Investigation advice

[Save123]

Need some advice im a cna have been for almost 10 yrs. Ive been working at the same nursing home for over 5 yrs. Id like to think im a pretty good cna a good amount of residents comment to me how they like me. Ive never gotten into trouble or anything before. Like alot of places we have to work short staffed which is extremely exhausting on a person. Being overly tired from running your butt off all day you cant always remember every little thing you do or say and sometimes you may even say something dumb in the moment. We also have are own lives outside of work and would much rather leave work stuff at work. I have a goofy personality at times and like to make work more fun when i can, once in a while i like to be funny and joke with the residents make them smile. A few days a go a resident must of been having issues with their significant other, were running around working so not paying much attention to it but I must of made a quick comment while walking by that maybe at the time I thought was funny but i dont remember. The resident was upset about it and reported it, we all got questioned like i said i didnt remember so i said i didnt know anything. Next day work asked me to come in because they were investigating the issue and they were told from a nurse working that day that i was the one who made the comment. I guess i must of but like i said dont remember... The comment that they told me was said wasnt the worst thing but it shouldnt of been said either. Im not perfect and I know sometimes when im tired and not really thinking I sometimes say dumb stuff. The resident was upset by it and so they consider it a verbal abuse so they put me on administrative suspension while undergoing the investigation. Im kind of wanting advise what I should do.. I feel like im going to just get let go especially since im not apart of the popular click, would it be better to just resign that way I dont have a firing under my belt and also the concern of having something on my license. I do work thru a staffing agency so I do have a back up for job???

[Sour Lemon]

I'm not sure what you should do at this point, but I think claiming that you don't remember makes you look really bad. It might have been better to admit that you were being "goofy" and thoughtless along with offering a heartfelt apology.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

You can't undo what happened, so I agree with Sour Lemon: apologize for being thoughtless.

If making careless remarks without thinking is a chronic problem, you need to address it before your mouth gets you in even more trouble. Trust me, I am very sympathetic to your predicament. And I also know firsthand what trouble careless remarks can get one into.

[Save123]

I understand what your saying unfortunately ive already been talked to and now its kind of a waiting game. Right now im looking out for myself and trying to figure out what do to. The place I work at is very clicky and ive never really felt that appreciated since ive started. They play favorites so there are girls who have a bad attitude and are not always the nicest but because there in that click they get away with it. Our management is also pretty unprofessional and talk about other coworkers to other coworkers. Im sure im being gossiped about and being made out as a bad person which is embarrassing.

[Sour Lemon]

I understand what your saying unfortunately ive already been talked to and now its kind of a waiting game. Right now im looking out for myself and trying to figure out what do to. The place I work at is very clicky and ive never really felt that appreciated since ive started. They play favorites so there are girls who have a bad attitude and are not always the nicest but because there in that click they get away with it. Our management is also pretty unprofessional and talk about other coworkers to other coworkers. Im sure im being gossiped about and being made out as a bad person which is embarrassing.

If you have further talks with management, I would leave all of this out. Staffing, fatigue, favorites, gossip, and cliques don't have anything to do with your comment. "Just the facts", as they say. Bringing up everything imperfect about your job is another way to look like you're avoiding accountability. They need to know that you're in control and that it will not happen again.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

If you have further talks with management, I would leave all of this out. Staffing, fatigue, favorites, gossip, and cliques don't have anything to do with your comment. "Just the facts", as they say. Bringing up everything imperfect about your job is another way to look like you're avoiding accountability. They need to know that you're in control and that it will not happen again.

This x 100. I'll admit that fatigue could have played a role in your lapse in judgment, but the favorites, cliques, etc. didn't force you to say what you did. To go to management blaming them makes only you look bad, no one else.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh. But you do need to understand how easy it is for your mouth to get you fired, especially if you refuse to take responsibility for your own actions.

You mention that you work through a staffing agency...perhaps ask for a new assignment? Given your grievances about this work environment--and I don't doubt their validity in the least--perhaps it's time for you to exit stage right and work in a new setting.