I have been a cna for 10 years, I know the answer to my question, but I need feedback before I take any action on this matter.
I have been working in a nursing home for 3 years. One LPN, that I work with insists on everyone of her residents having a large bowel movement every day. We do have a BM reporting system, so bm's are suppose to be recorded everyday. (not that this is always followed threw with)
A laxative is generally given if a person has not had a movement in 3 days. This nurse, is giving approximatly 6 oz of liguid "stuff",
no one is even sure of whats in it, to all the residents . It is a mixture of colase, stool softners, laxitives and I am assuming prune juice, heated up in the microwave. I also know that she purchases some of this on her own to give to these residents. Some residents vomit it back up. Others have stomach cramping and watery stool for about 3-4 days afterwards.
A + O residents are upset, scared and embarrased because they do not know what is happening to them. Some have told me they will not accept their meds from her because she tries to slip in extra pills. I work 12 hour shifts. 7p to 7a. The nurse works 3p-11p, I take care of these residents all night. We are generally short on nights which means I end up with more residents than what is legal. Sometimes 22-24 residents. I am having a hard time providing the proper care for these people when I am up to my elbows in BM. As soon as I clean some one up, they are going again with in 15 minutes. I have resorted to putting briefs on some, which is not what I normally would do, but with out it , I am changing sheets and mopping floors. Dehydration is in question here, not to mention skin break down, the inability for these people to have a BM on their own if she doesnt stop and UTI's. This nurse was warned about doing this 3 months ago, she did slow down. We now have a new DON, who thinks she is a great nurse. I do too ,except for this one problem. The new DON does not like me too much, as crazy as it sounds , its a race thing. I am not the same color that the nurse and DON are.
I dont know what to do. Any suggestions would be a great help to me.
Report it to the state...I know in MN we have pt ombudsman. Also the county Social services may well have an intake worker to handle complaints of maltreatment.
I know this thread is from 2003, but I'm curious. What ever happened to that nurse? Did she get in trouble or lose her license? (I hope, I hope, I hope!!) She needs to lose her license. I hope she didn't just go to another state to practice. It sounds also like she was practicing medicine without a license, as well as abuse.
If you live near the St. Pete area I will give you a job. I need good CNA's who care and you obviously do. Please go on and be a nurse - I would hire you in an instant. I am a DON....and believe me, not everyone is like your facility. My advice to you is to report it and get yourself another position. You will probably be bucking everyone there. In my facility I tell my CNA's that they need to stand up and fight for what is right and I will always listen and back them. I also tell the nurses the same thing. Leadership begins at the top - if the nurse is doing wrong, what does she expect from others?
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
First thing is to report this to someone over the nurse , like the DON. If you dont want to do it in person write it and slip it under the door but someone needs to stop this mess. People dont need to poop everyday and giving them all that junk just sets them up for dehydration, skin problems and a butt load of other very uneccessary things. Next thing is she has no buisness bringing anything in from the outside to give to these residents.. They have medication orders for a reason and I bet you money what she is giving them is not on the MAR. Or it may be on the MAR but she is giving the routine doses then making some PRN cocktails on the side. Is this abuse.. you better believe it and now you MUST tell someone over this nurse or you will be in the hot seat as well.
The DON finally wised up after following the patterns and fired this woman. She lost her license about 5 years ago, keeps reapplying every year, but gets rejected for another incident at another home.
I am wondering how do you know she keeps applying every yr. And I don't understand what you mean by she gets rejected for another incident. Since she is not working as a nurse there shouldn't be anymore incidents. Unless you mean they just bring up another incident as they go along even tho they are all old incidents. I would have to give up. I hope you don't mind me asking you to clarify this. I learn something everyday.
I hope that you let everyone know what the outcome of your situation was. You sound like a very conscientious caregiver and we need more like you. The problem also belongs to administration. In my 25 years as an LPN more than once I have worked with impaired nurses and other medical staff. They are dangerous and should be reported, anyone that does not want to identify themselves can contact the Fla. (where I am) Board of Nursing and the Fla. Ombudsman. It is always better to err on the side of caution; today it's laxatives tomorrow it could be morphine.
HM2VikingRN, RN
4,700 Posts
Report it to the state...I know in MN we have pt ombudsman. Also the county Social services may well have an intake worker to handle complaints of maltreatment.