Mini-Vent: Incompetent Supervisor

[notanumber]

As an LPN in extended care, I am responsible for 25-45 residents and 4-6 HCAs including most meds (the policy here has HCAs giving some regularly scheduled ones . . . I know . . .), assessing, organizing care plans, referring to PT/OT, faxing Drs and implementing orders, etc.. At our facility the RN position is largely a 'floating supervisor' who reviews admissions, acute illness, answers the LPNs questions, care conferences, etc. The RN I work with is more than adequate, treats everyone as a colleague, and is generally a pleasure to work with. The opposite (I never work with this one unless I pick up an extra shift) is incompetent, unfriendly, typically refuses advice from LPNs to the detriment of resident care, and recently made a Very Very Bad Med Order Error which she tried to cover-up unsuccessfully. She's still working. From the time I began working here, I was disturbed that her lack of ability in nursing and exceptional ability to pass work off to LPNs was 'common knowledge'. The other week we had med reviews in which nursing and pharmacy determine which meds are not being used, which should be d/c'd and make recommendations to the Dr. The results of the last med review almost made me tear my hair out - I had a crapload of orders to try and get back because the residents *did* need the medication. If she had collaborated with just about *anyone* rather than trying to BS her way through reviews this could have been avoided. This is not the first time. Oh, and thank god she isn't in charge of wound care anymore - enough with the betadine on calluses and lack of wound protocols! @&*%!

Mostly just a vent, but if you have been in or are in a similar situation, feel free to share advice! I feel terrible for the opposite rotation.

[oramar]

That is what we are here for, because everyone needs a place they can let loose. Sounds like you got a good reason to vent.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

willing to listen,,,lol

as far as help.....document document document..........network with the docs....you dont think they are happy dcing and reordering, now do you?.....network with next level up.....i am not talking about being a "suck up" but make yourself known in a good way......good luck

[ktwlpn, LPN]

This is the song that never ends..In my area RN's will come and go in LTC and it's really the LPN's who are the backbone of the facilities.We have very few RN's and the admin really wants to keep them and habitually minimizes their shortcomings as long as possible. They end up making horrible errors that cause real harm and can't be covered up and we have been cited. I can't tell you how many times LPN's with years of seniority have had their schedules turned upside down to accomodate a new hire RN and they never last.

I can only add DOCUMENT very well..I have no problem telling a supervisor that I AM calling the doc regarding a resident's condition even if she does not agree with my assessment.It's the doc who must decide if treatment is needed-not LPN or RN....

[notanumber]

I document the heck out of everything when I can. I am seriously considering filing a complaint with her licensing body for previously mentioned Very Bad Med Order Error. I wasn't the one who discovered it, but I did see the evidence. It wasn't just an issue of forgetfulness or misreading an order, it was a deliberate instance of wrong doctor, wrong patient, but 'let's stick a different addressograph over the order and pretend it's for a different resident because I don't want to fax the doctor back and tell him that I faxed him about the wrong person.' Scary, no?

[notanumber]

I'm in ****. I emailed the managers asking if a report had been filed yet, stated I was concerned, stated that was my duty to file one. Got an email back saying it was none of my business and that I was insubordinate. I thought I was polite and to the point. There will be discussions about my actions, apparently. Help!