Crazy Work Environment

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Specializes in LTC, Dementia/Alzheimer's.

Hello all,

I'm having serious issues with my facility!! I was looking for a new job and then found out I'm pregnant. 14 weeks. I'm pretty much stuck at this job until I deliver for the insurance and benefits; it is so depressing.

I work night shift, so I don't usually have to deal with the management drama directly.. But once a week or so, I'll work doubles, come in early, stay late, etc when Staffing is in a bind.

Seems like gossip is one of the biggest problems here. Everyone gossips from the charge nurses to the CNA's to the housekeepers.. Even the administrator.

Issues:

- The administrator is cheating on his wife with the Activities Director. No discretion is used whatsoever. I feel very uncomfortable when his young wife and new baby come into the facility to see him. It's not my place to bear his secrets..

- The DON is quitting and she obviously doesn't care about the goings-on around the facility anymore. She's my direct supervisor and if I have a problem, I can't go to her, because it will not get handled.

- The management gets into screaming matches (close to blows) often; yelling obscenities within earshot of residents and family members.

- Seriously understaffed.

- Major problem with call ins and no-call-no-shows. One girl *just* got fired for 5 NCNS in the past 6 months and 19 call ins in the past 2 months. This leaves everyone in a bind. On some occasions, nurses charge 2 or more units.

- Dietary completely ignores department communication. My diabetic patients that undergo dialysis never get lunches and their BS are often in the 30s or 40s once they return from the dialysis clinics.

- A dietary worker raised her voice and got 4-5 inches away from my face over a biscuit (because I mentioned this particular resident was on a pureed diet & couldn't eat a rock-solid biscuit). I spoke with management and they told me Dietary felt intimidated by me (if you knew me, you'd see this is very unlikely...) and there was nothing they could do.

- At night, we have zero laundry. Zero.

- Bare bones resources. We're allowed 1 brief per person per shift. Ooookay, what if they need more?? Most patients go commando throughout the day.

- B/c of these conditions, Charge Nurses are going for jugulars. You really can't trust anyone around here...

I'm getting so rundown from dealing with these issues, day-in and day-out. I can't quit!! I just have to stick it out until June... Have any of you ever dealt with stuff like this?

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Stick around and you may not have a license by June. One brief per shift and no linens at night? What happens when residents soil themselves or their bedding; in particular during the night shift?

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Specializes in LTC, Dementia/Alzheimer's.

The policy is one brief per shift. The night CNA's have learned to hide briefs that aren't used. Not much better, but it helps. Same with linens. We hoard.. A lot.

They're threatening to write up the charge nurses that let the CNA's do this. I don't think anyone has been written up yet. Afraid of being reported?

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

I feel for you... can't quit? Are you sure? Is there NO WHERE else? Reason I ask is because it seems like you are in jeopardy of your own license (as BRONX_RN mentioned) every time you work. Sounds like there are issues that the state would be interested in as well, reportable items that you should be thinking about. I hope you either find a way out of this one or find a way to help be a part of bringing solutions to the facility. Good luck (I think you need it!)

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Specializes in LTC, Dementia/Alzheimer's.

I don't think I'd be able to find a job that would cover my pregnancy. Since it's a pre-existing condition. Plus, you have to wait 3 months to get insured at most places around here. And the 2 week paid vacation right when I go on maternity leave.. That will help so much! I just bought my first house & I'll have to keep up with the mortgage while on maternity leave. I'm going back to school for my RN & this facility is willing to accomodate my new wacko schedule.

I really don't see an alternative.

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Specializes in ICU.

I thought HIPPA was for Health Insurance Privacy & Portability Act. I believe at one time that if you were insured at a job, changed to a new job, and provided proof of insurance from the old job to the new job, that they were required to continue your coverage. It was supposed to do away with that pre-existing condition crap.

Not sure if this is still true, but worth exploring. Watch your license and your back,

:paw:

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
i believe at one time that if you were insured at a job, changed to a new job, and provided proof of insurance from the old job to the new job, that they were required to continue your coverage. it was supposed to do away with that pre-existing condition crap.

:paw:

i do not think hipaa has done anything but provide more rights and privacy to patients. here is the catch-22 regarding humans in this country since insurance companies have no competition because we have no public option:

when you change jobs you get cobra, which is way too expensive!!! people who cannot afford cobra and who do not qualify for assistance (we are nurses so we make too much to qualify for assistance) end up going 90 days without insurance until their new company's insurance kicks in (this is my dilemma right now... praying that my kids do not get sick before my new insurance kicks-in)... this means the op will actually start up with new insurance with a pre-existing condition.

op: btw, i agree with the others you may not have a choice but to change jobs in order to save your license!!! i worked in a bad environment before and left for fear that i would end up losing my license... however, the environment you describe takes the cake!!!!

-un-insured full-time working nurse!

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I thought HIPPA was for Health Insurance Privacy & Portability Act.

Nope. It's HIPAA and it stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

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I think that I heard that COBRA payments have been cut 50% recently, and it is for a short period of time. Check this out, google it or something because I know there is a time limit involved. You need to worry about your license AND your baby. THe type of stress that you are working under is not healthy for you.

BTW I got written up by a janitor and again by a kitchen worker. Janitor took ac unit out of my COPD room and the old girls could not breathe; very humid and hot Labor Day weekend. The supv and myself got the unit out of storage and put it back in; got written up and intimidated by mgmt and Dir of NURSING!!! Kitchen guy sent up food on a plate in the dirty laundry dumbwaiter; I sent it back and requested another. He came up on the unit and screamed at me. I started to laugh. Got written up again, seems the asst kitchen mgr was up the chain of command from me, the charge nurse on sub-acute unit. Oh the joys of LTC. Got my RN and now work in a nice hospital without all of these crazy power hungry people affecting pt care.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Run run run honey...you might not have that license to provide for that baby by june! You can talk to people at benefits office, your public health department, or your corporate offices. I'm sure people would be suprised at the conditions. you could talk to your state board of nursing, find insurance online(ehealthinsurance may help), do something! Don't lose it just over one job.....gl to you!

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

I just started a new job. HIPPA DOES ensure that preexsisting conditions are covered. All you need is a certificate of previous coverage for the 90 days immediately prior to start of new insurance. The insurance company is REQUIRED to provide this to everyone who ends coverage regardless ofthe reason.

RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN as fast as possible from those unsafe conditions. The added stress WILL but undo stress on your baby. Other employers offer tuition assistance to get your RN. YOU OWE it to yourself and family to GET OUT NOW!!!!

Let us know how it goes. Good Luck.

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Specializes in ER.

I thought all pregnant women qualified for Medicaid? If so, you could get a new job and be covered with Medicaid until you have the baby. It is worth checking into.

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