problem with my DON, help!

[nurseredd]

So this is my first post on here but I NEED advice from other nurses and cannot discuss with coworkers.

I am a LPN charge nurse on an inpatient behavioral unit for LTC. Most of my patients are dementia, schizoaffective, schizophrenic or bipolar. Please keep in mind, we are LTC and not "total psych" therefore we do not use restraints or administer psych meds IM/SC to combative patients.

On my unit, a patient dx "dementia with behavioral disturbances" was due her scheduled Trazodone. I approached her in a calm manner per usual, as she is known to get violent (but never with me). Upon telling her it was time for meds crouched down at her level, she proceeded to punch me 3 times (neck, shoulder, forearm). She's 90-something, but this woman was like Muhammed Ali.

Now I step away from her calmly, and she throws water on me. Again, this is part of her dx (ie: behavioral disturbances). I am not hurt, nor angry. But I do need to report her increased agitation to my supervisor, which I do. Her only PRN is Trazodone 25mg, which I had to wait to give her once she calmed down (my supervisor gave it along with her scheduled meds).

Per protocol, I filled out an incident report, contacted the psych PA, updated the family, etc etc. You nurses all know the protocol, it's fairly cut and dry. My supervisor contacted our DON, who stated NOT to call the police or send her to the ER. Strange...but I went on with my night, thinking psych would see her in the AM.

Patient was not seen by psych in the AM, as they only come to the building 3x/week (unbeknowst to me, as I work 3-11pm). On this shift, this same patient calmy walked by another patient who was dozing in his wheelchair and punched him unprovoked in his arm.

I fill out another incident report, this is much more serious, as it is patient-to-patient. Luckily, she did not hit him hard enough to arouse him, but this behavior cannot be ignored. My DON again tells the supervisor NOT to call the police. Really??? This patient was started on Divalproex 250mg PO BID the next morning by psych, FYI.

A few days later, my DON sits down to talk to me. He is condescending, asking me "why did you allow her to hit you THREE times" "why didn't you give her the PRN right away" (hello, she hit me because she didn't want her scheduled meds! Not looking to get punched a fourth time!), "Why did you let her throw water on you" and ended it with "you know, it's a shame this patient ended up on another med because you cannot handle your unit"

My DON then tried to get me to change my statement about the incident of this patient hitting another patient, stating the CNA who witnessed changed her statement to say she was just trying to get the dozing patients attention. She is a per diem CNA & doesn't have a nursing license to uphold, first of all. I clearly saw this patient hit him in anger and I refused to change my statment.

I was outraged. This patient has been a repeat offender of violent behavior on every unit in the building. She was moved to my unit a year ago for this reason. I refused to change my statement, so the DON had to call the police to file a report. Fast forward a week...

I had asked for Halloween off for a bachelorette party 8 weeks in advance. I was told the Monday before Halloween "the DON denied your day off. He said you should have found your own coverage." This information about "finding your own coverage" is NOWHERE in the employee handbook. I have tons of vacation time to use. Halloween is not considered a holiday at work. I am not upset the patient hit me, as this is unfortunately a behavior thanks to her dx. However, I am upset with how my DON treated me.

I feel as though I am being chastised for doing my job as a mandatory reporter, and now having vacation time denied that I deserve. I have NEVER asked for a day off at this job before, as I've only been there 8 months. I work a lot of OT too.

He is such a snake I am scared to report him to our central HR. I feel like he will somehow figure out a way to fire me, although I have no write ups or disciplinary actions on file.

Thoughts on how to proceed or what to do?! Help!!!

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Get out, get off orientation/probation at your new job and then report him. This DON seems to have an axe to grind with you. I can't see this getting better.

[caliotter3]

Based upon what you posted, if it were me, I would dust off my resume and take my services elsewhere. It is only a matter of time before you suffer adverse consequences of the attitude the boss has toward you. I don't see how I could work in that kind of an atmosphere when it is a difficult setting to begin with. JMO

[Karou]

I would try to find a different job.

I think you did the right thing by refusing to change your statement, and it definitely sounds like the DON is retaliating against you for it. He sounds like a real winner.

[nurseredd]

Thanks to all 3 of you! Sadly, I work a mile from home & I am doing my RN. I LOVE my job, I love my patients (even Muhammed Ali haha). I've wanted to work here since my clinicals in LPN school 3.5 years ago. I am paid a lot higher than my BSN-RN friends. The ONLY problem is the DON. I feel like I am allowing him to "win" by leaving. I don't want to leave a job I love over a ****** DON.

[nurseredd]

Get out get off orientation/probation at your new job and then report him. This DON seems to have an axe to grind with you. I can't see this getting better.[/quote']

report him to whom?

[caliotter3]

"You can not handle your unit", your quote. Where do you think this is going to go? He is not backstabbing or blindsiding you, he is telling you to your face what your performance evaluation or termination paperwork is going to include. You need to protect yourself one way or the other. Think the quote is from Maya Angelou, something like, 'when people tell you how they are, believe them', or words similar.

[nurseredd]

"You can not handle your unit", your quote. Where do you think this is going to go? He is not backstabbing or blindsiding you, he is telling you to your face what your performance evaluation or termination paperwork is going to include. You need to protect yourself one way or the other. Think the quote is from Maya Angelou, something like, 'when people tell you how they are, believe them', or words similar.

Yes, but my handling my unit has nothing to do with this patients behavior. He also cannot let me go for that statement, considering my lack-there-of any disciplinary write ups. Luckily, DON doesn't do any of our performance evals, supervisors do. Side note: this patient has been like a kitten since being started on Divalproex, which is phenomenal. I'm debating reporting him to my states BON, but have no idea how to do this in a manner where I am taking seriously. I'd imagine they get tons of complaints!

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

The DON may be your only problem, but he's a huge problem. Stay if you want to stay, but don't have high expectations. I would leave.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

report him to whom?

Does he have a boss? Corporate?

The board of nursing because he wanted you to falsify documentation (alter the incident report).

[nurseredd]

Our corporate is useless. We were just bought out so the new company comes in end of December. He's such a winner even the patients hate him.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Yes, but my handling my unit has nothing to do with this patients behavior. He also cannot let me go for that statement, considering my lack-there-of any disciplinary write ups. Luckily, DON doesn't do any of our performance evals, supervisors do. Side note: this patient has been like a kitten since being started on Divalproex, which is phenomenal. I'm debating reporting him to my states BON, but have no idea how to do this in a manner where I am taking seriously. I'd imagine they get tons of complaints!

Are you sure about that? Do you belong to a union?

Do you live in a right-to-work state?