Where Do I Draw The Line Between Right And Wrong?

[ZinnianWolf]

Hello everyone. I am a nursing student who is currently on vacation. I took a private duty job that was given to me by one of my relatives. In the short period of time that I have worked with the person (who has parkinson's disease) I have notice a lot of things that should be done not being done. The person is very unstable and is left unsupervised by the other workers. He has a nob on his knee from falling, has fallen into one of the mirrors that is on his closet door, which is now shattered of course, and has fallen hard enough into the wall that there is now a big hole in it. I have come in on to take the place of the person on the night shift and has found him urine soaked in bed, and on occasion come in on the afternoon shift to find him reaking of urine, nails dirty, teeth not brushed, and greenish-yellowish discharge coming out of his eyes. He is currently complaining of pain in his right leg where the nob is and has even more trouble walking. His legs also swell and are not elevated unless I am there. One of the persons who is supposed to be caring for him went on vacation and was paid for work (51 hours) that she didn't do. Her family (who are the other workers) are covering for her. I decided to tell his accountant and have left the job. I also recommended that his family be contact and a home care agency with a nurse to evaluate him come in. I have been catching heat from my aunt because she says that I shouldn't have said anything. I am confused because in my heart I feel like I did the right thing. As a soon to be nurse I feel I did the professional thing, but I don't know if I was wrong for betraying my aunt, and the others. I have been up all night with this and on the verge of a panic attack because the only people who are behind me are my classmates and I just feel like crying because my aunt will probably not speak to me again. I thought that the patient's safety should be first and I feel like the others are taking advantage of this person and something needs to be done. He is on carbadopa-levadopa and he isn't given his meds as scheduled. The whole situation is a mess and I don't know what else to do. I just want to go to bed at night knowing that I did the right thing and that the patient will be safe, clean, and cared for the way they should be. PLEASE HELP. ANY ADVISE WOULD BE VERY WELCOMED:o

[ZinnianWolf]

:angryfire GRRRRRRRRRR!!! I am so freaking mad right now!! I know you guys are probably tired of hearing about this situation, but this is the only place I can really come to speak with people who are in the profession, thinking about it, or are getting ready to be a nurse. I am angry because I have been arguing about "why I called the state" and arguing with people (my aunt and the others) who say I was wrong. I had the biggest arguement of all time today. My adrenaline is rushing through the roof, and I am so fed up that I am not even answering my phone and have left the computer connected to the internet running on idle to avoid be aggrevated. I know I did the right thing and that is all that counts, but when will they see that I did the right thing. I don't feel like I have to explain myself to them anymore and I am tired of their complaints about losing their jobs. I was so angry today that when the person who use to be in charge called me today, I screamed at her so loud that I scared my son. I will keep everyone posted on the situation if you like, other wise, thanx a million:)

Zin~

[rnmi2004]

You must be feeling that you have no inner peace now, but think of how you would feel inside if you knew that this gentleman was still in the same situation. You would feel even worse knowing that you had the power to make something happen yet did nothing.

You know you did the right thing. The people who got in trouble must know at some level that what they did was wrong. Don't let their reaction to this situation be your problem.

Don't explain yourself any longer, and if you feel you have to reply, then become a broken record. "I do not wish to discuss this." Repeat it enough times and they will get the point.

I hope this helps!

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught."

-J. C. Watts

You can look yourself in the mirror proudly, knowing that you made a vital difference in this elderly gentleman's life. Sometimes doing the right thing really does cost, but in the end you have the gained the respect of the most important person of all-- yourself.

[leslie :-D]

you know zinnian, i think you know you did the right thing but the problem seems to be is you have to wonder what in hell is wrong with the rest of these adults?? why don't they get it????

recently i had the misfortune of having to report a girl's mother to dept. of social services because this girl had fx'd her finger and her mother didn't/wouldn't bring her for medical help. the girl told me she was in pain as it looked painful. i spoke with the mother x3, pleading to take her dtr. to the doctor. i gave it a fair chance and also told her i'd be forced to report it. she never brought the dtr.; i ultimately did call; and now my dtr. can't hang out with this girl anymore and a couple of more mothers are upset w/me...now dh is upset w/me. :angryfire :angryfire i just don't get it. what about this poor girl?

so even when you know you've done the right thing, people can make you feel like dirt. i empathize with you and also congratulate you. don't give anyone permission to make you feel guilty. and i am certain this elderly gentlemen thanks you most sincerely.

leslie