DNS OUT OF CONTROL

[RIRed]

I ran into a friend recently at a local LTC. I saw her at this facility when went to work as a pool RN. The DNS expressed interest in taking me on as staff but I didn't accept as I got a position at another local facility. This is a very small city. So at my new facility I encountered 3 nurses, all of whom had been reported to the state Board for seemingly minor "infractions." The DNS went after a 50-year veteran's license for a discrepancy in the narc book. She apparently has a thing for going after nurses' licenses and from what I understand she has caused a lot of problems for a lot of nurses, and usually it's to cover her own behind. She writes people up & files her reports without informing the nurse

I've heard so many horror stories about this DNS, but have never been personally attacked by her. I told my friend as much. She feels that enough c/o to the Board may prompt some action against her. She said I should lie because the DNS has no problem lying; of course, I won't do that! But what can be done to get this predator out of nursing? She is obviously unfit for her position, having heard about her antics from nurses who have been her target.

[Karou]

You don't work there, I wouldn't make it your problem. I definitely wouldn't lie. It's up to those who feel wronged by this person to take action, not you. Sounds like they got out of the facility and didn't pursue it so that's on them, again, not on you. You lying to dethrone this person would be the worst thing you could do.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

First of all, you are hearing all of this information second hand. There are generally three sides to every story: his, hers, and the truth (or in this case, the DNS, the RN, and the truth). As you are not personally involved, it is not your place to insert yourself into the situation. It's okay to lend a sympathetic ear, but lying for other nurses is not. In fact, the fact that these nurses have told you to lie makes me wonder about the truth side of the story and how closely it matches theirs.

[RIRed]

My old friend, who suggested I lie, is not a nurse. The 3 nurses I work with currently (who have worked for her) have told me the horror stories, as well as the old friend. I would not lie for ANY of them; nor would I file a report, because nothing was done to or witnessed by me. I'm just disgusted by the stories, and it scares the hell out of me that this one person has this amount of control over the lives/licenses of others with what sounds like bogus allegations and an unhealthy dose of fear.

I told my old friend that the big wheel of karma would come around & kick her in her orifice...in the meantime, I'm just looking for others' opinions & experiences...

[OCNRN63, RN]

Not your circus, not your monkeys.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Has nothing to do with you however,

The DNS is running a business for people higher on the food chain than her. The first thing that any manager of a business wants to do is to increase profit. To increase profit, they need to rid themselves of things that take a chunk out of profit. In this instance, nurses who are paid too well, have too many benefits, and perhaps a pension to boot.

With what one 50 year veteran RN makes,(which depending, can be at or just above the rate the DNS makes!) they can hire 1 RN to "oversee"(charting and paperwork), an part time LPN (to do treatments) per shift, and a medication aide per shift. And still make a hefty profit.

By getting rid of more nurses, that doesn't mean that they necessarily pave any way for new hires--in fact, it just increases their profits. It is a get by with the least amount of people as possible, with nurses taking the safety risk.

And the way that DNS keep their jobs, and their salary is to increase profit. Not that they are warm and fuzzy to the residents, nor is their focus on resident care--in fact many will dismiss the idea that one nurse can't oversee 80 residents.

The DNS has control, because she has been given control by those who hold the purse-strings. And she needs to produce a profit no matter the cost of safety. Which is not a priority until such time as it becomes a profit loss--THEN it is all on the nurse....NOT the DNS, but the nurse.