sex offender in LTC...right to know

dudette10, MSN, RN · Sep 26, 2011

I can't answer your question about whether you had a right to know before the incident. But, if you had known, what would you have done differently? What would your facility have done differently, and what are you/they going to do to prevent the criminal behavior from happening again?

I'm asking because I'm sure your facility isn't the first to have faced this type of thing, and I'm truly interested in knowing what happens in these situations.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 26, 2011

I live in IL and both employees and RESIDENTS have to have a background check prior to employment/admission.

What is the requirement in your state?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 26, 2011

So I'm a new grad at my first job in a LTC facility. I work in a secure Alzheimers unit. One of the younger residents was wondering around calling the women kitty and he ended up fondling, under the shirt, another resident against her will. It turns out he is a registered sex offender (and rumor has it a murderer but idk for sure however the sex offender status im positive about) who spent time behind bars. Apparently it was not medically necessary for us to know that so we (nurses on the floor) were not informed. One I think it is medically necessary because people with dementia and other mental illness tend to revert to their younger days and second I think I have the right to know! I have only been there for 3 weeks. I am already on my own, I hardly had any orientation so I am already unsettled by this job. What do you guys think? Should they have told me about this residents particular criminal history?

I think that if the family of the fondled resident decides to take action the administration is going to get crucified in court for not giving you the information to protect ALL residents. There are secure sex offender facilities (though not many- and may involve interstate transfer- BIG hassle). But he's a lawsuit waiting to happen. YOU wouldn't be at fault if administration/DON hasn't given you the info- until you find out...now you do have a responsibility to watch out for other residents- ESPECIALLY on a dementia unit.

Why is this guy locked up with people in a confined space, who can't defend themselves?

Sex offender information is public record. All anybody has to do is look on the state site, enter the zip code (or whatever they ask for- it's easy info), and name of the person in question. You should get the status, known address, crime & age of victim, and current status (parole, probation, completed sentence). If you want to spend about 30-50 bucks, you can get the criminal history of anybody. If you find it free on a site after whatever means you use to initially get it- the murder info can be confirmed or denied.

I worked LTC in various places. We had to ship a guy out for the same thing (not "official"- but caught in the act at the facility, and not the possible murder part). The family got a 30 day notice, and the social worker finally found a place to send him. We had another guy who also ended up being inappropriate, last I saw him, his legs were upside-down in the window of a police car's backseat.....just waiting for the ADON and I to return with the order of protection from the courthouse....that was a fun day :uhoh3:

I'd be livid to not be told. You can't protect the other residents as well without the info to alert you to high risk patients. :twocents:

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 26, 2011

I live in IL and both employees and RESIDENTS have to have a background check prior to employment/admission.
What is the requirement in your state?

Is that relatively new? :)

I'm here in ILLinois (where ex governors make license plates as part of their retirement program)

Trauma Columnist · Sep 26, 2011

lol xtrn! You are so right!

Hang on a minute and let me see if I can find a link!

Here's one about employees being sex offenders:

http://blog.levinperconti.com/600hot_button_issues/sex_offenders_and_parolees_in/

Here's another story from the Chicago Tribune:

PDF]

Nursing homes: Most sex offenders living in nursing homes aren't ...

http://www.4fate.org/nursing_homes.pdf

KarriRN · Sep 26, 2011

Frankly Ive only been at this job a short time and I have seen many things that I do not agree with....I am terrified to go to work....terrified that because of staffing issues and the administration not caring that I'm a new grad that needs more guidance I'll be in a situation I cant handle....I have 39 residence under my care that I do everything for...meds...paperwork...adls...bc I have not med tech to help with meds and not enough cnas....I want to cry everyday before I go to work....there are no other jobs in my area, my husband is military so we cant move until he gets orders...i want to quit but like i said there are no jobs here and I dont want to be a job hopper...idk what to do

