Quit after a week!

[McArdle]

I am currently a CNA and am doing my prerequisites for the LPN program at my local community college. Although I live in IL (not far from the IN border), I have worked as a CNA in IN for the past 2 years. After getting tired of the drive and the traffic, I decided to start a new CNA job closer to home. I got a job at a LTC facility in their Alzheimers unit. Ive always worked with Alzheimers patients so I felt pretty comfortable with the position. Well, me and another cna were in a patients room getting her changed because her clothes were soaked with urine. This resident can be combative at times and very sweet at other times. She constantly calls out for her sister and is always trying to "rally" the other residents into making a "break for it!". Well, while we were getting her changed she flat out slapped the other CNA across her face. This CNA hauled off and slapped her across her face right back and yelled at her! She then proceeded to stomp on the stuffed animal that this resident always carries around with her (a unicorn). I felt this was totally inappropriate and uncalled for and just flat out WRONG! After all, this resident is in the alzheimers unit for a reason! I reported what I saw to my nurse manager (who is a LPN and about 24 years old). Nothing was done and I feel my nurse manager is more intrested in hooking up with the head of the maintenance dept than she is about the residents care. She is always on the phone with this guy and rarely comes out of her "office". When she does, its usually to give one of the residents a shot of Ativan so they dont bug her for the rest of the night.

Sorry for the negativity in this post but I am just very discouraged by this experience. I will never be that kind of nurse and if I do ever feel like this kind of behavior is okay I will get out of nursing pronto!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Makes me thankful I work where I do where NO ONE would slap a resident...or if they did, the management team would be there so fast.....

[BabyRN2Be]

That is so sad. I'm sorry that you had to witness that event.

It was totally inappropriate that she stomped on the resident's stuffed animal. Even though she was having trouble putting up with the resident's behavior, she needs to know what she did was wrong and there's a better way to handle this situation.

Report her if possible.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

That is so sad. I'm sorry that you had to witness that event.

It was totally inappropriate that she stomped on the resident's stuffed animal. Even though she was having trouble putting up with the resident's behavior, she needs to know what she did was wrong and there's a better way to handle this situation.

Report her if possible.

It was totally inappropriate that she stomped on the stuffed animal?!?!?!?!?!?!

She SLAPPED a resident!! Cripes...did you miss that part of the post?

[LoriAlabamaRN]

I almost choked when I read that the nurse manager did nothing! I would be on the phone with the administrator, the owner of the facility, the state reporting agency, the ombudsman... whomever I had to! This was ABUSE, plain and simple. Regardless of what the resident did, the fact that the CNA slapped her back means she should be fired, stripped of her license and prosecuted. If she did this with a witness, then what is she doing when noone is there to see her actions? REPORT THIS. This CNA should never be allowed to approach another resident, ever.

[BabyRN2Be]

It was totally inappropriate that she stomped on the stuffed animal?!?!?!?!?!?!

She SLAPPED a resident!! Cripes...did you miss that part of the post?

No, I didn't miss that part of the post. NONE of the behavior should be tolerated. The entire EVENT, slapping the resident, verbally abusing the resident, everything was just horribly sad. I'm sorry that it came across to you that I was more upset about the stuffed whatever it was. I was upset at the entire event, and I felt it wasn't necessary to expound on the obvious.

[HARRN2b]

This is horrible. Gives me goose bumps reading it.

[burn out]

A similar situation happened to a person I know and what she did is not the norm but got the desired effect. She knew that her administrator would do nothing so she reported what she knew to the patients family /medical power of attorney who was the only one that could file assault/battery charges. Right now it is all in court with my friend being called to testify and the accused facing possible jail time. I don't know if the means justified the end but justice I feel was served.

[anne74]

I used to live in Illinois, and my mother is a retired RN for the Illinois Dept. of Public Health. She worked in the LTC Bureau, and reviewed complaints such as these. (She used to come home with some sad stories.) Her job was to decide what action to take against the homes - whether it be a hefty fine or pulling their license. Unfortunately, for some LTC's, these courses of action are the only catalyst for them to make changes. The state will most definitely take action for a case like you explained. You need to be an advocate for the patients and report the home to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Long Term Care Bureau. Their direct number is [phone].

I'm sure that's not the first time something like that happened, and unless you do something, it won't be the last - especially since the management there turned the other cheek. You can file a complaint anonymously, and feel good about yourself that you helped these poor people who can't help themselves. The threat of getting a fine and losing their license would surely convince that manager that something needs to be done. Maybe that something is firing her and the employee who assaulted the patient.

[rebemomma]

This is insane behavior for anyone who is caring for patients. If I were you I would report it to the board of the nursing home as well as the police. I dont know if your contract says what should be done in a situation like this but you might check your employee handbook or contract, however, if youre not worried about keeping this job i wouldnt bother... Just call the cops.

[thsnursluvsgeriatric]

Hi just read your posting. Had to register in order to reply.

Abuse sticks. Abuse of the elderly hmmmm, what's going on in that nurses head? People forget what a nurse is. She ought not to be there! You can give that elderly woman a voice and get your power back by doing something about it. Someone posted addresses for you to follow, please be brave and help this elderly woman. In the long run it will help the nurse get her act together.

Thanks

[chadash]

Hi just read your posting. Had to register in order to reply.

Abuse sticks. Abuse of the elderly hmmmm, what's going on in that nurses head? People forget what a nurse is. She ought not to be there! You can give that elderly woman a voice and get your power back by doing something about it. Someone posted addresses for you to follow, please be brave and help this elderly woman. In the long run it will help the nurse get her act together.

Thanks

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap:

[banditrn]

While I don't agree with what that CNA did, my question is: How can you also protect staff from being slapped or assaulted? Is this something that is routinely accepted.

I'm new to this whole LTC thing - last week I observed a resident slapping at, and swearing at two young ladies who were trying to get the resident to go with them so that they could change her wet clothes.

When I heard the ruckus, I asked the girls to just leave her be for the time being. They were being as kind and cajoling as they could be, but she just wasn't having it. I asked the resident to please not hit the staff, but I think it's a losing proposition.

How does everyone else handle these situations? If state had walked in at that moment and found her wet, I'm sure that they'd have had a fit!! But on the other hand, I don't feel that being punched should be part of the job.