Fired from Assisting Living Facililty!

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After working as an RN in a variety of roles in LTC for over 20 years, I switched to working as the full time RN in 2 separate Assisted Living facilities (under the same company). Both of these Assisted Living facilities had a memory care unit attached so these residents required heavy care. Many were 2 staff transfers which was not a problem as staffing was adequate (in numbers only, not training). What was not adequate was that aides were being hired "off the street" & they were expected to pass meds after a crash course in med passing, even administering predrawn insulins. The ALA staff weren't even CNA certified. After being employed there for 7 months & doing what I thought was a decent job, I was unexpectedly fired. I was reminded on several occasions that I had to get my LTC thinking mode out of my head & to start thinking Assisted Living mode instead, but with the type of residents they had in the memory care units it was very difficult for me to do so. For example, I had to get orders for bowel programs due to impactions, wound care for decubitis ulcers, etc. The administrator was an LPN & she would go behind my back & tell the staff to do things differently after I had given instructions for something specific (such as giving someone a pain med before bedtime to prevent nighttime wandering, etc). The reason for them firing me, according to this LPN/administator & the VP, was due to my mind being supposedly in LTC mode & faxing MD's too often for orders. I really loved that job & I'm still in shock! Anyone ever heard of this before? I have been an RN for 28 years & was an LPN prior to that; I've never had so much as a written warning until this happened! Thanks in advance & I aplogize for a long post! :mad::crying2:

Jerenemarie

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oops, sorry...I meant Assisted Living Facility in the header!

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Sorry this happened to you but sounds like you better off leaving that facility. It sounds like you were trying to do the right thing and the administration was cutting corners. Pain meds before bed to stop wandering? That is just not right. Also if the residents were in the memory unit, their care could certainly mimic that of a long term care patient.

I too am not comfortable with the fact of minimal training of staff in some cases to pass meds. Faxing the doctor too often? What? You were covering yourself, always better to be on the safe side.

Hold you head up high, you were looking out for the residents and follow correct protocol. It takes courage to take a stand and do what you feel is right even if it takes extra time, work and effort.

Take some time for yourself, your longevity in the nursing field speaks for itself.

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Just my $0.02 but I am not terribly fond of Assisted Living facilities. I find that they often operate as LTC facilities, but charge 10 times more and have none of the regulations that SHOULD be in place.

The unlicensed staff passing meds, work shortage, low paid employees, family members who are concerned about the care (or lack there of) for the amount of money that they pay.... it's a bit overwhelming.

Sounds to me like they might have been worrying a bit much about you doing too good a job and possibly raising some suspicions that could have gotten the State in there. They don't like this.

You'll find something else. It sounds as if you have a really good head on your shoulders! :)

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That sounds pretty fishy to me ... they definitely haven't fired you for a valid reason. You can't just fire someone in most states w/out a paper trail. It's your JOB to request orders from docs. Sooo sorry they can't sleep (boo hoo). I'd fight it and fight it hard, not for your job back, but for wrongful termination. If you have a paper trail of writeups, you'll have a harder time fighting it. If you signed your writeup, you're hosed (you can't fight that b/c your signature is admission of guilt/acknowledgement that it's valid)

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Just my $0.02 but I am not terribly fond of Assisted Living facilities. I find that they often operate as LTC facilities, but charge 10 times more and have none of the regulations that SHOULD be in place.

The unlicensed staff passing meds, work shortage, low paid employees, family members who are concerned about the care (or lack there of) for the amount of money that they pay.... it's a bit overwhelming.

Sounds to me like they might have been worrying a bit much about you doing too good a job and possibly raising some suspicions that could have gotten the State in there. They don't like this.

You'll find something else. It sounds as if you have a really good head on your shoulders! :)

Evidently, you have been to the assisted living facility where I currently work. I wouldn't say the family members are concerned about anything because most of them never bother to visit but I am concerned about what they pay vs. what they get. The starting rate where I work for a resident is $3000. I don't know how high it goes. Let me tell ya, they are definitely NOT getting $3000 worth of care. All that money and nothing extra is provided. Family is responsible for buying things like kleenex, incontinent products, pens, paper, vitamins, ANYTHING extra. Also the food is very sporifice, low quality, and no variety.

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Specializes in CICU, radiology, psych.

Sounds like you were somewhere unsafe. The LPN was undermining your authority, I'm sure that didn't make your job any easier. Sometimes what seems horrible could be a blessing in disguise. Listen to that song "Unanswered prayers". I think it's by Brad Paisely. Thank goodness your an RN with experence, you'll be able to get a new job way easier than some. Lastly sounds like you were screwed.

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When they don't want you, they don't want you. Apparently you rubbed one or more of them the wrong way, so they decided to get someone more to their liking. Not necessarily a bad outcome on your part.

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getting fired from that facility is one of the best things that will ever happen to you and your license. Don't even let it bother you. you have soo much experience under your belt, u will get a better job. i was in the same situation but i was employed by an agency that sent me to a facility like that. i told the agency never to send me there. me and the rn's who went there, never went back again. that place is very risky for a nurse and her license. that is why they are sooooo understaffed. they do every thing soo wrong. a patient who is getting a 2100 blood pressure med and a 1700 bp meds, the lpn will give it all at the same time at 1700. very very unsafe and risky

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Specializes in Addiction / Pain Management.

You cut into their profit margins

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Evidently, you have been to the assisted living facility where I currently work. I wouldn't say the family members are concerned about anything because most of them never bother to visit but I am concerned about what they pay vs. what they get. The starting rate where I work for a resident is $3000. I don't know how high it goes. Let me tell ya, they are definitely NOT getting $3000 worth of care. All that money and nothing extra is provided. Family is responsible for buying things like kleenex, incontinent products, pens, paper, vitamins, ANYTHING extra. Also the food is very sporifice, low quality, and no variety.

Probably a similar place. I left a place 6 months ago and it was the best decision of my life.

On call 24/7, high turn over, idiots passing meds, idiots stealing meds, people drinking on the job, poor management, scary family members.

Since I left the State has been in there 3 times. I would have lost my license had I stayed. I have no doubt about that. I would NEVER recommend a nurse work at an Assisted Living facility if they want to keep their nursing license. These places are far too unwatched and monitored for the type of care and work that is really being done in them!

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If it was an unsafe place, then this sounds like it's a blessing in disguise.....don't be sad, be thankful!

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