Nursing Home Neglect

[Colee]

The CNAs at the nursing facility where I work as an RN are not giving our residents their showers that they are supposed to get twice a week or cutting their fingernails, or even helping the more frail ones eat...(only the most disabled get that help...and those aides get to SIT DOWN to feed and WOW is it a LONG feeding!) They always come up with a reason that they "don't have time", or they "have to chart", or "it's 1:00 and the 2:00 shift is going to be here soon so THEY can't do it", or they "havent had a break in 4 hours!" etc etc etc. For instance, I have been trying to get one of my residents a shower for the past 6 days and every day the CNAs give me a different excuse. I have asked kindly and have tried it all times of the day. I have told them at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the day that PLEASE... he WANTS a shower! I ask them to pass the message on to the aides that relieve them. Yet.. I CANNOT get this poor man a shower! I think I am going to have to go in on my day off and do it for him! (FYI...As RN today, I had 6 skilled and 14 other residents to care for, plus answered most of my own call lights, changed beds, briefs, etc.)   So maybe I will go in tomorrow and shower him...just so happens  the State Board will ALSO be there. I have a feeling they may get an earful anyhow if the residents find out who they are.  I am sick and tired of the neglectful situations that happen daily at this  nursing facility.  Charting should be done AFTER resident care and if you have to stay after your shift like I do every time I work, you WILL get paid for it! The time clock does not blow up the moment your scheduled shift  ends! It really BUGS me when day after day, I see aides sitting at the nurses station talking/playing on their phone for long periods, reading a book or studying. They come in at 6, complain about their assignments literally for an hour to an hour and a half, juggle everything around so no one knows what anyone is doing especially the nurses, and then they start work about 7:00-7:30a, then they go on break b/w about 11a -12p, return about 1 or 2:00 p and then literally beg to take residents out to smoke so they can sit another 20 min or so.  Today my aide HAD to pass out menus instead of prioritizing helping me get a resident that was in pain back to bed FIRST... It was absurd!  And don't get me started about how they wear their STREET clothes to work in! The other day, I saw one aide wearing her FUZZY TIGER PRINT SLIPPERS...I swear to you! Anyhow...If you know anyone like this, please talk to them about prioritizing care. Stand up for your residents... they deserve better care! What if it was our parents, our grandparents, or God forbid, ourselves getting this kind of negligent care? What would we do to try to fix the situation? Everyone is afraid of upsetting the aides because we "don't want to lose them"... Well I don't need to work with anyone that prioritizes taking people out to smoke or passing menus or talking on their phone, etc above helping a resident in severe pain get back into bed  (yes I offer and give assistance) or a resident that needs a shower after 2 weeks of NADA!  I did more aide care for my residents during my 14-hour shift today than any of my aides did. And I had 20 patients, no breaks except to go to the bathroom ONCE and NO meals. I'm too old for that s***! Please nurses, be advocates for your residents and let your CNAs know that they need to PRIORITIZE their care of the these people.  There should be NO time for them to sit at the nurses station talking/playing on their phones, reading, etc when they complain about how "busy" they are...that is what breaks are for! Please PLEASE advocate for your residents...sometimes we are their only voice!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"just so happens  the State Board will ALSO be there" My suggestion was going to be notify the state board. However... it is no surprise and most staff will be on their best behavior. It is not the time to bring up your concerns. I hope they notice the major issues.  I would wait a while . I would have meticulous documentation and notify the board of these issues. I would also be looking to get out of Dodge.. as you are unable to change this nasty place.

 

[emmanueltdg]

I am continually inspired by the compassion and dedication that our healthcare team brings to our work every day. The commitment to providing the best possible care for our residents is evident in the smallest gestures of kindness and tireless efforts to ensure their well-being. Together, we create a supportive and nurturing environment that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. I feel grateful to be part of such a dedicated team, and I believe our collective efforts are positively impacting. Let's continue to uplift each other and the spirits of those we care for, creating a place filled with warmth, empathy, and healing. Thank you for all that you do, every single day.