"Take down" in LTC?????

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I reported a situation to the Unit Manager that another nurse did what she referred to as a "take down" on a LTC resident. I am new to LTC and had no clue what she was talking about when she told me she was going to do this to the resident. I pleaded with her to allow me to take the resident back to her room and allow me to give her the IM inj. of ativan to her while in bed and that I thought she would allow me to give it to her because she trusted me. But this nurse had a head full of steam and didn't even want to discuss it. So she tripped her and knocked her to the floor and shot her with the ativan through her clothing. I don't even know how she could accurately hit her landmarks with the res. clothing still on. The unit manae ger told me this was abuse and should have been reported immediately, which I didn't do because the nurse was training me at the time and when I questioned her on it she told me it was policy, so how was I to know differently? My gut bothered me about this incident until I finally went to the unit manager about it. The nurse had left employment at our facility by this time (2-3 weeks later) (She walked out one day because she was riffed about something.)

Anyweveray.. last week I come into work to see her name on the schedule again. I was completely SHOCKED!! I went to the unit manager and asked her why given what I had reported to her and she didn't have much to say other than she didn't have control over it. I asked her if she had told the DON about it and she didn't reply. I told her to nevermind then because i had emailed the Admin. and the DON and explained everything in grand detail. She was later called into the Admin's office and asked if this had been reported to her, she said she had no recollection of it, even though we had just discussed it again that very morning. (LIAR!) I gave the CNA's names that witnessed the act and they were interviewed too. At this point I don't know what to do. If she comes back after I've reported this, she is going to make my life a living hell for ratting her out. She was already bullyish with everyone on staff and would scream and yell at everyone, bossing people around and telling them she was the new ADON (She's an LPN) etc. No one knew officially what her title was, but she acted as though she was the boss, so most of us believed she was.

My dilemma is that I don't know now if I did the right thing. My admin. was great and nice to me. The DON was not so nice and treated me like a nuisance. As though I had broken some unwritten rule to never rat out another nurse. I play by the rules and I don't want to see elderly people abused. In the nurse's defense, the res. was combative and she did bite her. I don't have this reaction from the resident at all. All I typically have to do is talk nice to her and she will follow me anywhere. This nurse has had run-ins with other residents as well. To me she is a loose cannon just waiting to go off again.

Please give me your insight. I am so new to LTC I'm not sure what I did was right or wrong now. I don't think the DON even believes me since the Unit manager has denied the report. Now I look like the bad guy, even though I wasn't the one who did this. What is the Admin. staff's responsibility to do with this information once it has been confirmed by the other witnesses? I don't wish to ruin this nurse's life, I just don't want her to come back to work at this LTC facility. She is always making life a living hell for the rest of us, not to mention the resident's too. Someone please tell me what I did was right or wrong?

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What she did is totally wrong .... I have been in LTC two years and have never seen that done. That wouldn't be tolerated where I am employed. Good luck to you as a new nurse ... ltc is hard .... it isn't for everyone .. and even for those of us who love it, it is a challenge every single day not to scream and pull your hair out.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

She was 100% no question about it totally wrong. It is abuse, assault, battery.....I would have immediately reported her to the DNS and administrator and if they did nothing, I would have 1. called the state myself and report her to the DPH and 2. most likely would have called the police and had her arrested if the DNS had not responded. And then I would have fired anyone who knew about it and didn't say anything.

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What she did was inexcusable.

What if the resident had sustained a broken bone, like a hip, from her tripping her and knocking her to the floor? You know how elderly people are prone to fractures.

I think that nurse should be reported to the police, myself.

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Agree withn you all. a "take down" should be only used in extreme circumstances with known Psychiatric patients.

I have nursed a lot in that particular area - LTC and psychogeriatrics as well as with full-on disturbed patients in special units (locked) in a Psych Hosp.

To do what you say she did, is unforgivable and I feel, reportable to the law. How do you cope? the best thing for the time being is to sit tight and just make a note of the upsets she causes if and when she returns and note down the curcumstances, date and time of each incident for use at a later date. If the present senior nurses in the establishment do not believe you and are willing to employ her, then when and if she does get employed in your immediate area (and you are on your own), then it may be you will have to confront her, or leave.

I feel that she will eventually slip up and frustrate someone else the same as you, and then your evidence can be presented - and backed up.

In front of some of her and your peers, you could complement her on her promotion!

Good luck.

