Held Down and Forced to Take The FLu Shot

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Allright guys, here is my problem:

My mom works as a CNA?CMA in a nursing home. The nursing home is forcing people to take flu shots this year. My mom has never taken a flu shot, she is just a strong believer in not taking it. She knows that I think this is a stupid attidute, but I also respect her right to say no to the shot.

After about a month of trying to bully people into taking thier flu shots with saying that people won't get their pay check, etc. After a couple of calls to the labor board that got fixed pretty fast.

So here is their new tactict: Call people into their office, physically hold them down, and give them the shot.

Of course my mom is terrified. My advice to her was this: As soon as one of the administrators touches her to try to hold her down I told her to call 911. I told her to be sure to let them know that if they try to physically force her to take the flu shot. If they as much as touch her to try to hold her down to take that damn thing she will call 911 and press assault and battery charges against them. I told her to let them know that they have 3 options:

A: Leave me alone, I'll sign a paper that you offered it and I declined.

B: Fire me and we will take the legal route for wrongfull termination.

C: Touch me, give me the shot and I will call 911 and press charges.

So fire away and give me your opinion. What can she do?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU, Emergency Room.

I will keep you up to date. I'm talking to some people to see what avenue we will take next. I'm writing my letter up for her to sign and give to her DON, a number of other employees there will sign also. That way they have written signed proof that they did not consent in any way to taking a shot. I will report the 3 nurses that are holding people down (DON/ADON/Friend of theirs) to the BON. I am also reporting the Medical Director that is signing off on this to the Medical Board. If after some research I find out that this is an OSHA violation (seems like injecting people with substances that might give them severe reactions would qualify) then there will be a phone call to the Department of Health and the Labor Board.

This is the final straw for me, I used to work at that place and left a long time ago. My mom is going to stand her ground there, and press criminal (assault) and civil charges if they even try to hold her down on Monday. I will do everything I can do back her up.

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Specializes in Long Term Facilitly.

I would call 911 if any of them touched me. This facility really doesn't know what the heck they are doing....if they do this to the employees then it makes me wonder how they handled a resident refusing. They have the right to refuse and I am sure some verbally refused, did they give them the injection anyway? I would call the media, even the military couldn't do this you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

That is unbelievable! She needs to get a list of witnesses and a list of those who were forced to take the shot, get out of there, and go find an attorney to press charges. This facility also needs to be reported to the authorities and licensing boards.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Since this is assault and battery, call the police ASAP!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU, Emergency Room.

Pretty much everybody that got assaulted so far is to scared for their job to call 911 and report them. The few that are standing up (my mom included) are just waiting for them to try this on them on Monday. They WILL call 911 and press charges. The reporting to the boards and agencies is in progress.

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:angryfire :madface: :angryfire :madface: :angryfire

I would be furious. My facility made the decision that anyone who refuses a flu shot and calls in with diagnosed influenza, will be given an unexcused absense. I don't agree with the decision, but the other people on the leadership team out voted me. People with allergies are exempt. I wonder what they are going to do with me...I've had a temp every time they have tried to give me mine...I feel fine, but my temp is always over that 99.9 mark that our medical director says is too high to get poked.

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Specializes in ICU, currently in Anesthesia School.

DUDE, if this seriously happened to other employees, guess who now owns a long term care facility?

Call the police.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I am very anti lawyer and anti suing people, but in this case I would say sue their butts off and laugh all the way to the bank. This is so over the top I can't believe it. Call 911, press charges and make some money off these perverts.

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Jees Oh...ASSAULT!!! Get her out of there, and file with who you need to right away!!:angryfire They Assaulted her!!!!!!

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DUDE, if this seriously happened to other employees, guess who now owns a long term care facility?

Call the police.

Exactly.

BTW, your thread title is incorrect. This isn't an ethical issue--- it's a CRIMINAL issue.

Holy crap...

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i would be bringing in an official letter from an attorney, citing the criminal implications that have taken place, as well as those that haven't (yet).

and tell mom not to take that seat on monday!

she'll have an easier route of exit, if they even attempt it.

good God.

leslie

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I am HORRIFIED to read such a thing! Each person should have the option to decline, similar to those that refuse to take the Hep B vaccination. They sign a waiver saying that they are aware of the risks, and therefore, take responsibility if they are infected with Hep B.

What concerns me is that CNAs have a harder time finding employment and the work is backbreaking enough as it is. If this is a small town, then, they may be blackballed when they apply elsewhere. This is insulting and humiliating to have grown people who are parents, grandparents, and loved by someone to be forced to do something they are against. It is the principal of the matter, not the fact that it is considered to be protection to the public. We have the right not to take anything we do not want. This is totally against what nursing is about; autonomy for the patient and the right to make choices.

If your mother is able, I would suggest to also find other employment if this is possible. I am boiling with anger at this very moment by reading such crap (I have other more graphic curse words that would get me thrown out of here if I started to spew them). PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED!!!

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