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.
What annoys me Tweety is she came on allnurses to ask for advice. We all gave it to her and yes she has chosen not to take it. But when you tell a horrid tale and everyone is horrified about your story, then they take the time to give you heart felt advice from experience and genuine caring it is annoying to find out that it has been outright dismissed. Believe me I am not thinking about it one bit after I log off. I don't think I need Al-Anon but thanks for the advice.
But c'mon she asked for our advice. I was just saying I was annoyed and mystified:uhoh3: but what ever she does is her business and good luck to her.
I don't think I made personal attacks. As I stated I didn't mean to sound harsh just wondered if she has a backbone. I really do have empathy for her. Being a new nurse you think you can do everything and make a difference. I think in the right place you can make a difference, but in a place like this you are going to just be used up and spit out and hopefully you will still have your license when you finally figure it out. No one will watch out for you and your license except for you. Always CYA it is one of the first lessons I learned in nursing, err on the side of caution and CYA!
Asking for advice doesn't obligate you to take it. She got lots of good suggestions. Now she has to count the cost--pro and con--of any choices she's considering.
It must be very scary to be young, living with a parent, in debt, and only have a year of job experience under your belt.
Also, the best way to get a job is to have a job. Being unemployed, for whatever reason, is a mark against you. Many overcome that stigma, but it can make the job search take longer.
OTOH, risking your license every time you show up for work is hardly a walk in the park.
It's easy for us to say what we would do. But she's the one who has to do it.
Specializes in ub-Acute/LTC, Home Health, L&D, Peds.
Asking for advice doesn't obligate you to take it. She got lots of good suggestions. Now she has to count the cost--pro and con--of any choices she's considering.
It must be very scary to be young, living with a parent, in debt, and only have a year of job experience under your belt.
Also, the best way to get a job is to have a job. Being unemployed, for whatever reason, is a mark against you. Many overcome that stigma, but it can make the job search take longer.
OTOH, risking your license every time you show up for work is hardly a walk in the park.
It's easy for us to say what we would do. But she's the one who has to do it.
That is why I said I have empathy for her and whatever she does is her business and I wish her luck.
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.
dear megannne,
first of all, i know that you love your mom, but i am afraid that she is giving you wrong advice. i understand that you don't want to disrespect your mom, and please believe me when i say that neither am i!!! but my point is, you have worked hard for your license, and you don't want to lose it because of a facility that has no business being open in the first place. :angryfire your credit card bills and other debts will be there next month. write them a note and explain that you are between jobs and that you will catch them up with your first paycheck of your new job. and you do not sound like a lazy person to me!!!!!:yeah:
second, i have a question. i don't know the laws concerning assisted living places or long term care facilities, but i think that you mentioned that you are a lpn (and we can't do without them!!!:yelclap::yelclap:). how does any medical facility operate without a rn on duty, or at least on staff? i read that "now that i am the only one there, i am on call 24/7" (forgive me if i mis-quoted). please, someone, educate me!!
is this legal?
by the way, i still say run, run, runnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Megananne7; I think that your post caused all of us to become so passionate is because we do feel your pain. It is not easy to work in such a place where wrongdoing is so blatent. You seem to be a really caring person who considers the patients and your mother before yourself.
Is your mother a nurse? I ask this because it sounds like she is not. Only a nurse would really appreciate the value of her license and understands the risks involved; this is why we are in an uproar. Your mother may not really understand how your career can be buried behind this, and you were innocent. One thing I do know, is the Creator watches over those that care. I had to remind myself of this once I read Tweety's post. Somehow, the good intentions you have, may just save you, anyway. It may be a new opportunity or it may be that all of the ones that are doing this may be discovered on a day you are off from work. I don't understand why you are there, but it is not meant for me to. You know why you are there. Please, at least begin looking at other choices and pray for protection.
Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.
I used to work in Assisted Living that used Med-techs. I was a DON... I definitely didnt like the way some things were run in there but this place is ridiculous.
They need a visit from the State.
I must say that I would get out of there. NO ONE will jeopardize my nursing license. I worked WAY to hard to get them. They are priceless to me.
RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN. Really... because you are the nurse and the ONLY nurse and you are putting your license on the line.
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.
Megan, listen to all the Nurse's who have posted. I am terrified for you as we all are. Your Mom obviously doesn't have a Nurse's license on the line. I am a LPN with 2 yrs experience, I couldn't even begin to figure out how to fix that mess. We DON'T have the experience to do it! Heck, I'd work at McDonald's passing fries before I'd stay one more second. RUN GIRL!! before it's to late.
run, run, run. I just had a similar situation at an assisted living facility. Only my director was being investigated for not having the proper state license. I was asked to fire people who were "old". I resigned and did not give 2 weeks notice.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
megan,
you need to get out of there. yesterday. (well, actually, several weeks ago :) )
i do understand, though, the need to pay bills.
i also understand the need to have a job that will work around your school schedule.
and i do get that lpn jobs, esp for new grads, can be hard to come by.
the thing is, you do realize, don't you, that having sanctions on your lpn license will affect you ability to get/maintain any professional health care license??? (i'm assuming that you are in school for an rn, or at least another health-related field)
i'm going to offer a suggestion that i don't think i've seen posted yet: get a non-nursing job to tide you over until you can find an acceptable lpn position.
waitress. work at walmart. work at barnes and noble. look into supermarket checkout (pays surprisingly well). flip burgers at mcdonalds if you need to. whatever job will pay your bills. my mom started working part-time at a post office when her nursing job started to get on her nerves.
you can keep looking for a job as an lpn.
thing is, the job you are currently in isn't doing you much good. since you don't have a mentor, it must be tough to learn much. plus, your license really is at risk.
It's now August 1, and I don't think that we have heard what has happened with your situation. What is going on? Are you still ther? How about giving us an update?????
Let's hope that you RAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:paw::paw::paw:
:yeah:
:eek: 
katfishLPN
133 Posts
What annoys me Tweety is she came on allnurses to ask for advice. We all gave it to her and yes she has chosen not to take it. But when you tell a horrid tale and everyone is horrified about your story, then they take the time to give you heart felt advice from experience and genuine caring it is annoying to find out that it has been outright dismissed. Believe me I am not thinking about it one bit after I log off. I don't think I need Al-Anon but thanks for the advice.
But c'mon she asked for our advice. I was just saying I was annoyed and mystified:uhoh3: but what ever she does is her business and good luck to her.
I don't think I made personal attacks. As I stated I didn't mean to sound harsh just wondered if she has a backbone. I really do have empathy for her. Being a new nurse you think you can do everything and make a difference. I think in the right place you can make a difference, but in a place like this you are going to just be used up and spit out and hopefully you will still have your license when you finally figure it out. No one will watch out for you and your license except for you. Always CYA it is one of the first lessons I learned in nursing, err on the side of caution and CYA!