Corporate NH:profit vs.care....

Erin RN · Nov 26, 2003

That just make me sick!! Paper towels??? The admin ought to be whipped. I would call both the Omnsbudsmen and the state...These are some our most fragile people they deserve both or protection and our respect..make the call!! Erin

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2003

Please call someone...ombudsman, or the state. This is just plain crazy. I'm sure one of those agencies would listen to you, esp if there are neg outcomes for the residents. Who wipes their self with paper towels??? and would want to introduce a higher risk for infection directly into their bladder. As far as the O2 use....tell the administrator to hold his breath for a few min??? Does he have a nursing degree??? Please keep us posted

cannoli · Nov 26, 2003

I would report EVERYTHING to whoever is concerned with regulating those places, you may have to do it anonymously for your own protection. How about a call to your elected state representatives as well, they might be interested, or the governor, or how about the newspaper, or the investigative reporter at the local TV station?

FrazzledRN · Nov 30, 2003

Horrible!!

Definitely report it to the ombudsman AND State!! Good for caring people like yourself and your co-workers!! Your residents appreciate you!! Unfortunately the $$ comes before the care in some places.....We ourselves just received a new administrator who is also a BSN...we thought it would be better him being a nurse....well so far it isn't....he is cutting staff...and supplies...(we also no longer use the towlettes..but thus far there are enough wash cloths)....what happens to these people that they have no compassion or caring for these residents...I mean this man is a nurse...! So far we are ok on O2!! I know if it ever got to that point where care and rights are being infringed upon...I would too call the STate!! I like our ombudsman and respect the job she does...she visits often and I feel that I can go to her if needed....they are there fo that purpose!! BRAVO to you!! Keep us posted on how it goes!!!:)

kids · Nov 30, 2003

Call the Ombudsman AND the State. Give them a list of names to talk to and charts to look at. Also make a call to Medicare fraud just for good measure.

Tell NO ONE (not even the other 3 nurses involved in advocating) that you have called.

iii_cessprin_ii · Nov 30, 2003

I am now becoming concerned about 1 of the 4 of us. She was recently caught in a lie involving jumping rank and accusing a fellow nurse (and supposed friend) of failing to flush a G-tube, based on heresy (she is the MDS coordinator). She reported this to the "head nazi", the evil admin. Another of us is really good friends with her, and I'm becoming leery of her to. I think I'm becoming paranoid.....but I feel that we should exclude those 2 and proceed with my trusted colleague. Hit 'em hard, hit 'em fast, and call the press before they know what hit them. Bad press is bad biz....(heehee) :chuckle

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2003

Complaint calls can be annonymous (sp). I wouldn't even tell the other nurse who seems to be a friend. You never know who will turn on you... telling on someone who doesn't flush a g tube is rather petty... stay away from this one.

kids · Nov 30, 2003

Originally posted by kids-r-fun
Tell NO ONE (not even the other 3 nurses involved in advocating) that you have called.

I am going to repeat myself.

Tell NO ONE what you are doing no matter how much you trust them. Gather your OWN data, make your OWN calls. When careers are on the line even a most trusted friend or co-worker may cut your throat to save themself.

I have been there, when I couldn't even get a weekend night shift job I learned that black listing is very, very real.

pappyRN · Nov 30, 2003

Call the state Elder Abuse hotline and also call the Ombudsman. Pts can NOT be threatened with being moved. Thank God you are a person with integrity and are willing to risk possible consequences if need be. However, that said...it is also against the law to retaliate in ANY way against anyone making a hotline call in good faith. IF they are ANY repercussions to you for making this call...call whatever licensing board is in control of Nursing Home Administrator's licenses. Then, call the state Elder Abuse hotline AGAIN and report these repercussions and retaliations should they occur. Both steps are needed to complete the full circle of handling an admin who not only is foolish enough to even THINK of retaliating but to actually carry it out. That's IF he does. The retaliation may be subtle but you will know. Start documenting any and all behavior exhibited with this admin. I have been through this process with the admin of the LTC where my Mom is a resident. My sister and I made a hotline call recently for failure to provide dental work for her when they knew she had at least two abscessed teeth. The repercusions were more obvious at first but now they are somewhat subtle such as we need a note from the social worker stating that Mom is on Medicaid and is indigent and a resident of a nursing home. That requires "to whom it may concern" and about two sentences to accomplish what we need. The social worker assigned this task to the office secretary- TWO weeks ago for two sentences. Each time if we ask if it has been done, she launches into a tirade about how busy she is and says a little too cheerfully for me " Sorry I have not had the time yet and I don't know when I will." My next conversation with her is to ask her how she's going to like it when we call the Ombudsman and the state again to report her for retaliation.

Please keep on advocating for these poor residents. I remain in a state of shock at the fiascos I've seen at this home. Believe it or not...it is the best of the best and THAT imakes me unbelievably sad. If I ever get well enough to return to nursing, you'd better believe that I will be applying for a state surveyor job. The nrsg staff left my Mom's AFO brace off for over EIGHT MONTHS. It was irritating her foot and instead of having it fixed or padded, they set in in the corner of her room where it never even got worn much less fixed. The head PT left the facility about 3+ months agao. There's a new head PT and gues what...somewhere around the time of the state's visit, they called me and asked if they could get her another one. I told them to ask her because she still signs consents for herself. Well, about 3-4 weeks ago AFTER state had visited...my Mom is now walking SEVENTY FIVE FEET with a hemi cane and asistance. The last therapist hated my sister and I and so he didn't pursue getting the AFO brace fixed for her. SEVENTY FIVE FEET more than TWO AND ONE HALF YEARS since having two strokes!!! Three months ago she was barely able to transfer and walk ten feet without at least two people holding her up. That was without her AFPO brace!

I hope I die before I end up in a nursing home after seeing what happens to my Mom.

Warm personal regards,

PappyRN

iii_cessprin_ii · Dec 1, 2003

First of all, I want to say that I really appreciate the input and advice from all of you. It feels good to know that other people see this as a violation of the residents' rights. Now to Plan B: taking your advice, I'm going it alone. That really is the safest approach. Being blacklisted is truly a terrifying thought. :eek:

I really want to have my ducks in a row, and give them every reason to escort the Evil Admin out the door (and...let the door hit him on the way out, hehe). Also, would the local newspaper take an anonymous tip/article when the State/Ombudsman came and investigated?

Thanx to all of you for being here for me :kiss

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2003

Good luck! Please don't get discouraged if they don't kick the adm or DON out. MOst likely they will cite them and keep a closer watch on the facility and make sure they correct the problems. News media has done wonders for some of the care issues in our area.