Mister Chris.:specs:

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How old is this resident? What is her mental status?

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
...the res. was combative and she did bite her.

Good.

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re take down:

This is total abuse! Under no circumstances should this be tolerated. You did the right thing by reporting it. Is there any policy for very agressive pt such as a code where help is available to ensure your safty and your otherpts?Mine is code white where staff( specially if males are available)come to assist you. You then have enough people to safely defuse the situationwhere no one is injured

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she was wrong..no two ways about it

let this be a learning situation for you in case you are placed in this position again

1] report this in writing to unit mgr and to don first opportunity minimum of 24 hours keep copy for your self

2] get statements from all witness while their memory of what happen is clear

3] there is a report that state provides for witnessed abuse

4] remember that you and your license are responsible for anything that puts a patient at harms way and you didnot report

don in this situation is in a bad situation, she is suppose to report to state any abuse that occurs with a 24-48 hour time frame depending on the state how would you like to be her and say that this happen several weeks ago

unit mgr is covering her behind with bad memory here she is with a abusive nurse that the don hired because nm didn't inform her of previous situation

if the aides had reported this before you did, you would have some explaining to do

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That is unequivocally ASSAULT and that nurse should not be allowed to work anywhere.

I reported a situation to the Unit Manager that another nurse did what she referred to as a "take down" on a LTC resident. I am new to LTC and had no clue what she was talking about when she told me she was going to do this to the resident. I pleaded with her to allow me to take the resident back to her room and allow me to give her the IM inj. of ativan to her while in bed and that I thought she would allow me to give it to her because she trusted me. But this nurse had a head full of steam and didn't even want to discuss it. So she tripped her and knocked her to the floor and shot her with the ativan through her clothing. I don't even know how she could accurately hit her landmarks with the res. clothing still on. The unit manae ger told me this was abuse and should have been reported immediately, which I didn't do because the nurse was training me at the time and when I questioned her on it she told me it was policy, so how was I to know differently? My gut bothered me about this incident until I finally went to the unit manager about it. The nurse had left employment at our facility by this time (2-3 weeks later) (She walked out one day because she was riffed about something.)

Anyweveray.. last week I come into work to see her name on the schedule again. I was completely SHOCKED!! I went to the unit manager and asked her why given what I had reported to her and she didn't have much to say other than she didn't have control over it. I asked her if she had told the DON about it and she didn't reply. I told her to nevermind then because i had emailed the Admin. and the DON and explained everything in grand detail. She was later called into the Admin's office and asked if this had been reported to her, she said she had no recollection of it, even though we had just discussed it again that very morning. (LIAR!) I gave the CNA's names that witnessed the act and they were interviewed too. At this point I don't know what to do. If she comes back after I've reported this, she is going to make my life a living hell for ratting her out. She was already bullyish with everyone on staff and would scream and yell at everyone, bossing people around and telling them she was the new ADON (She's an LPN) etc. No one knew officially what her title was, but she acted as though she was the boss, so most of us believed she was.

My dilemma is that I don't know now if I did the right thing. My admin. was great and nice to me. The DON was not so nice and treated me like a nuisance. As though I had broken some unwritten rule to never rat out another nurse. I play by the rules and I don't want to see elderly people abused. In the nurse's defense, the res. was combative and she did bite her. I don't have this reaction from the resident at all. All I typically have to do is talk nice to her and she will follow me anywhere. This nurse has had run-ins with other residents as well. To me she is a loose cannon just waiting to go off again.

Please give me your insight. I am so new to LTC I'm not sure what I did was right or wrong now. I don't think the DON even believes me since the Unit manager has denied the report. Now I look like the bad guy, even though I wasn't the one who did this. What is the Admin. staff's responsibility to do with this information once it has been confirmed by the other witnesses? I don't wish to ruin this nurse's life, I just don't want her to come back to work at this LTC facility. She is always making life a living hell for the rest of us, not to mention the resident's too. Someone please tell me what I did was right or wrong?

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i still haven't seen mention of how old this resident was or what her mental status is.

the reason that i ask is b/c not all ltc residents are elderly. we have one who is 28 yrs. old and psychotic. she is young and strong. if she becomes combative someday, a take-down such as you described might be necessary.

of course, even then, the nurse should have let you try it your way first.

if this is an elderly resident, you need to report this to the state now.

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ahhhhh The sweet smell of Politics in the LTC

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