My DON makes me feel like I am worthless

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

One of the skilled residents fell and when examined in the ER was found to have a crushed foot. The 7-3 nurse told the family that the CNA's had probably injured her when getting her out of the floor. I had been on another unit but ended up witnessing the CNA's get the resident out of the floor and the nurses assesment. A few days later one of my coworkers "Sarah" who happens to be engaged to the residents grandson cornered me and began asking me about the fall. She was the nurse in charge of that residents care that night so I assumed that it wouldn't be innappropriate to tell her what I had seen in the room. She went and told her fiance what we had discussed. Last night I get pulled into the Directors Office by her and the DON. I get lectured and suspended for three days for breaking confidentiality. They told me that I will be fired if anything else like this happens again. Did I break confidentiality? They just kept telling me that the customer is always right. While I was in the office they also decided to address a letter that I had written after the DON and I had spoken about the disaster plan and that the womens deoderant caused pain to a few residents that had skin breakdown in the axillary areas. They reminded me that I was still just a CNA at the facility. Believe it or not, these are the same people who sit in our inservices and tell us that if we have any concerns to leave a note under their door. I am so frustrated, I am a CNA and don't pretend to be a nurse. We do however have some CNAs who have been doing treatments on residents open areas, passing pills for the CMAs, doing Accuchecks, basically everything that the nurse does at our LTC facility. I am only working in my scope of practice, I am distraught, I haven't cried in over a year but last night I balled. I am ready to quit, I was pulling my hair out.

[dcnballmom, ASN, RN]

i can sympathize with you on your concerns - my LTC employes medication aides, which entails med passes and non invasive procedures, however they also do more that is not within their legal boundaries - and i agree that nurses and GNAS seem to get off on the worst end of the stick pretty often - i love that phrase " mandated to stay" - but our new rules state that we are not permitted to volunteer for over time anymore - is that crazy or what - and as far as your DON going off on you - i have a admin that is my overseer that thinks she is the nurse on the floor, and doesnt like a thing that i do for any of my patients or ideas i have come up with regarding scheduling or patient care - at the present time i too am looking other employment, as i feel that my time where i am is walking on thin ice, and that the next error i commit may be grounds for them to dismiss me - i would rather resign than be fired anyday

[TazziRN, RN]

If Sarah weren't in a relationship with the grandson I would have answered her question, but whether or not she's in charge of the residents (conflict of interest, given her relationship to the family), because of the relationship I would not have discussed anything about this resident to her unless it was with the DON present, only to protect yourself.

I agree with Tweety, enjoy the time off and go look for another job. This is not the place for you. If you were disciplined for this, what about Sarah, for asking you??

[EmmaG, RN]

A few days later one of my coworkers "Sarah" who happens to be engaged to the residents grandson cornered me and began asking me about the fall. She was the nurse in charge of that residents care that night so I assumed that it wouldn't be innappropriate to tell her what I had seen in the room. She went and told her fiance what we had discussed. Last night I get pulled into the Directors Office by her and the DON. I get lectured and suspended for three days for breaking confidentiality.

Sarah is the one who broke confidentiality, and as the nurse abused her position to gain that information. She should have had HER butt canned.

I agree with Tweety and others. Get another job; you are too good for the likes of that place.

[CRNI-ICU20]

OY VEY!

First, you didn't do anything wrong....YOU WERE BULLIED AND BACKSTABBED...

They are looking for a fall guy, and YOU"RE IT!....

Find another place to work....give your notice, and move on....

Keep your nose clean...do your job....avoid bullies....don't mix pleasure with work....and keep it all professional...

It continues to amaze me how sleazy and backstabbing people can be...

and btw....

Seems to me, THEY CAME TO YOU....not the other way around...they solicited you for information...and then they went to "their fiance???" ISN:T THAT A VOILATION??? Give me a frickin' break...these people are just carnivores....go find some "vegetarians"....yaa know?

crni