I work for a corporate (for-profit) nursing home. About 6 months ago, new administration took over to make the facility more "profitable." I can understand the need for a budget, staying out of the red, etc....BUT the following has transpired since he took over:
1) residents on O2 are not allowed to use portable tanks unless leaving the facility (due to cost of "e-tanks"). Even mobile residents must either be tied down to a concentrator, or go without oxygen. Recently we had a state survey in which administration was forced to appease the residents to avoid infringing on their rights of mobility.Once state left, however, those residents' oxygen orders were changed to prn (with deceptive documentation from the higher-ups). Some of these residents are in end-stage COPD.
2)peri-care wipes were done away with, and the admin refused to buy more washcloths (guess why?...yea, $$). Therefore, CNA's must use PAPER TOWELS to perform care on their delicate skin. Sad.
3) a cognitive resident was forced to change rooms, and her belongings moved "on the sly" while she was eating lunch. When she asked the admin, he was overbearing and threatening to discharge her if she did not comply.
4) the admin is in control of the ordering of nursing supplies. He refuses to buy sterile syringes for irrigation of Foley catheters b/c of "cost". Instead we must use "clean" piston syringes, which (of course) result in chronic UTI's in these patients.
5) the admin refuses to buy incont pads, pull-ups...ONLY briefs, d/t cost. alert, oriented residents must buy their own pads to avoid the humiliation of walking around in a noisy, krinkly "diaper".
Four of us (nurses) are working together as resident advocates b/c we feel that their rights are being violated, and they are not receiving the care/supplies they deserve...all due to the quest for more profit. Our plan of attack is to contact the regional ombudsman and tell her who to talk to (the affected residents who can speak up). Is this kosher? Or should we contact State and let them know what's up?
someone reported our intentions, and today the admin and DON threatened to both fire and blacklist me. so i did what any mother of 2 would do 3 weeks before Christmas....pled the 5th. i feel really helpless and scared now.
I would play very stupid for a while..ask them what they heard and if they think its true...could you (DON/ ADM) really be neglecting or harming the residents??
I work in a senior home for 1 year now and everytime I ask the boss (who is not a nurse nor a health professionnal) to buy incont. pad for people who are not really incontinent during the day she say it is too expensive to buy pull ups for night and pads for day. So they have to wear briefs. Result: They become incontinent because they are not able to use the toilet!
The boss said he bought 100 washcloths last year, she wont buy other now!!!! We have to use those who are now transparent with holes in the middle.
Same for serynge we'll soon have to clean them with alchool to reuse them.
Here we are with our health care program!!!! I'm ashamed to work there!
Hey, just in case something happens and you lose your job over this; we need another good nurse!
I'm also in Arkansas and I have never seen anything like this at our home which is non-profit also. It is sad that administrators like this have jobs.... what has happened to the residents being first?
iii_cessprin_ii
4 Posts
someone reported our intentions, and today the admin and DON threatened to both fire and blacklist me. so i did what any mother of 2 would do 3 weeks before Christmas....pled the 5th. i feel really helpless and scared now.
please help!