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.
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.
This ADON is diverting drugs in the most blatent manner. I am not going to put this on you because being so new you have not enough inner knowledge about what is going on but the other DONs have a legal and moral responsiblity to report her to BON. Perhaps they already have.
Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.
question... I am leaning towards finding a new job (although LPNs around here seem to have a tough time finding jobs... took me months to find this one)... In a resignation letter, should I make it short and sweet like "My last day will be _____. Thank you for the opportunity to work here, blah blah blah" or go into detail about why I feel it is unsafe to work there"? I know to the administrator it would be pretty obvious why, but for my own protection do you think I should include that information"?
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"
This is not your problem, and it is not pt. abandonment. Don't let this h*llhole destroy the license you worked so hard to get.
question... I am leaning towards finding a new job (although LPNs around here seem to have a tough time finding jobs... took me months to find this one)... In a resignation letter, should I make it short and sweet like "My last day will be _____. Thank you for the opportunity to work here, blah blah blah" or go into detail about why I feel it is unsafe to work there"? I know to the administrator it would be pretty obvious why, but for my own protection do you think I should include that information"?
I would NOT "resign"......I would never go back, at all. Call whoever is in charge and tell them you won't put your hard earned licenses on the line to cover there butts. If something happens in the mean time, believe me, they will hang you out to dry. I know you are worried about the residents, but you have to take care of you, first. Report this facility, and the residents will be much safer than you could make them by staying and risking you license.
question... I am leaning towards finding a new job (although LPNs around here seem to have a tough time finding jobs... took me months to find this one)... In a resignation letter, should I make it short and sweet like "My last day will be _____. Thank you for the opportunity to work here, blah blah blah" or go into detail about why I feel it is unsafe to work there"? I know to the administrator it would be pretty obvious why, but for my own protection do you think I should include that information"?
Short and sweet:
"This letter is to inform you that I am resigning my position as (your position) effective (date).
Sincerely,
megananne"
Do not go into details. You never know how a letter like that could be used against you.
That's if you decide you resign with notice. Personally, this is one of those rare times that I think warrants outright resignation without notice. I don't think any future employer will have a problem if you gently explain why; more than likely, all you'll have to do is tell them where you were working and they'll understand right away why you left without notice.
As others have pointed out, the abandonment issue is only if you've shown up for your shift and have accepted an assignment. And I know you feel for the residents, but, as Miranda pointed out, they are not and cannot be your responsibility.
Pt abandonement can only occur when you abandon a pt during your "on duty" time. I seriously doubt that you are working 24 hour shifts 7 days a week right now. If you value your license...you will leave this place. You should take the advice of others on this site and report these activities/discrepencies to your state's Board of Nursing.
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"
RUN!!! And do so quickly. You do not owe them a resignation letter. Pick up the phone right now and call who ever is over you and state simply "I quit." That's it. That should assuage your conscience. If no one answers, leave a message, but do not continue to put your liscence on the line for these people.
No abandonment if you don't accept assignment. Run to the 10th power, run. Call the cops, call the ombudsman, call corporate and tell them you will NOT accept assignment, you will NOT return, you will call your lawyer.
On the ababdoment issue can you call your BON, explain why you are running - they cant expect you to stay in that - If I had a jet, I'd loan it to get ya outta there
oramar
5,758 Posts
This ADON is diverting drugs in the most blatent manner. I am not going to put this on you because being so new you have not enough inner knowledge about what is going on but the other DONs have a legal and moral responsiblity to report her to BON. Perhaps they already have.