LTC patient injury

tatgirl · Apr 14, 2007

the first question I want to ask is: if this place is so awful why is grandma there?

i am a LPN in a ltc. The job is not easy, but I love my residents. Bruises and or skin tears can occur, especially if the residents are combative during care, or transferring. Our policy is when a discoloration or skin tear is noted, we fill out an incident report, notify the family, notify the m.d. and start treatment for the area. I have heard one or 2 family members make snide or rude comments, and I ask them if this place is so awful, why dont you take your loved one home? Of course I never get an answer. Yes there are bad ltc's out there, but there are good ones too. Families dont realize what it is like to work short staffed, and to make do with what you have. My residents are clean, and well taken care of.

Wendy

LPN

joyflnoyz, LPN · Apr 14, 2007

sigh.

We don't LET residents fall. We do all we can to prevent falls. #1, the resident gets hurt #2 I DON'T want to call the family to tell them mom fell "again". The facility in which I work is a "restraint free facility", and we are told by administrator that "The patient has a right to fall" #3, I DON'T want the paper work involved- I have too much to do otherwise.

We often keep residents by our side at the desk..some of them just have a good memory, it's just very short (like seconds) Constant reminders, clip alarms, frequent toileting, fluids are all employed to keep residents safe. Some of them just cannot remember their legs can't hold them, and NOTHING we do will stop them from falling.

If your mom is so upset at the facility there are options.

1) Find another facility. I guarantee you gramma will still fall

2) Mom or aunt can come in a sit with gramma

3) hire a private companion for one on one care

The worst times for my patients is betwen 3PM and 9 or 10 PM Don't get me started about full moon time OR thunderstorms...

tatgirl · Apr 14, 2007

Joy: i hear you loud and clear. We too are a restraint free facility. I get so tired of hearing: the residents have the right to fall. I hate the paperwork involved, calling families. sometimes despite alarms, and interventions, these folks fall. Unfortunately, we can't be everyplace at the same time. The ones that tend to crawl out of bed etc, I take with me on my medpass, to keep them distracted. We try to find out hobbies that they used to enjoy, that helps some, as well as frequent toileting. Despite our best efforts, these folks will fall.

Wendy

LPN

MacNinni · Apr 14, 2007

I'm not sure whether your question is for Grandma or yourself. If you think Grandma is being neglected, contact the local Ombudsman, the person who is an advocate for patients. Grandma's facility should have that number available to you. If you are concerned about working in a facility like the one you describe, you should be. In these times, of nursing and aide shortages, no use of restraints, etc., your concern is warranted. There are simply too many patients for too few caretakers. Accidents are, and will continue to happen. I suggest you further your education and remove yourself from that possibility. But, at the least, really search for an employer that provides somewhere near the correct amount of staffing members. Good Luck

marjoriemac, LPN · Apr 15, 2007

Hi, just wanted to say, I get frustrated when people fall and actions could have been in place to prevent the fall. I get frustrated when residents get a skin tear or bruise because c/a's handle them to roughly when dressing etc BUT there are incidents that just happen, sometimes we bump our hands/arms/legs etc and cause a skin tear or bruise, sometimes residents will do anything they can to get on their feet (demented minds can be very cunning!). What I'm saying is we can't be there all the time, risk is a part of life, accidents will happen. Keep an eye on the situation, a one off bruise may be nothing to worry about, but if it keeps happening, ask for an explanation.

muscat4u · Apr 15, 2007

I work LTC as a Med Tech, most of the time w/no nurse on duty and only two PCA/CNA to a building with 81 rooms and some of those rooms are double occupancy. When a resident falls I have to notify everyone and do the incident reports...some famous lines I have heard..AGAIN!, NO - don't call EMS she always complains of back pain, Oh well I am sure she is okay cause I really don't like sitting in the ER all night - last time we sat in there for 6hrs and I had to go to work the next day....and sometimes its like this.. my God - can't you people keep a better eye on the residents, where was everyone when this happened, how long has she been on the floor..and so on..and so on..I calmly try to explain that in Assisted Living we only help with the ADLs we do not do 24hr care..and this is what happens when families don't want to put their loved ones in a nursing home even though it would be more appropriate and find a Dr. who will sign off on them being appropriate for Assisted Living...in the end..only hurting the resident. As for being a CNA where I work, you are better off in a nursing home where the ratio is better and believe it or not you would pretty much be doing the same thing.

Anne36, LPN · Apr 16, 2007

I dont really know why or how this ltc was chosen, with any luck she will be able to go home again. She was very ill and almost didnt make it last time she was in the hospital. I got the feeling that this was a transition period for her to regain strength to go home.