I'm sure I'll get 10,000 replies saying to run, run, run from this place!

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Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

I've been working at an Assisted Living Place since May 7. Here's whats happened since I've been there

My 2nd day, they find out around 60 Tylox were stolen. Cops called, got a report. I guess they sell for $10 a pill on the street.

I also find out that before this happened, maybe a week or two before I started, another set of Tylox (for the same patient, no less) had gone missing. That time it was b/c the DON had left the keys out.

The set that was stolen sometime between the first set and my second day of working there (they arent sure exactly when it was taken) looked like the lock box (which was really a filing cabinet with a padlock on it) had been broken into... the drawer was all bent/warped, like a crowbar had been taken to it or something.

For some reason the ADON got suspended for the second set hat they discovered stolen.... She was back 2 days later, and both the ADON and DON were written up since they were both supervisors "in charge" of these meds.

By the way, this place had 3 nurses, myself included... the DON, ADON and me (They use Med Techs.. nurses are more like case managers, doing doctors day and stuff like that).

So, a few weeks later (maybe a week and a half ago) the ADON apparently comes in on a Friday night... on her day off, in her uniform. Goes up to the med cart and says to the Med Tech she's gonna do their 45 day review (the med tech gets "tested" every 45 days, they are supposed to be followed around for a complete med pass)... the med tech was like "Um, The DON's already done all of them" so the ADON said "Oh well I'll help you on your med pass"... She ended up giving meds to 2 residents and leaves... The 2 med techs said she smelled like alcohol and was acting weird, so they counted the meds after she left and apparently 4 or 5 narcotics (just individual pills) were missing!

Then on Monday, they discover MORE narcotics were stolen... like A LOT! They had come on after the nurses has left for the day on Friday and were left locked up in the nurses' office (med techs have a key to get in tho), but someone must have unlocked the door (or someone left it unlocked) and taken them. Obviously, someone who knew what they were doing.

They ended up firing the ADON b/c of all that had happened (she'd only been there maybe 7 or 8 months)... well, I think they really said "You can either be terminated or resign" so I think she wrote a resignation letter.

Down to 2 nurses.

During this whole time the corporate office sent in a QA Nurse . Well, we just got the report back and there were 16 pages of errors. Although I had gone through a couple of the charts to see what she was talking about and there were only maybe 1 or 2 errors she said I had done.. one of them said the doctor ordered a coumadin change and it was not written on the MAR but it was?!? I did nothing wrong, so who knows what the hell this lady is talking about.

Anyway, b/c of all the errors and the missing meds, the DON was told she had to be terminated or resign today.

Down to one nurse.

Me.

Been a nurse for 5 months... and only practicing for a month and a half.

I'm on call from now on 24/7 until further notice. We have another DON started July 2nd, but I HOPE TO GOD corporate sends other nurses from other facilities in the same company between now and then to help out.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Reply # 1. Run, stop at go only long enough to collect your pay. A place like that may end up costing you your license. If more pills turn up missing, you'll be the only one to blame.

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Run like your baby's life depends on it!!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

you already know the answer to this..

run run run run run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

as in, now! turn in your resignation. dont even give 2 weeks. just go, now!!!

and, good luck in finding your new job!!! one that will be much better then the one you have now!

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of course u know what to do.....run

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Run Forest, Run!!!! I would be out of there in a heartbeat.....

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Run, NOW, don't resign like others said. I am sure what you just said is reason enough when explaining to your next employer why you did not give notice at your last job........and then turn this facility in.

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
Reply # 1. Run, stop at go only long enough to collect your pay. A place like that may end up costing you your license. If more pills turn up missing, you'll be the only one to blame.

Exactly. And don't waste any time afterwards in reporting them to your State's regulatory agency who licenses Personal Care Homes. They need to be shut down....now :redlight:

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Resign now,copy to all,including corp. Report to state board of reg. Monday.They need to be shut down now. Do not stop at go, have paycheck mailed. Document,document,document. I'm RN many years and my mom is a resident at an excellent ALF, if that's your passion, they do exist. Yes Now RUN!

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Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

I'm afraid to give no notice because there are no other nurses there to work. There are 62 residents, 2 doctor's day per week, plus doctor's orders from the 3-7 doctor's appointments per day.

I'm afraid if no notice is given, there will be hell to pay if I am charged with "patient abdonment"

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In my state, you can only be charged with patient abandonment if you have clocked in. Call them and tell them you can't put your license on the line and you are done. You are a kind person to care but.... don't, they don't care about you. I am sure it is also illegal for one nurse to be in charge of all of those patients!

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Patient abandonment would come into play only if you showed up for a shift and then left during your scheduled time without someone of equal or greater qualification taking over for you. Quitting a job is not the same thing. Check with your state BON for your own reassurrance.

I'm afraid to give no notice because there are no other nurses there to work. There are 62 residents, 2 doctor's day per week, plus doctor's orders from the 3-7 doctor's appointments per day.

I share your empathy for the residents, but they are not your responsibility. The owners of this facility have known for at least six weeks that there were problems. They could have lined up agency staff or made other arrangements. The fact that they would leave a new grad in charge of this mess ought to tell you something about their principles (or lack of them).

You want to be there for the residents, but ask yourself, if you should make a mistake that leads to serious consequences, do you honestly believe the owners of the facility would stick their necks out for you?

I commend you for your concerns, but if you allow yourself to be their stop-gap measure, might you not be prolonging and perpetuating this detrimental situation? Do not let your sympathy for the residents enable the facilities owners to continue with inadequate staffing.

Not only are you putting your license in jeopardy by staying in such a dangerous place, you are actually setting yourself up to have difficulties because of the increased tension. Your mind will not be free to catch inconsistencies or anticipate problems and head them off.

And just to throw another log on the fire, how will you be progressing in your own practice without any guidance? Are you supposed to teach yourself?

That this set of conditions would be even remotely acceptable to the owners of the facility should tell you that they have an agenda that doesn't concern itself too much with either the residents or their employees. This is not your fault.

Please, get yourself out of harm's way.

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