran out to the nurse and tattled on her. ?

By not reporting this, you are covering up the abuse of a vulnerable adult.

I know it's hard and you don't want to "tattle" but protecting the residents is your first priority.

I worked in one of worst LTCs in my state and the way I battled these issues was by being the best CNA I could be. Every day. I had to go above and beyond every shift and do everything right because every horrible aide in the place was gunning for me.

I did a ton of the work those lazy good-for-nothing useless morons didn't - gladly - because that is how I rolled. I gained the respect of management and the RNs and if it was ever my word against some useless sled CNA (and it often was) they took my side. I worked my butt off for the residents and myself and gave them no shot at ruining my career.

I reported abuse when I saw it - in writing - and had no problem doing it. They tried to get to me, tried to freeze me out, frustrate me, etc but they couldn't. Sure, it made for some uncomfortable elevator rides, but seriously, why in hades would I care what a horrible CNA thinks of me?

I finally got a job at a hospital and left those sleds in the dust with a smile on my face. I still volunteer at that facility.

It isn't easy, but be great at your job, never trust a CNA you don't know and you can avoid a lot of trouble.

Good luck.

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