Bretside

Stay home if sick as evidenced by Sneezing, Coughing, Fever, or Diarrhea. No mask will take the place of common sense. I wash my hands often, use sanitizer on gas pumps/shopping carts, and test employees from their vehicle (why bring them in to be tested and risk possible exposure by coming inside the building). I'm sure there is a lot of spread via contacted surfaces even if you are wearing a mask. Any PPE is only effective as the user. I doubt if the average person knows how to use it effectively! How many people read the instructions or received an In-Service. To quote a Comedian I heard once, "In the 1950's the user manual for a vehicle told you how to adjust the valve timing now the user manual tells you not to drink the contents of the battery."

I do agree that the vaccine is safe and that is how we eradicated several diseases like Small Pox . I also know that it doesn't make sense to me that their would be any latent side effects. I did get it myself and I encourage others to do their research to make an informed decision as well. I do disagree with firing good nurses because they are reluctant. I'm in a rural community that it is hard enough to find just adequate staffing. Now, I'm being told to fire an RN that has been in practice since the 70's because she's reluctant. Is there going to be a day that I have to tell families, "Sorry, your mother fell while going to the restroom on her own I had to fire half my CNA's because they wouldn't get the vaccine." Why can't those that don't want the vaccine be allowed to do labwork instead? I was told that my Hepatitis A/B Vaccination may or may not be effective. I had bloodwork done to just see and still have very good immunity. I also remember a nurse that did the Hepatitis A/B Series twice and never developed immunity. I cannot force medicate an individual without a court order or a hearing with at least two providers plus an advocate. I can however now require a nurse to take a medication in this case a vaccine or lose their job?

I have been fully vaccinated and had Covid-19 as well. Although, it made sense to me to get vaccinated it may not for some. The problem seems to be one of trust in the government which is at an all time low now. One thing for sure is everyone's right to refuse a medication even a vaccination. I remember 20 years ago when it was a big deal that parents not wanting to get their kids vaccinated before starting school because it was believed to attribute to autism (This was just accepted as their right and they were allowed to go to school). I have never fired a nurse for not getting the flu shot we just asked them to wear a mask during flu season and stay home when sick. When I started nursing school I was taught that I could only trust peer reviewed sources. If I had turned in a paper with what was announced that day in the news I would have failed for sure. Why do we just take the latest announcement as true without a peer review? Also, I don't understand why an employees personal information seems to be allowed to be public suddenly. I remember a time where we could only ask, "Sick or Personal" when someone called in for a shift. I've had nurses tell me it is their right to know if an employee is out with Covid-19. I tell them that is none of their business. All they need to know is a staff member or patient tested positive. I test employees and patients when needed and will do everything I can to keep all of them safe (Sharing Personal Information that I will not do. Just like if an Employee had Hep-C, Cancer, or HIV if they follow universal precautions then they will be safe regardless).

I've slowly worked through a solution with my issue with the LVN/LPN out to get me. These are the steps that I've gone through that seemed to have helped and seems to be a combination of advice I got from everyone: 1) Met with the LVN/LPN and agreed to give her a second change if she agrees to give me a second chance as well (Before she would become offensive to any kind of leadership being allowed to do whatever she wants for the past 10 years and the five previous DON's she ran off). 2) Had a BBQ where I grilled a bunch of yummy food and had a meeting of what I expect from all of our staff (Especially, reliability is very important to me). 3) Hired on several PRN Staff members that would show up and help us in a pinch (I think this makes a statement that they can be replaced). 4) Took the problem child off of On-Call and Overtime with replacements. 5) Had a talk with all staff where it comes to working Agency (No problem with anyone having a second job as long as it doesn't interfere with the job here).

Thank You for the advice caliotter3. I was thinking of cutting back on the problem children's hours who have been calling in sick. Just need to get some more staff in the building to handle the fallout. Never been in this situation before where I'm not sure if I could trust anyone in administration. I have not had the opportunity to really express what I expect from staff. I was thinking maybe a potluck, cookout, or something. My first day as DON had the State in for Full Book. Have not really gotten a chance to put systems in place or figure things out yet.

I just took a job as DON in a small town nursing home. This small nursing home has been through 3 DON's this past year. I have had some call ins and had to work the floor as a CNA a few times already and alternating taking call working the floor with the LPN that has pretty much been handling the place (I did expect this to some degree starting out being a small facility-been far more then I expected). Funny thing is on her weekend On-Call is always staffed and I seem to have to come in all the time when it is my turn. This LPN has been going behind me calling the doctors changing my wound care orders to what she thinks we should be doing. I get the schedule all completed and then it gets altered by her. She tells me she is trying to get the shifts covered for me but I've been told that she is most likely sabotaging me with her buddies. I understand that I should probably pull rank on her and confront her about this. My problem is she is good friends with the administrator, the medical director, hr person, and has known most of the staff for a long time. I'm not really sure who I can trust or if administration will have my back. The administrator seems to be very open minded when I talk to him but I'm not sure if he will have my back when it comes to her. I love the facility, the residents, and it is near my small home in the country. Besides, having to work all the time and the struggle for control it is my dream job. Any advice on how to handle this power struggle????