blueapples

UPDATE: I received a letter stating that they did an investigation and could not find anything but my claim will be kept on file.

WOW... ty so much for sharing these stories... A few years ago my Granny past away. Before then her health started failing quite rapidly. She had been a diabetic .. eye sight went.. soon her mind, well ..she wasnt "Granny" anymore and my mom ended up caring for her until she ended up in the hospital. When Granny was "herself" years before..she always STRONGLY told us she never wanted to be on life support. Yet, here I was...looking at her with a big tube down her throat...and tubes in her nose. I was standing at her bedside..and until now, I have always felt guilty for this; but I knew in my heart...Granny never wanted it this way. Mom had stepped out and I reached over Granny with a cloth to wipe the blood that kept just oozing out the side of her mouth.. she moved and tears were coming down her face..she knew I was there and she tried to pull at the tubes. A nurse walked in and I asked if there was anyway Granny would ever walk out of here without some kind of life support. The nurse said no. She gave her another dose of morphine and before the nurse walked out I asked if we were just prolonging the ineviteable. The nurse just looked away and walked out. I knew her health was gone and I knew this was wrong..I also knew mom was hurting cause this was not only my Granny, but her mother whom she loves dearly..as I do my own mother. I kept pleading with mom that Granny needs to go peacefully.. Mom and I went out to get some air..and I do not know what happened..but when we came back up..Granny had passed away. Mom flipped and was extremely upset..I cried more so for my mother and Grandpa than I did for my Granny. Here's why I've alwasy felt guilty.. I knew the pain Granny was going through..the nurses were always dosing her up with morphine..I knew she never wanted to be on life support..I knew that Granny, wasn't Granny anymore.. and when she passed on, I felt relieved. Relieved that she was not suffering anymore, relieved that she was finally at peace.. And at the sametime guilty for feeling that way. I LOVE my Granny, she was a second mother to me. But I didn't even cry at her funeral..and I've always felt guilty for that...that maybe there was something wrong with me. I think about her all the time, I wish she could have lived forever... Anyway..ty again for this thread. It's nice to know that maybe...it was ok to not want Granny to suffer anymore...

Do not worry bonesrn, I will not be going back, and I have contacted 3 state agencies..all of which that are getting involved. I really do want to get into the medical field..preferrably nursing. I have been checking into different avenues as I have no Nursing experience/education so I am starting at square 1. I was told it would be a good idea to start as a resident aide to get some direct/indirect patient care experience..which is how I fell into that job. I have been reading through this site and Im finding it extremely useful. There are two vocational schools here that offer an 11 month LPN program... but after reading so much through this site, I cannot see how so much information can be taught in such a short amount of time. I've also learned that the hospital here in town offers schooling, plus you work 32 hrs aweek at the hospital while you attend school. They pay for it as long as you sign a contract agreeing to work 1yr for them after graduation. I called twice on this, but cannot seem to reach anyone in the education department. Will try again in the morning. ~G'nite

Thank you all for your support and help in this matter. I am grateful for you and this website. I have learned so much in the short amount of time that I have been here. I cannot thank you all enough. As soon as I hear something, I will let you know!!

You will be pleased to know that I just got off the phone with the Ombudsmen of Florida. He is taking this seriously and it will be investigated. Furthermore, I called the HealthCare Administration and they did a verbatim report. I have been assured that this will be looked into and that I will be sent information as to the outcome. However, I did get the impression that it could take awhile... letina..the info has been sent to your pm.

One other side note..I'm not sure if I gave the wrong impression..but just to clarify.. the Admin is not the owner. The owner who is here from England..is a woman.

OK.. I sent a post to a local news station..it read as follows: "I worked here 2 days and had great concerns. I went to a nurses forum and all said it needed reporting. I did call the Florida Abuse Hotline, and they only seemed concerned about the gentleman I reported out by the road. I honestly do not know if the following is acceptable or not. Please read the link in its entirety. If you feel there is a problem here, I ask you to send someone...perhaps posing as one looking for a job...go there..see how easily you get in and just observe. Again I worked there 2 days, they took no information from me. I could have been anyone. Was never trained, and the sanitation , in my opinion, was horrid. In the link you will see a few pictures I took. They even had me washing different peoples fece soiled clothing together... that cannot be right. If I am over reacting, I apologize. But I would NEVER put anyone here. https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/severe-concerns-over-reacting-144742.html#post1534087 The topic is "Severe concerns or over reacting?" By Blueapples (me)" I also provided the name and address of the facility.

I do not know about his hip..he always indicated his rib area as the source of pain. As for undercover cameras..? Well..here: Aren't cell phones great? The quality is not all that good...and these were the only shots I could "sneak". There is one other picture, and though I used photoshop to black out the faces, I declined to post it. The cord, I nearly fell over (it stretches to a lamp at the foot of the bed..by the door)... under men's and women's sinks are cleaners... mold and mildew in tile... missing tiles.. and nearly all the vents look like they are about to fall on your head.. It's nearly 1am...and I just cannot get this thing out of my head to get some rest...

It is an Assisted Living facility...did not realize there was a difference between that and a nursing home. They are elderly peeps in wheel chairs, walkers and one bed ridden w/oxy tank... may I ask what the difference is...? And could this be the reason the Fl abuse hotline wasnt too concerned about anything other than the gentleman at the road..? And I will keep you updated.

