New Grad LVN thinking of quitting. HELP!

[New LVN20]

Hello. I am a new grad LVN. I am currently on day 5 at a memory care unit. I accepted this job because I was told I would not be working with any COVID-19 infected residents but that was a lie. Half the building is infected (I was told about this but they said they are taking safety precautions). Well, that was a lie on my second day of work they decided I should get trained on the infected side and to my realization it was a mad house. No housekeeper on that side, residents are not isolated in the rooms, they are allowed to socialize and eat in dining area, they hag out around the living room area. There should be more than one nurse monitoring all these patients (which there isn't) the caregivers are not provided N95 mask. The residents are allowed visits from family members. The only thing dividing infected residents and non infected residents is a tarp that's taped to the wall. They have staff work both units. One day with infected residents other day with non-infected. If nurse in infected area needs help, another nurse from non-infected area goes to help out, removes PPE, and returns to non-infected side. They keep telling me I need to work the infected side because I am a new nurse but I told them I refuse since I feel like it's putting my license at risk. Should I just quit and find another job. I have talked to other people and they all think these are not safe circumstances. What should I do?

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

Quit

[RN_Lou_2020, LPN, RN]

I would be trying to find another place to work. I work on a med surg floor and deal directly with covid-19 daily but luckily, we have proper PPE to use.

[Queen Tiye, RN]

Sounds like leaving at the end of your shift and not returning would be the safest choice. It’s never good to leave without giving notice, save for the cause of preserving your license or your health.

The BON deserves a call concerning this facility’s need for assistance formulating a Covid safety plan.

[amoLucia]

3 hours ago, Queen Tiye said:

Sounds like leaving at the end of your shift and not returning would be the safest choice. It’s never good to leave without giving notice, save for the cause of preserving your license or your health.

The BON deserves a call concerning this facility’s need for assistance formulating a Covid safety plan.

Not the BON, but your state Dept of Health and your local Board of Health.

And I usually advise against this, but a call to a local TV station might shake up things.

[Mintezia]

Pandemic or not the facility is supposed to have PPE at all times. I smell a situation ripe for a lawsuit. Make sure you have something lined up though. Good luck!

[Christina Faye, LPN]

I agree with everything that the others said. Quit, and notify the DOH at the very least. If not for yourself, then for the patients who are living in those conditions.

[caliotter3]

On 7/20/2020 at 10:21 AM, Crystal-Wings said:

Quit

Quit

[nsoler, ADN, RN]

I'm never an advocate of quitting; mainly because I'm not a quitter and I cringe at the words "I'm starting another new job..." BUT QUIT! You are an LVN, you are valuable! And you can find another job quickly. I would never want anyone working in an unsafe environment and I would advise calling the Dept of Health!

Good luck !