I apologize in advance is this is long and rambles, but I just need to get it out.
I am a new employee in a LTC facility that surprisingly I love being at (never thought I was a LTC kind of nurse). So the thought of voluntarily quitting is not an option at this point. Myself, another nurse (whom I will call X), and 6 CNAs make up the whole night shift crew (new mgmt took over before we all started, made changes, getting new people). About 2 weeks ago, X got called to the office because of some accusations against her (sleeping on the job, not giving meds, not doing other nursing duties required at night), as well as accusations of other staff members sleeping at night. This in turn led to all of us being questioned by mgmt as well as nurses on other shifts being questioned about us. Well, long story short, ppl did admit to starting to nod off occasionally (it gets very slow on our unit and boredom does set in), but never slept (you know, like when ur head starts to dip down and back up several times). When we've noticed that happening to anyone, we let them know they're starting to fall asleep, have them go to their car for their 30min break and take a nap. To me, there's nothing wrong w/ that, we're covered, and they are entitled to 30min that is already docked anyway.
Well, X and another CNA (I will call Y) were suspended while they finish their "investigation", and myself and another CNA (I will call Z) were put on probation. I was the last to get spoken to, and was told during the talk that everyone who had made a statement admitted to sleeping on the job (mgmt saying full out sleeping in the day room w/ pillow and blankets) and that several people said that I have done it too. Pardon me, but it's complete crap. I honestly think they were fishing to see what I would say (I've used this tactic on my kids many times). They also said that I should have known about some of the accusations against X and been there to correct it from happening (not giving pain meds, not doing chart checks, tube feeding that wasn't hung all night). I'm sorry, but I have plenty of my own duties to take care of, I should not be having to watch over every little thing that she does.
Now X is upset because she and Y were suspended (they are black), and myself and Z were put on probation (we are hispanic). She wants to turn this into a race issue (because the last several nurses in our facility that were fired were all black. Doesn't look good I know, but their work record spoke loudly that they needed to go).
Z is a friend (in fact, we were all good friends outside of work). I was talking to her, and she told me that she wanted to give me a heads up, that she had been talking to Y, who had been talking to X (I know, the gossip line can't always be trusted), but that Y told her that X is going to be making a new statement today that everyone sleeps on nights, we turn the call system off so that we don't have to answer lights, that she knows of times when I would go to sleep, that I do not give my meds at night, and that she believes I have been diverting narcs. :angryfire:angryfire:angryfire
I was told during my questioning that the basis of the accusations came from a resident who is bedbound, who has advanced alzheimers, who complained that she would call all night and not get checked on. Which again, is not true, you could clean her, walk out of the room, and she would be on the light saying that no one has been in to see her. Also, why not check w/ her roommate, who is completely A&O, and who has actually been getting upset for the lack of sleep she's been getting due to the constant traffic of staff in the room to assist the first resident.
So now I'm put on probation, I have a ton of extra duties (meaning paperwork) that I have to do while on probation that has to be turned in to the DON every day that I work. If I do not turn these in or if I commit any infarction, I will be immediately terminated. Now to hear that X will be making a new statement saying these things has me mad and scared. I do believe there is some truth to what I'm told because the last time I talked to her, she was very indifferent towards me, and has since refused my calls and not answered texts I have sent. I love this job, even though they have me scheduled by myself for 60 residents, even though I have 3 times my normal workload, and getting out an hour late because I do not want to be fired. I have never encountered a situation like this before, and I have never had these type of accusations made against me. So I can't sleep, sitting here waiting to see if the phone will ring and the caller ID will show work.
*I do want to say that the purpose of this thread is not about sleeping on the job, this is just me venting about unfounded and completely untrue accusations being made about me*
Write a letter of resignation today and look for a new job tomorrow. I wouldn't set one foot back into that facility especially knowing someone is setting you up for a huge fall. GET OUT TODAY.
Batman24
1,975 Posts
Write a letter of resignation today and look for a new job tomorrow. I wouldn't set one foot back into that facility especially knowing someone is setting you up for a huge fall. GET OUT TODAY.