So much for the number he gave me...office hours are 8am-6pm

I just got off the phone with the Florida Abuse Hotline. He took my info; showed concern about the resident that went to the road. I asked about the resident in pain that was given pain meds that were not his; He said that since I could not verify whether or not the admin was a nurse..basically there wasnt anything that would be done (as I understood it). As for the rest, he gave me another number to call. On my way to call the second number...but I must say...after the conversation with this "Mike", I do not foresee much being done....

For whatever reason, the post above is incomplete. Anyway..no I do not see a day 3, but I do feel guilty as I feel I am "abandoning" the residents that are there. Thank you for the link. I have called the Ombudsmen of Florida. There was no answer but left my name and number. I will try again in the morning. My very 1st red flag should have been the fact that they did not even take my personal information. I doubt I will be paid for the past 2 days and quite frankly.. I don't care. The admin kept saying she would get to it. Because they were in the middle of everyone quitting, I saw no harm in her being overwhelmed for one day and desperately needing someone. But when I asked her again today, as she sat in her office, if she wanted copies of my license and social; she said after I do my med course Friday she would do all the paperwork. Last question, I know nurses are expected to work long hours, but when are proper breaks given? Niether day have I had so much as a lunch break for an 8 hour shift...is that normal? Consequently, both days I've gotten home with a terrible headache... I do appreciate the information. When I got in today and read all of this..and let everything just sink in..I broke down in tears. I knew something felt wrong. And I will definetly make sure someone does something.. again thank you. Ederly & disabled... One on oxygen..had not eaten til the Hopice nurse came in One whom is hurt from falling has not eaten in 2 days cuz of pain Three are diabetics And I believe I heard the terms "Medicare Part D"

Thank you all. This is day 2. The reason I did not think I was over reacting is because there are hospice people in and out for one of our residents and I thought surely they would note any wrong doing. I did manage to get a moment alone with the hospice nurse and asked her a few questions. She sort of rolled her eyes and said places like this get away with these kind of things all the time. She then asked what I was wanting to do and then gave me a number to call. She said the hospital would be a much better place for me to get started and that they pay for schooling especially since they are in such need of nurses. And no...was never "trained" on anything. One of our residents is just too heavey for me to lift so I asked for help. The cook, thats right, the COOK came and helped me the best she could. Later on the same resident needed changing again. The admin said "we" would do it later. I am ashamed to say that I left my shift today without that resident being changed. Yes, I asked several times but was overlooked or told to wait. I have not had the med course yet either. They are sending me Friday for that. However, I was given 2 pills today to give to the resident that had fallen. He has been in pain and the admin said she doenst want him hurting. I glanced at the med pak and noticed they were not his and immediately questioned it. She said it would be ok.... I had to change some bedding today. The mattress was soaked and wreaked of urine. I asked the admin for something to clean it with and sanitize it. She said to just let it air out. I decided to dig around and try to find something myself. She noticed and said to leave it and she would get me a plastic cover for it later. In the end, the mattress was never cleaned, just flipped, covered and re-dressed. The room smells horrid. Last but not least, I nearly had a heart attack today. I was making my rounds and happen to glance out the window to see one of our mentally handi-capped residents out at the road. I panicked and ran to the front room to dash out the door but was stopped cold by the admin. She asked what was wrong and I said "so & so is out at the road!" She laughed and said he was getting the mail and that I needed to stop stressing so much. Now this road is one people FLY down all the time.

I'm not sure if this is the apropriate place for this thread so forgive me if it is not. I am not a nurse (yet) but have taken a job at a local nursing home as a resident aide. My reason was to get some experience as I will be going to school for nursing soon. Today was my first day and I have some severe concerns. Please tell me if this is the norm, or are these red flags??? The home is owned by a company in England. They just took over and nearly all the staff has quit due to changes (cut in pay..hours..that sort). The English owner is here for 2 weeks and has ordered that the facility was spending way too much money in food and thus has made up a precise menu on portions..leaving no room for seconds. The people are quite used to be able to get their fill. I asked if the restrictions were Dr ordered..answer was no..which is how I learned about the "cut". Security: When I first applied, I rang the bell. A resident allowed me in. No one was around for a good 5 mins.. I could have been anyone walking in. Furthermore, a resident can just walk out. And it is right off a main road. NO gates. Hazards: Where do I begin? Bleach, cleaners..meds.. all within easy reach and plain sight of residents. Again TODAY WAS MY 1st day.. I have not been trained, I have NEVER done this stuff before. I was handed a diaper and told to go change a resident. Ok, how.... A baby is easy to move around, an adult?? OMG that was rough, but I managed. My concern is...since I havent been trained, what if I hurt one...move them the wrong way?? Which lead me to another resident. When I got him to roll over, he screamed in pain.. I panicked and asked what was wrong..he told me where it hurt and after some digging..learned he had fallen a few days back, no report was made..and the Admin had just found out about it and ordered some x-rays.. How do I know I didnt hurt him even more??? I applied as a resident aide..however, I did housekeeping most of the day..on top of watch residents, change diapers, and help feed them. Im not complaining but the staff is myself, the cook..and the Admin during the day...for 11 residents. It's a bit hard to "watch the floor" if I'm in the laundry room or mopping a residents room. Is this how it works? My biggest problem is how easily anyone can walk in or out and all the safety hazards..or am I over reacting? If anything, I learned this today... should the day come where my parents need care.. it will be by me..not a nursing home. Thank you for your input.