LTC nurse needs some opinions

[toocaring]

Hi everyone I have a question that I need opinions on I work in a LTC facility third shift. I went into work the other night and when I looked at the previous nights 24 shift report I saw that someone a co-worker had signed my name to the report. She explained to another co-worker that she did it so I wouldn't get into trouble. Now when I saw this it made me furious that she had the audacity to do something like this. It was an error on my part that I had forgotten to sign it I understand but what gives her this right. Forgery is not something I take lightly. Anyway the next morning I called the DNS to explain the situation. I also told her that if this employee was allowed to stay on here and continue working that I would ask that I be moved to a different wing while I looked for another job. If the company we work for would allow this because of my principals I couldn't work for them. Well yesterday I had a meeting wth the ADNS and the DNS and told them the same thing. They are allowing this nurse to continue to be employed basically with a slap on the wrist. I requested I be moved and they denied it saying we are all very strong team and moving would not solve anything. They also said that this nurse would like to apologize and we all should move on and forget this ever happened. To make matters worse that same nurse came up from behind me and tried to remove the med cart keys and narc keys from around my neck. I immediately grabbed the keys and said wait a minute I will be with you when I am done counting with another nurse. Well right now I am contemplating leaving and finding a company that would beck me up and not force me to do what I don't want to do. I know this woman didn't do this in a maliciuos way but I think what she did she be reprimanded. Wha would you do? Please help oh by the way I love the patients very dearly and am having a difficult time making the right decision:angryfire

[J'sGirl82]

Yuppers she needs to be more than reprimanded. But, I don't see that happening, of course I'm sure you don't either. I'd work for as long as you can ( assuming the financial need is there, and if not-leave) while you find another job, write a letter to the Company ( which, BTW sounds like one I used to work for) explaining why you left ( this could also save you behind if something should ever come of her signing your name like state inspec.etc etc). You deserve better treatment than that. I've found that a lot of LTC's just like to brush everything "under the carpet", so to speak. Good luck, and I'm sorry that hefer did that to you

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

Sounds like you have a difficult co-worker, you were probably a little too pushy to suggest that this person should be terminated though. Did you approach the co-worker who forged your signature? Is this someone whom you gave a verbal report to? Did this co-worker work an overlaping shift with you on the date of the forged signature if so then that person should have simply signed their own name. I think possibly you went a bit too high over the co-workers head on this one. It looks like everyone is giving both of you a chance to reconcile this incident.

Your c0-worker should not have signed your name without slashing and adding his/her signature after as we do with verbal orders. Covering each others 'butts' sits on the fence as far as each persons perspective, some perceive it as controlling, some look at it as "some one else will pick up the loose ends for me" and most of us do this as another hard working person who respects their co-workers. When you know which side of the fence your co-worker sits on then you will know if you should thank them or tell em to step back.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I think at the very least the co-worker should have called you, gave you the option of coming back and signing or asking if you would mind her signing with her signature behind yours. Forging you signature on legal documents isnt right and could cause BIG issues like you said if the state surveyors pick up on it.

I guess it doesnt surprise me that they slapped the wrist. With as hard as it is to find people to fully staff LTC the last thing they want to do is make someone mad enough to quit. However, i dont know there is a good answer either. As long as they make it CLEAR to the co-worker that what she did is both morally and legally unacceptable and any further instances will be grounds for suspension or more they are probly asking that you also take a minute to calm down about the issue and move forward with the intention it wont happen again.

As far as the key situation goes, maybe that is a conversation you both need to have together. Make it clear to her you dont like to be touched(in her instance), and trying to take the keys from around your neck made you very uncomfortable and uneasy as you were in the process of using the keys. I think she definately needs to grow up and learn how to maturely communicate with her peers.

If the DON is truely trying to make things better maybe a good inservice sometime would be a co-worker communication workshop of some type.

[nurse_wannabe]

I work LTC. I don't know how things are at your facility, but at our place the 24-hour report is just a casual place to jot down things that happened during the shift. In fact, most of the time it goes unsigned and nothing is ever said about it. I may be completely wrong about this, but I do not think it is an "official" document that can be reviewed by the State.

Personally, I would have just approached her personally and asked her not to do that again. In my opinion, this nurse was only trying to help you and I think you overreacted by even going to the DON about it. Demanding that she be terminated is just over the top.

Since you asked for opinions, I am giving you mine. Please do not be offended by it.

[LPNtoBSNstudent, BSN, RN]

I will preface this by saying that I'm not sure what exactly your 24 hour report sheet functions as. But, I don't understand why this couldn't be taken care of by you talking to her plainly and clearly, stating that this was not acceptable to you and that you would kindly ask that she not do something like this again. Personally, it would seem to me that someone with your 'principles' would understand that occasionally people mess up and maybe it wasn't for the wrong reasons. And you want her FIRED for that? I find it a little unprofessional of you to drag it to the extremes like this when it is quite possibly something that you could handle yourself, if done tactfully.

Frankly, and I'm sorry to be harsh, but it seems to me that if this is the biggest thing you have to worry about in LTC, you are doing good. And I'm quite sure that your ADNS and DNS DO want to know this information but I doubt very much that they like being given ultimatums and I could bet money that in LTC they have much more important things they could be spending their time on than this.

Maybe I am reading your story wrong and I apologize if so. I just don't get it. Let the co-worker apologize and give you an explanation as to why she did it...take her for her word and then reiterate that this is not something you are comfortable with nor will you accept as the norm in the future...and let it go.

[toocaring]

Thanks for the varying opinions I do appreciate all comments and I am not offened in anyone's response. I really do need to make an important decision and the feedback is great

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am a nurse at a local nursing home, and our 24-hour report sheets are no big deal at all. They remain unsigned half the time, anyway. The nurse should not have forged your signature; however, there's no need to make a big stink about some unimportant document that is never going to be a part of the official record.

This is just my humble opinion.

[NrsJena]

Having worked in LTC-and used those darn 24 hr sheets myself- I have to agree with the other posters. I think you blew this out of proportion a bit. In my experience, these sheets are used to communicate anything going on for a set time frame (i.e, 24 hrs). It is not a progress note or orders or anything more vital. The nurse said she did this to keep you out of trouble (not good enough- but her heart was in the right place). I would maybe have gone to her directly and said "Hey- thanks for watching out for me- but I'm really not comfortable with other people signing my name. Next time- please just point it out to me." That very well may have taken care of it. To demand her termination or move off your unit is a bit excessive. Unless there is more to this than originally posted. Either way- it's over. The powers that be have spoken. Take her apoligy and move on. Good luck- I hope it works out ok.

[rnmom3153]

:yeahthat: I've worked years in LTC AS WELL.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I've worked LTC off and on whenever I've gotten tired or needed a change from hospital nursing or needed extra money. I've also been a supervisor in LTC. Those 24 hour shift reports are not official legal documents. Most LTCs find ways to make them mysteriously disappear when the state surveyers show up. I understand your being upset at what the other nurse did, but I think the demands you made, that the employee be fired, were WAY out of line. Just quit if you are that angry. What should you do? Follow the threat you made. Start looking for another job like you said you were going to do. After the hissy fit you pulled they probably hope you'll leave anyway.

You work for some nice people. If I had been your boss I would have given you an ultimatum. Straighten up your attitude and learn to play nice and get along with your co-workers or you're going out the door with the next incident.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I also think you overreacted. The bigger deal you make out of it at this point, the more they will wish you WOULD quit. Best move would be to lay low and realize it was just a stupid mistake on her part, and that you made an equally stupid one by overreacting.