Employers ignore "safe workplace" issues.

[jenruth]

A colleague of mine, recently took a job in a large LTC center, on the 3-11 shift. Scheduled for orientation on a 30-bed Skilled-Care Unit. After an hour she agreed to work the hall alone, because another nurse didn't come in. Around 6 PM, she noticed alot of people hanging around the halls, who looked like they didn't belong there. When she asked a CNA who they were, she was told "not to pay attention", as they probably were family members. Concerned, she called and left messages with the DON. Things got so chaotic on that short-staffed floor she had all she could do with getting meds and treatments to residents she was not familiar with. A nurse working another hall told her that's how it was, and that she could "sink or swim." At the end of the shift, she found her coat, purse, and car keys missing. She never found out if anyone else had anything stolen, because she quit that night.

Thankfully, her car had been parked across the road, and was still there. She had car locks and home locks changed, and had to do all the inconvenient stuff you do when your personal info is stolen.

There's more to this situation, but I gave you the basics.

So here's my RANT. Why do employers throw nurses into situations like this, and then whine about the nursing shortage? They can't understand why they can't keep good employees. My aquaintance said she felt unsafe and unwelcome from the start. No one from administration came to check on staffing, before leaving for the evening. No one on the floor knew she was coming for orientation. There was no secure place to keep belongings. The medication room was wide open for anyone to walk in. CNA's were on an extended smoke-break for most of the shift. In short, it was a "free for all." The "Icing-on-the-cake," was when the DON told her, she "wasn't really the type of nurse they wanted." The DON added, that having personal items stolen was her fault, because she shouldn't have brought them in the building.

Even though she had her things stolen, I think she's lucky she got away without something worse happening. Hopefully, workplaces like that are the exception!

[Attheana]

Thats was my exact point in another post. Nurses are on there own. I wish we would all get together and form a state or nationwide support group powerful enough to make an impact on legislation and big enough to make facilities pay attention. The fact is Noone but nurses care! The facility is gonna get there 8 hours of you.. and wont look back. The nursing board is gonna take your license if something happens. She was lucky had something happened to one of those patients. The nursing board would have held your friend responsible. It doesnt matter that she is new with no training and no management there! If she couldnt do the job she should have not taken it is the way it is looked at!! Thats sad. and we are in desperate need of someone or something to back us. Im not talking about so half crazed union that just wants our money.. Im talking about real nurses backing each other... In our jobs.. In our lives and in our courtrooms.

[unknown99, BSN, RN]

Sounds just like a place that I worked at in Canton, Georgia!!!

[trita]

we are in desperate need of someone or something to back us. Im not talking about so half crazed union that just wants our money.. Im talking about real nurses backing each other... In our jobs.. In our lives and in our courtrooms.

"Union" means coming together, uniting, backing each other. In order to have the legal protection that forces management to live up to agreements, you have to get a contract. In order to have good networking, communication, support, back-up, etc., it will take at least some money. If you don't trust the unions that already exist, you can form your own, independent union. (Nurses at Englewood Hosp in NJ did this). It takes lots of time and effort, but can have real successes. But you will have to have some kind of funds (dues?) and then the nurses that benefit from all your hard work 10-15 years later will probably complain about you just wanting their money ....

[Blackcat99]

Welcome to the wonderful world of LTC. I've worked in several LTC's that sound like that one.

[KPOP]

Hi there.

I think you shouldn't have quit!

You should have brought in the Department of Labor and also try to get the place unionized and also try to get in touch with your local district assemblyman or local state senator or even your local governor!

I am just so sorry that you lost your automobile keys!

Well try Calgon at night it might make you feel better and then you can look for another job!

But remember that if you quit a lot then it does not look good in your record and you should have just tried to stay but work things out with your DON!

Also one more thing do not just take a word of your CNA go and investigate yourself even before you call leave any messages to your DON!

http://www.nurses.ab.ca/issues/HWHNBiblio.html

Try that home page and research on it!

Good luck!

Kathy

[vickivicki1]

that nurse was right to quit, almost all ltc facilities are like that one, and the administration could care less, you're just a body to fill a slot, no wonder nurses are leaving the profession left and right.