Imagine that you're the NightShift Supervisor and have been for quite awhile with all linens, medical supplies, residents rooms, exit doors,and entry door keys for access, locking or security when suddenly their aren't any keys and the above doors are inaccessible too you?
Imagine that you're responsible for 170 residents, 15 too 25 nursing staff and several of those in your care are Trachs all using misters,one with MRCA, cancer of the throat and he suddenly goes into distress with the medical supply room locked.
Imagine that you've made several calls trying to attain the keys for immediate entry with NO Call Backs and the nurse responsible for this residents direct care is in a panic as this resident is literally suffocating and close to Resp.Distress and the other residents are in need of sterile solution for their Trachs, but you've no access other that breaking into the supply room.
Imagine that you've reported same to the Nursing Consultants as well as the Administrator with the response being; "Why didn't you wait for Resp.Distress and then 911 him out?"
Imagine calling Corporate Headquarters and explaining this and they agreed with your decision which saved the residents life; not too mention that it protected your License, and told to ask for a 'Peer review' since the Administrator put you on indefinite suspension for "Destruction of Property."
Imagine attending the 'Peer Review' with witnesses notarized statements as well as them present; a notarized statement with the witness present that the Administrator had kicked-in the DONs door for paperwork and told it was all irrelevant because they wanted the 'Names' of those directly responsible for the door damage which you refused as you where the supervisor and instructed them to gain entry. The linen closet was entered by use of a credit card but the Medical Supply room had several dead-bolts and was unattainable with a credit card.
Imagine that you asked of your 'Peers'; "What should I have done?", and you were told that; "You could have called other facilities in the area requesting the needed medical supplies."
HUH? SAY WHAT?
You explain that that was unethical since the facility had the necessary medical supplies and according to the Social Security Act, all doors should have been accessible; not too mention the embarrassment the Corporation would have to contend with and the State Investigation that most certainly would follow, which it did with several 'G' tags and others given.
Imagine that you're Terminated and asked to sign a 'Write-Up' at the close of the 'Peer Review' admitting to destruction of property or sabotage of facility?
Imagine that in your long career as a RN you've never,ever been written-up, too have this shoved in your face. You refused to sign; your terminated!
Imagine receiving a 'Certified Letter' with the write-up enclosed stating that you admitted to destruction or sabotage but refused to sign.
Imagine contacting the Ombudsman,Health Professions Bureau, ANA, VNA, local paper and all agreed with what you did but saying they couldn't do anything about it.
'HUH?' SAY WHAT?
Imagine contacting an attorney and being told it's a 'TORT' issue which may take several years and that you also had a good cause for a 'Libel Suit', but...
Imagine that the facility in question lost not just the supervisor but CNA's, LPN's, RN's, ADON and DON next due in part to their total disregard for the residents care and staffing needs which you made it a point to express to the Administrator on numerous occasions only to be told that they had NO Authority to hire or address the issues which your response was to ask if they were primarily there as 'A SEAT WARMER.'
