LPN with a problem

[Prilly]

hello the reason i found this site was because i was looking for an answer on what to do when the place you work obviously puts the client last and I thought in health care we were to put them first! I work at a retirement campus that includes a nursing home, assisted living and apartments. My main problem is the way employees are allowed to talk to and intimidate the residents. It's awfull and it seems like it's just allowed. The employees also seem to be allowed to initmidate other employees. I haven't run into any trouble personally but i know of an incident where a nursing assistant had smacked another nursing assistant and was not even talked to! i have already been there two months and i can't stand it! I have another job and am leaving after my two weeks notice but i feel like something needs to be done and the only response i got was "they don't mean it" when mentioning it to theadministration. Any ideas?

[NaomieRN]

Hello and welcome to allnurses.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

[color=#696969] welcome to the site and best wishes to you! :balloons:

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Thread moved to LTC Nursing forum.

[LPN1974, LPN]

Well, in my opinion, employees should be able to stand up for themselves, but if the residents in the assisted living program are being intimidated, then that's abuse.

You should report it. If administration won't listen to you, there should be a state number somewhere of agencies who oversee these type facilities that could help with this. I'm not sure what that number would be for you, but I know in LTC's where I live, there are always numbers posted all over the place, very visible where residents can see them and can make a call if they need to. If you look hard enough, or make a few calls, I'm sure you'll find some help. Maybe someone on here will also read this and give you some info on where or who to call.

When you say assisted living, do you mean these residents are mentally challenged? I'm just asking because I work in a facility that cares for

mentally/physically challenged people, and believe you me, the state of Arkansas does NOT take kindly to abuse of any kind to these people. A person can get into a bucket of hot water quicker than a cat can lick it's rear end. We just had an incident where I work, and the aide and the nurse both got fired for maltreatment, and they both thought they were doing the right thing to help this person, but upon investigation it was found that alot of things were not done correctly. I won't say that the employees INTENDED to abuse, neglect, or harm the person, but some things they did and didn't do, did not follow policy, and apparently it doesn't make awhole lot of difference whether or not it was intended, if policy wasn't followed....well, just make a long story short, the two employees are in deep you know what.

So abuse of any kind needs to be stopped, before residents lives are ruined, and yes, even before employees lives are ruined, also, because that will happen if it's allowed to continue. People need to think about what they're doing and saying to people who they are supposed to be caring for and protecting from harm/abuse, because they can lose their jobs, their livelihood, go to jail and not see their families for a very long time. Nobody wants that.

I want to live out my last days in peace and security in my home, not in a 3x5 cold concrete cell. And it has happened at the very facility where I am currently employeed.

So sorry for the long post......your post concerned me, and I know that nothing good ever comes from people having to live in fear and intimidation.

Do something about it. Today.

[DusktilDawn]

It sounds like this is a situation you want to do something about. Intimitation is a method of creating fear in others to either force someone into, or deter from an action. It is a form of threatening which can constitute abuse. Slapping another is physical assault. Neither of these actions should be tolerated in the workplace. Is this just one area that these things are going on, or is it tolerated throughout? How high up the administration ladder did you go with these complaints, did you go to the very top? "They don't mean it," like heck they don't mean it. There should be policies against this type of behavior at your facility, have you checked this out?

All SBONs and state legislation have regulations requireing nurses to report abuse (not that we are necessarily protected from retaliation when we do).

Each state maintains an Ombudsman that serves as an advocate for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, and assisted living. They are trained to resolve residence rights issues in long-term care facilities. You may want to start with your state Ombudsman.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

First you ask yourself a question...Do I want to make a difference in these matters? Do you want to deal with these issues? Many will tell you to run from the building and find a new job. For some that may be the answer for others no.

Okay..if you are sticking around...You can start within the facility first. Go to the DON, Administator, etc first...voice your concerns. There might be a corporate level to go to also. There are plenty of regulatory agencies in each state also. Do you have a union? The could intervien on employee matters.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

When this happened in an ALF I worked for someone called an ombudsman to come in an evaluate...that seemed to help. It happened when I first started working there, so I didn't see much of a difference...I mean, everyone seemed nice and professional to me...but from what I hear...there were probelms before I got there and before the ombudsman arrived...

Maybe that can be an option???