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

lol xtrn! You are so right!
Hang on a minute and let me see if I can find a link!
Here's one about employees being sex offenders:
http://blog.levinperconti.com/600hot_button_issues/sex_offenders_and_parolees_in/
Here's another story from the Chicago Tribune:
PDF]
Nursing homes: Most sex offenders living in nursing homes aren't ...
http://www.4fate.org/nursing_homes.pdf

I knew that employees go through background checks- which is good.... I didn't see anything about the residents having them- just that info wasn't presented from the registry (and most aren't registered when they go to homes- guess the state figures they're off the street....IDK). :cool:

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

Frankly Ive only been at this job a short time and I have seen many things that I do not agree with....I am terrified to go to work....terrified that because of staffing issues and the administration not caring that I'm a new grad that needs more guidance I'll be in a situation I cant handle....I have 39 residence under my care that I do everything for...meds...paperwork...adls...bc I have not med tech to help with meds and not enough cnas....I want to cry everyday before I go to work....there are no other jobs in my area, my husband is military so we cant move until he gets orders...i want to quit but like i said there are no jobs here and I dont want to be a job hopper...idk what to do

Can you anonymously report this to the state health department ?

lifein08 · Sep 27, 2011

So I'm a new grad at my first job in a LTC facility. I work in a secure Alzheimers unit. One of the younger residents was wondering around calling the women kitty and he ended up fondling, under the shirt, another resident against her will. It turns out he is a registered sex offender (and rumor has it a murderer but idk for sure however the sex offender status im positive about) who spent time behind bars. Apparently it was not medically necessary for us to know that so we (nurses on the floor) were not informed. One I think it is medically necessary because people with dementia and other mental illness tend to revert to their younger days and second I think I have the right to know! I have only been there for 3 weeks. I am already on my own, I hardly had any orientation so I am already unsettled by this job. What do you guys think? Should they have told me about this residents particular criminal history?

If I was you I would immediately call the DADS or the agency that does re certification for your facility and report this incident anonymously. And then the agency will come to the facility to investigate. In Texas the agency is Texas department of aging and disability services. you can just Google it. I don't know what state you are in?

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

What do you guys think? Should they have told me about this residents particular criminal history?

After you have worked in LTC, especially dementia care, for a while, you will realize you wouldn't do anything different with this resident than you would with any other.

Any resident with dementia - male/female, sinner or saint, is capable of this behavior practically at any time.

I know it's tough now, but you'll understand.

When I was an aide on a Med Surg trauma floor we had a guy who was driving drunk and killed two people, getting severe traumatic brain injury in the process. Completely disoriented and aphasic, just a mess. Was trached, on one to one observation and restraints for a long time.

He spent over a month on my floor and like many formerly healthy TBI patients, very slowly started getting better. After spending so much time with him, taking care of him, encouraging his recovery, working with his family - I could not help it, I started to like him.

Punishing him for his crimes was simply not my job. If I wanted that job, I could have gone to school for that.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 30, 2011

After you have worked in LTC, especially dementia care, for a while, you will realize you wouldn't do anything different with this resident than you would with any other.
Any resident with dementia - male/female, sinner or saint, is capable of this behavior practically at any time.
I know it's tough now, but you'll understand.
When I was an aide on a Med Surg trauma floor we had a guy who was driving drunk and killed two people, getting severe traumatic brain injury in the process. Completely disoriented and aphasic, just a mess. Was trached, on one to one observation and restraints for a long time.
He spent over a month on my floor and like many formerly healthy TBI patients, very slowly started getting better. After spending so much time with him, taking care of him, encouraging his recovery, working with his family - I could not help it, I started to like him.
Punishing him for his crimes was simply not my job. If I wanted that job, I could have gone to school for that.

Not the same as a prior history of sexual offender. i worked TBI/coma-stim...I understand what you're saying. But the OP is talking about a convicted sex offender- not a frontal lobe injury in a DUI offender.

You want the pervert taking care of your parent? :)

Protecting the majority is not the same as punishing anybody.....jmo