How do you feel about nurses/CNAs/other staff members turning on loud cartoons for their elderly patients to watch? It has been noticed that someone at the facility I work for seems to go into rooms when residents are not there and turns the TV on to the kids cartoon channel, all the way up to volume 100. Some people believe that the TVs are turning on by themselves, but that seems unlikely. Maintenance has checked the TVs several times for any malfunctioning issues, and there appears to be none. Also, some of the residents have noted that their remotes are not where they left them when they leave their rooms, so that makes it seem even more likely that someone is purposely turning on the TV to loud cartoons. While some of the residents brush it off or seem oblivious to it happen, others have made numerous complaints. One resident put on her call lights at least 8 times during the shift because she could hear the loud TV in the next room, where nobody was watching TV.
At other facilities, sometimes they gather residents into the living area and turning on the TV to--you guessed it--cartoons without any feedback from the residents as to what they actually want to watch.
It seems like a strange situation, for sure. Some people think someone is pulling a prank, while others are annoyed, because they feel like someone is treating these elderly patients like children. What are your thoughts? I am not sure what to think about this.
Sorry if this is rude, but there is nothing about this scenario that makes sense, including why this person is doing what he/she is doing. The quoted part above, however, is really confusing to me. So the resident goes to therapy. Someone turns the TV in the room on, puts cartoons on, and puts the volume up to 100. Everyone on the unit hears it. Yet the resident will come back eventually and the TV will still be blaring. Maybe a silly question, but why does no one go in to the room to turn it off within a minute of it being turned on? Maybe I am missing something, but this seems like an easy part of this to resolve.
I, too, do not understand why no one can "catch" this person. If you do, however, I would tell them "this is totally inappropriate, please stop doing this." If it happen again...even one more time, go to management and name names.
We actually do turn off the TVs as soon as we hear them/have time. Problem is whoever does it, just turns them back on eventually.
I am wondering...do you think it's possible this would fire this person? If it is who we think it is, she is an otherwise excellent nurse who seems to have a sense of humor, so this would be a disappointing reason to lose her.
I'm not sure why management doesn't have a meeting and let it be known that this may have been considered a joke but it's gone on long enough now and caused enough frustration and isn't funny anymore, such that extra resources are being devoted to putting a stop to it and at this point will involve termination.
I think it's a little creepers myself. Is this person trying to make everyone think it's the ghost of the deceased cartoon-lover? Maybe...but what if this person is actually disturbed about the death (or something else)? Surely they are observing staff and resident reactions to this and already know that people aren't going to laugh it off when the culprit is discovered. The person is already getting some kind of secondary gain from disrupting and frustrating others. . Maybe suggest this aspect to your boss. Get him/her creeped out too and maybe they'll put a stop to it.
I'm not sure why management doesn't have a meeting and let it be known that this may have been considered a joke but it's gone on long enough now and caused enough frustration and isn't funny anymore, such that extra resources are being devoted to putting a stop to it and at this point will involve termination.
I think it's a little creepers myself. Is this person trying to make everyone think it's the ghost of the deceased cartoon-lover? Maybe...but what if this person is actually disturbed about the death (or something else)? Surely they are observing staff and resident reactions to this and already know that people aren't going to laugh it off when the culprit is discovered. The person is already getting some kind of secondary gain from disrupting and frustrating others. . Maybe suggest this aspect to your boss. Get him/her creeped out too and maybe they'll put a stop to it.
It's funny that you mention "ghost of the deceased cartoon lover." Many of us have actually joked about that. The manager is well aware of it, but seems to joke about it himself. Unless someone with authority actually plays an active role to get this to stop, the behavior will likely continue, unfortunately.
It's funny that you mention "ghost of the deceased cartoon lover." Many of us have actually joked about that. The manager is well aware of it, but seems to joke about it himself. Unless someone with authority actually plays an active role to get this to stop, the behavior will likely continue, unfortunately.
Go to him on a serious note and say at this point it's getting kind of concerning and that maybe instead of everyone uneasily joking about it someone should genuinely consider this person's well-being/mental health.
Go to him on a serious note and say at this point it's getting kind of concerning and that maybe instead of everyone uneasily joking about it someone should genuinely consider this person's well-being/mental health.
True. At this point, the person HAS to be aware that others don't care for this behavior, because it's been talked about quite often. They just don't seem to care, which makes you wonder if they care about respecting other needs or preferences the residents have. If they truly aren't aware that others aren't pleased, then they are very, very oblivious. Either way, in order to respect the wishes of the residents, someone needs to take this seriously. No resident should have to put their call light on more than 10 times in one day just to get some peace and quiet.
Its a management issue. I'd turn the TVs off, but I wouldn't confront her. She's obviously got a screw loose, and its for a higher pay grade to address.
NurseSince2014
71 Posts
We actually do turn off the TVs as soon as we hear them/have time. Problem is whoever does it, just turns them back on eventually.