As I was reporting off the the next nurse at 10 pm the cna's told me they needed me in a room asap. An air mattress had somehow become unplugged and had deflated and the resident had fallen down under the mattress and it was over her head. When they found her she was cyanotic and I had my doubts if she would pull through. We put her on O2 and she pulled through ok. when I left she was back to baseline.
Here is my problem.
I was called into the DON's office a couple of days later and counseled and they really came down on me for making a nurses note about the situation. The DON said that I should've called her at home and asked her if she wanted that documented or not. The counseling is for not calling her. She said that it looks really bad and that a "seasoned nurse would've known not to write something like that".
I don't understand how you can not document something so serious. Since then they are on my case really bad for a lot of stupid things and the company just offered a raise for all nurses and they upped the shift differential for afternoon shift. She called my into her office on monday and said that she is with-holding both raises from me because of this counseling.
[nQUOTE=missykalo]As I was reporting off the the next nurse at 10 pm the cna's told me they needed me in a room asap. An air mattress had somehow become unplugged and had deflated and the resident had fallen down under the mattress and it was over her head. When they found her she was cyanotic and I had my doubts if she would pull through. We put her on O2 and she pulled through ok. when I left she was back to baseline.
Here is my problem.
I was called into the DON's office a couple of days later and counseled and they really came down on me for making a nurses note about the situation. The DON said that I should've called her at home and asked her if she wanted that documented or not. The counseling is for not calling her. She said that it looks really bad and that a "seasoned nurse would've known not to write something like that".
I don't understand how you can not document something so serious. Since then they are on my case really bad for a lot of stupid things and the company just offered a raise for all nurses and they upped the shift differential for afternoon shift. She called my into her office on monday and said that she is with-holding both raises from me because of this counseling.
what would you have done in the situation?
NEVER EVER FALSIFY RECORDS! You are the patients advocate. You are there to protect the patient. It is your nursing license that is on the line. Educate yourself about nursing law. I would report this DON to the State Board. If she told you to falsify records-she has done it before.
The right to decide for ones self is the only thing a person would do things even what is not desirable,and disadvantageous for his own self. you have your own free will, and you are on the side of good.good luck.
I agree totally with documenting this event. My thought is that it should be totally documented in an incident report. The nurses notes may only give an objective references as to pt. found under mattress, cpr, vs, Dr. notified, D>O>N> notified .Patient condition.etc Charting is for noting objective facts. The incident report is for details.
They called me into the office and handed me the chart and said "now you will make an addition to your note and you will write what we tell you to write"
This sounds like the mafia. Who is the DON, Alice Capone???
Report the facility to state, report the DON to the Board of Nursing. Also you may report the facility to Dept of Labor for unfair labor practices; for withholding your raise. If you had not documented and notified family and MD about the incident that would have grounds for disciplinary action. This DON has done the opposite. Please do this. Don't worry about the faclity. they have plenty lawyers to protect them. You need to protect your license. If they want to retaliate they could find a reason to report you to the Board of nursing. I would consider calling the state attorney general, but first talk to a lawyer.
Document, document, document!!!! Never change it. Have names of those others involved. Then go over the DON's head. She has a boss and so does that boss. When you know you are right----and it doesn't look like any question that you are right... but keep your eyes open for another position just in case.
When someone tells you what (and what not) to chart... you know you got big problems.
Nursing homes like this are shut down one day, and opened the next with same owners, new name and new management.
(I have heard rumors that DONs receive bonus' after decent surveys... can anyone confirm or refute this?)
So sorry this is happening to you.
Can definitely confirm that DON's get bonuses based on surveys, fall rates, census, staff turnovers.... whatever management wants to adress. It can add up to 10's of thousands of dollars a year... LTC DON's are NOT cut from the same cloth as most nurses... or either their cloths have changed!!! They are no longer driven by patient care or care and respect to and from staff... it is the dollar that drives and motivates... I was a DON once... briefly... refused to sell my soul to the devil.... believed in accountability and patient satisfaction... needless to say... I didn't last long.
I would think you had grounds for a discrimination suit regarding the raise unless there was a specific written policy BEFORE the incident stating raises could be withheld for this reason. Even then, it is circumspect. If the facility does not have a written policy regarding levels of discipline and what penalties they incur (such as being denied a raise) then the edict was a personal one, very subjective, and very discriminatory (IMHO). Sounds like they are wanting you to leave without having to pay you unemployment. I would talk to a lawyer and, unless you are personally harrassed and fearful for your license, stay till they kicked me out or the lawyer had a better plan or you find a better job.
RN2MBA04
11 Posts
get Out Of There Asap!!!!.....your License Is On The Line Not To Mention Your Integrity..........