I posted this in the home health page as well, but really need some quick advice so thought I would post here too.
I just started working HH last Monday and already having issues with it. I am a CNA waiting to take my state test in a few weeks. I went to a persons house on Wed for a short few minutes (literally), I picked her up to run to the store etc. I was with her for about 2 hrs and only dropped her off and carried her grocery's back to the apartment (very very small apartment), I did not stay in there because she wanted to put her own stuff away and told me to just leave everything on the couch..so I did.
Well, the problem I have is since then I have been sick. I'm sneezing like crazy, coughing, runny nose. All the same symptoms of a head cold but a little different to me. As I get older I find more allergies, the cotton on our trees is blowing like crazy this week too so it could be that but the persons house I went to has 11 cats...11 indoor cats that absolutely smell terrible and she lives in absolute filth. My DH is telling me to refuse this women that they put me with for 3 hrs on Monday "cleaning her house". I am thoroughly disgusted with this, I have cried over it because the house is literally a path to walk through which is full of kitty litter. My vehicle smelled like cat just from her riding w/ me, it took 2 disinfectant sprays and 2 days to get rid of the smell. I realize someone has to help her out but I don't think it can be me. I don't understand how she should be allowed to live w/ 11 cats and have the state take care of her, if she is in such bad health that she gets home healthcare then maybe the cats could be contributing to her sickness. She's only in her early 40s and gets around really well, cooks for herself etc.
Can I refuse her since working just a very few short days. I'm thinking of quitting already because they have me working EVERY day a few hours 8 miles away from me, I get every other weekend off, thats the only days that I will be scheduled off of work, every other weekend. My schedule ends up being 12 days on, 2 days off every other weekend. I do not get gas mileage, make $8.00 an hour and have to run people to out of town appts or whatever on my gas which is now $4.00 a gallon. I told them I wanted part time being 3-4 days a week not part time hours EVERY day, I have 3 kids, go to college and have a husband to help take care of.
EWWW!!! The thought makes me want to shower! Do you think your agency knows her living situation? I think I would tell them that I would rather have a different assignment and tell them why. Perhaps this patient is a cat collector. Either way, your being or on your way to being a CNA really shouldn't be cleaning a house. That sounds like a job for an agency that specailizes in that (Merry Maids for ie). Keep us posted please.
I thank you all for your replies. I have stressed over this ALL weekend long! My agency is the one who warned me about her living style. I was there those short few minutes that day and the smell was terrible in my clothes and in my nostrils. I can't imagine being there for 3 minutes let alone 3 hours that I'm scheduled.
When I took my schedule the other day, I saw my name and 2 others before mine and their names were crossed off the list. My name was the last on the list so that tells me the other 2 refused her. I was warned about her but never imagined what I was about to encounter. My care plan for her calls for 3 days a week. They said she doesn't let you do a lot for her as far as her house is concerned (and it shows by the knee high piles of magazines, used kitty litter bags etc) but the fact still remains that I would have to wash her clothes for her at her house. She lives alone so nobody else at home can help.
I think I'm just gonna call first thing tomorrow morning and tell them I quit, that it's not for me and move on. A few others I had were pure delights to work for, but I truly don't want to be on 12 days in a row and be on-call when I am at a clients house, they have called me while at a clients house and ask if I could get Mrs. Whoever after I was done with my client. I have a babysitter for my kids and every time I have to go get someone else after my scheduled shift is over that really puts a kink in my babysitters schedule as well as my own.
Thanks for all your advice..I'm tired of thinking about it so I'm calling it quits in the morning.
I strongly suggest a call to APS. If nothing else they will see that she gets help to clean out her house. Bags of used kitty litter is not a healthy thing and the health dept would have a real problem with that. If she's renting the house then the landlord would be at risk for fines if it's not cleaned up in a reasonable amount of time.
Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.
Most counties have laws limiting the number of animals a person can have. Animal collecting is frequently seen in the failing older population (I am a volunteer for our local shelter).
The other posts here have addressed the need for your own safety and that of the patient, but the cats have a right to live in a safe, healthy and clean environment as well. Please call your local animal shelter and ask who handles the cases for animal cruelty for the county. This woman's furry friends need to be properly cared for and this patient doesn't have the ability to do this anymore.
I'm going to call someone about her living conditions. Today I'm going to quit as soon as the secretary comes in at 8am. Our scheduler is on vacation until tomorrow so she'll have to do. I feel sooo bad just quitting w/ no advanced warning (I've always given a 2 week notice when taking a new job to better myself, but this time I'm just plain quitting). I'm also not going to report this on any new resumes at all. Nobody needs to know any different. Is there a way for employers to find out every little detail of your work history?
I took the bags of used kitty litter to the dumpster on Wed, so I'm sure there's more waiting now for someone to take to the dumpster with that many cats. I guess I should mention too that a few of the cats are young but she's planning on keeping them if she can't adopt them out to a good home. Something is not right with her for sure, I wish I could have seen the rest of her apartment, or maybe I should be glad I didn't.
chevyv, BSN, RN
1,679 Posts
EWWW!!! The thought makes me want to shower! Do you think your agency knows her living situation? I think I would tell them that I would rather have a different assignment and tell them why. Perhaps this patient is a cat collector. Either way, your being or on your way to being a CNA really shouldn't be cleaning a house. That sounds like a job for an agency that specailizes in that (Merry Maids for ie). Keep us posted please.