Job dilema- is it like this everywhere?

tokidoki7, ASN, RN · Oct 15, 2009

Wow. Some one should seriously call the health department if that's going on. We always have supplies on my unit, but I work at a hospital. Even the senior care home I did clinicals at had adquate supplies.

MassED, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2009

This is my first job as a CNA, I've worked at the same LTC for a little over a year now. It started off difficult for me because it was my first job like this but not because the facility was difficult.
I know we often post about working short handed and the challenges of that. I work at night, so working short(er than normal) doesn't happen on my shift because we are already very few staff. But what I do want to know is how many places run with short or NO supplies?
In the last few months, I've had to work with no appropriate briefs for the big residents (and highly incontinent, change 6 times a night residents!), only one bag of briefs in 10 rooms, no small briefs for the tiny residents (now we only have XL). And my favorite, no gloves :angryfire I am NOT going to change people barehanded, for so many reasons. Supplies like wipes and periwash I consider luxuries, when we don't have basics to start with. THis last week, we had 2 residents with contact precautions. With one, it was gown, mask and face shield. We only had gowns in the building and only a few of those. Another required face masks and of course, we had none of those either. Fortunately those weren't on my hall or I would have refused unless proper gear was provided. And I'm SURE that would have caused a ruckus. Oh and the ostomy residents... we had NO supplies for them when state was here. One aide literally taped a garbage can liner to the barrier and left it because that was ALL we had.
My nurses all say it's like this everywhere. And that if I think this is bad, I should see how it is other places. My question is is it REALLY like this where you work too? Short staff, I understand. Short supplies, I really don't get. The thing is we have a new supply girl who management thinks is doing a bang up job. They don't hear anything else and we've all tried to get this through, that there is a problem. This job also includes staff scheduling, which she is equally bad at. It's almost worthy of a separate post to talk about calling in sick procedures but for now, lets say that it is not working.
So tell me, is this kind of stuff a problem where you work? There are other reasons I'm considering a change but I'm really curious about this stuff. My nurses know I'm a nursing student and seem to take great delight in telling me how awful it is everywhere. I know new nurses don't have it easy but good lord, it can't be as bad as they make it out or NO one would do this!
editing to add other things we have run out of and management thinks is not a big deal:
Tylenol. Who runs out of THAT in any kind of medical facility!
Tube feeding. It's not like you can stuff McDonalds down that tube!
Urinals. staff had to go to walgreens to get one
lots more I can't think off the top of my head

I would report this place to the state, like yesterday. Those poor residents. Poor staff. They're taking a lot of money from these residents, so they should at least have the basics for hygiene. Good god.

And it's NOT like that everywhere - really anywhere I've ever been. I have been to a few LTC's, but work in a hospital. Never have I heard of using a garbage bag for an ostomy! That person that did that should be reported. If you feel better, do it anonymously.

Misslady113 · Oct 15, 2009

OMG. No GLOVES!!!!! That is just unheard of. At my facility it is not like that at all. For the most part we have supplies. Maybe once in a while we won't have the xxl diapers, but that's probably about it. A garbage bag for a colostomy bag!!! That place is terrible. It is not like that everywhere and they need to get it together. I can't even imagine how they would not have supplies and they knew the state was coming. If they don't care for the state, then they probably won't care much for the staff. I love being a CNA, but if I was at a job that compromised my safety and health by not providing gloves and gowns when needed, then it might be time for a change. My life is more important than a facility that could care less about it. Good luck to you.:heartbeat

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

Yes, I know what you're going through. One weekend when I worked there were no wipes, chucks(sp?) and we were verrrrry low on gloves. Our RSD was sick that week, therefore she didnt come into work & order our supplies Also we have falls quite often & sometimes its hard to locate a bp cuff & stethoscope to take the residents BP (we have to take their vitals for the incident report). Now I keep a spare supply of wipes & gloves in my locker at all times. The other supplies like chucks & briefs..that's a different story Sometimes we have enough & sometimes we don't. We have to go to the supply room & get more..but guess what? They lock the supply room after 4:30..and if you don't get what you need, you're basically SOL.

greeniebean · Oct 16, 2009

We had a resident with confirmed TB and only had 3 masks that were approved for that kind of filtration. The facility actually comanded us to share the masks and to bring them out in the hallway so that we could have acsess to them! ***! I refused and it did cause a ruckous but thats better than me bringing TB home to my kids.

We are always out of things, like gloves, briefs, chuck pads, Nepro, guaze, blood tester strips, gowns, wash rags (the laundry guy on midnights apparently thinks we can give bed baths without them!)... the list goes on!

How are we supposed to give proper care if we don't have the tools for the job?

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Oct 16, 2009

Our facility doesn't use wipes or peri-wash. We have to grab washcloths and towels off the linen cart, run the water in the sink, get out the soap, etc. It's such a hassle, so the urine usually doesn't get washed off a person except during AM and HS care when they get their partial bed bath. Then when you do have people that actually wash the residents (a whole 3 of us, I'm sure), you run out of facecloths quick. I always end up using a sheet (a corner for soap, a corner for rinse, and a corner for dry!).

Aside from that, we don't have many problems with supplies.

People should not be briefed at night anyway.

nspector · Oct 16, 2009

That is appalling, We can always get periwash diapers, gloves (in all sizes) and anything we need from central supply. I think the people who are telling you that it is like that everywhere are just coping out.

NM nurse to be · Oct 16, 2009

Thanks for your input, all! I really think it's time to be moving on from this place. Part of the trouble is that I got really attached to some of the folks on 'my' floor. But not having supplies and basic safety supplies is driving me over the edge. At night, we can get into central supply but if the briefs or gloves or whatever aren't there, then we are SOL. Which drives me batty. Another part of the problem is, as horrible as this place is in some ways, it pays better than most in town. And for a starving student, that does make a dilema It won't get better unless people do something but for those who really need the job, it's hard to motivate anyone to join the cause. There are a lot of 'don't rock the boat' types, which I can understand but wish it was different.

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People should not be briefed at night anyway.

Fuzzy, I'm curious about this statement. Do you not use briefs at night where you work? What about the ones that are incontinent several times a night?

There is so much political crap that goes on. Elsewhere here, people have mentioned the teamwork as being something they enjoy about their work. I can't wait to find someplace where this happens! This place is so every man for himself! I've worked some crazy jobs over the years but this is extreme even for that. They walked 2 people out the door yesterday and sent one home for a hickey on her neck. It's gotten so crazy lately.

I've stayed this long because it hasn't always been this bad. The no-supply girl has been at this job for a few months, the last guy was great! So the difference is even more noticeable. ANd since this is my first CNA job, I wanted to stick around a bit to build a resume and get some experience before I moved on. I think that time is fast approaching!

Anise1 · Oct 17, 2009

We NEVER have a problem with supplies in our facility; there's always as much of everything as we need. So I guess that's a really good thing-- it never even occurred to me that there were places where this was a problem. There are other problems, but not that one! :)

lorelei1973 · Oct 17, 2009

LTC facilities are subject to routine inspection to insure their Medicare status. I would call the agency responsible for routine inspection and give them all the information you've listed. Start at the state level. I know the easiest thing to do is to just walk away, but the situation at your facility is too severe to do that IMO. If you care about those residents, do whatever you can to help them be safe and comfortable after you get the hell out of there.

azcna · Oct 18, 2009

It's not like that everywhere. Some places it is, but not everywhere. I work at a really great LTC now that always has supplies, enough linens, wipes, and usually briefs. Those nurses who say that it's like this everywhere else are probably just trying to stop you from quitting. Admin always says that. They don't want you to leave and find a better place :)