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.
Specializes in ub-Acute/LTC, Home Health, L&D, Peds.
It really annoys me she is still there after all of us have taken the time to give her the very smart advice to get the h*** out of there. Do you have a backbone? Sounds like you can't stand up to your work who are walking all over you and you can't tell your mom that you are in danger of losing your license working there and you must quit! Stand up and look out for yourself 'cause you are going to learn the hard way no one else will. Sorry to sound harsh but I am mystified that you are still working there!!!
I say to leave nicely. Unfortunately the nursing world is small and you are young in your career. I wouldn't make it ugly for myself. Or, write a nice note saying that you are leaving...blah blah blah and verbally tell them to kiss where you twist. No evidence if said behind closed doors...
I agree with the nice approach.
I regret that I must give notice of resignatin from my staff nurse position. I have learned a great deal here and have grown a lot professionally. (And you have. This is true.)
My last day of work will be ________.
Sincerely,
Nancy Nurse
Be sure to date it, sign it, keep a copy.
No sense burning your bridges. However, I would call off a whole lot during the 2 weeks' notice. Here's how to do it -
Give your notice. Call off the next day and the next and however many you can get away with before they require a doctor's statement. Go to your doc on the NEXT day and get a note that says you can return to work on the date just past the end of the 2 weeks' notice.
Ask your doc's office to fax them a copy or you can mail them one. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOCTOR TO WRITE DOWN WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS IS. REPEAT: DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOCTOR TO WRITE DOWN WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS IS. Your employer has no legal right to know the Dx. Put your doc's office on notice that they absolutely do NOT have your permission to disclose your diagnosis to your employer.
All you are required to do is tell the employer you will not be in due to your illness or illness in your family or whatever emergency or emergencies you choose to make up involving your house, your car, your family members, or yourself. Use the time to find new employment.
Feel guilty deceiving them? They have not been fair with you and you don't owe them fairness either. Their behavior is, I assure you, not new. They've been cheapskates and exploiters for a long time. You are too new to be thrust into a situation like this. It's too much responsibility for a new grad, as it sounds like you have absolutely no back-up, no resource person, nothing.
Or you could work a day here and there during the 2 weeks.
It is such a shame to have to deal with this crap, all in the name of them trying to save money. Greedy so-and-so's.
You really do need to report them to JCAHO and to your state's department of health, department of senior services, department of social work, whoever. Just keep calling state agencies until you get the right office. Notify your state senators and reps, too. DO IT ANONYMOUSLY, FROM OTHER THAN YOUR HOME, CELL, WORK OR OTHER EASILY TRACED TO YOU PHONES, if you don't want to give your name. BUT DO IT.
Here is my immediate concern for you...how are the narcotics accounted for? Being a LTC facility, likely not computerized, so I'm assuming it is via a manual count, which, if I am not mistaken, requires 2 *LICENSED* people (of course I am not too familiar with the whole med tech thing). REGARDLESS, even if the med techs are acceptable participants, THEY DO NOT HAVE A LICENSE TO LOSE LIKE YOU!!!!!!!! Yes it does appear that the previous problem of missing narcs goes back to the former ADON and DON. HOWEVER, please hear me when I tell you, as a new nurse, nursing can be a cutthroat profession. Not to sound paranoid, but nurses are constantly getting the shaft from 'the man' (as well as many other sources) and you just never hear about nurses getting a break/the benefit of the doubt. Organizations will do what it takes to save face, avoid a lawsuit, etc. and would not even wince at sacrificing a nurse with 25 years of service to accomplish this...what do you think they would do to you as a new nurse???
Here is my point: what if the med techs were also involved in swiping some of the narcs? what if one of them wakes up and decides to just try some Tylox that day? Might be far-fetched, but do you want to take that chance? YOU are the only licensed person there now (except for maybe a pharmacist).
You had better somehow obtain some kind of documentation (maybe from a pharmacist if you have one there on-site?) that all narcs are accounted for and THEN get the H**l outta there!
A physician can probably legally count and sign the count sheet with you but I doubt you'll get one willing or even available to do it.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
It really annoys me she is still there after all of us have taken the time to give her the very smart advice to get the h*** out of there. Do you have a backbone? Sounds like you can't stand up to your work who are walking all over you and you can't tell your mom that you are in danger of losing your license working there and you must quit! Stand up and look out for yourself 'cause you are going to learn the hard way no one else will. Sorry to sound harsh but I am mystified that you are still working there!!!
I have to admit, I am very bothered by this as well. Nurses have worked HARD to earn our licenses and we have to protect it at ALL costs. I would be too afraid to stay there.
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
I agree with everyone else that you need to get out of there ASAP, but please call the BON in your state first to check on the abandonment issue first. Personally I do not feel that quitting without notice is abandonment as long as you haven't accepted assignment, but I do seem to remember a thread on here not too long ago about some foreign nurses working under contract in perhaps N.Y. that were charged with abandonment. If I remember right it was because they all conspired to quit at the same time (not on duty) and left the facility without nurses, other than the ones currently on duty. I don't know if this would pertain in your case, but seeing that you are the only nurse employed there now, I would assume it does.
I've talked to my mom a couple times about my frustrations and the amount of work that's put on me and how I haven't been oriented properly and she basically told me I cannot quit without a job (I still live at home while in school) lined up. I've applied to a few places and gotten no where (most places in my area don't use LPNs and if they do, don't want to put up with my school schedule). I have credit card debt and no money to pay it off with without a job.
She basically tells me to suck it up and stop being lazy.
Your credit card debt and the lack of support by your (and I am sorry, but I have to say this): selfish AND unsupportive mother will be the LEAST of your worries, if you are brought in front of the BON due to your employer's negligence.
It really annoys me she is still there after all of us have taken the time to give her the very smart advice to get the h*** out of there. Do you have a backbone? Sounds like you can't stand up to your work who are walking all over you and you can't tell your mom that you are in danger of losing your license working there and you must quit! Stand up and look out for yourself 'cause you are going to learn the hard way no one else will. Sorry to sound harsh but I am mystified that you are still working there!!!
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. No need to get so harsh and annoyed.
Take some wisdom from Al-Alon, just detach and let it go. We're really powerless over what the op does and doesn't do at this point. What the op does from here on isn't really our business after we've offered our opinion.
Or you can continue to be annoyed that the op isn't doing things your way and keep screaming and shouting for the person to quit, whatever floats your boat. Just don't make personal attacks. :)
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. No need to get so harsh and annoyed.
Take some wisdom from Al-Alon, just detach and let it go. We're really powerless over what the op does and doesn't do at this point. What the op does from here on isn't really our business after we've offered our opinion.
Or you can continue to be annoyed that the op isn't doing things your way and keep screaming and shouting for the person to quit, whatever floats your boat. Just don't make personal attacks. :)
That is so true, it really isn't our business. I just think that this brought out raw emotions for us, because we worked so hard to be where we are now. Thanks for bringing us back to reality.
katfishLPN
133 Posts
It really annoys me she is still there after all of us have taken the time to give her the very smart advice to get the h*** out of there. Do you have a backbone? Sounds like you can't stand up to your work who are walking all over you and you can't tell your mom that you are in danger of losing your license working there and you must quit! Stand up and look out for yourself 'cause you are going to learn the hard way no one else will. Sorry to sound harsh but I am mystified that you are still working there!!!