Told to fake vital signs

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This question is for LTC nurses: I took a summer CNA job at a local nursing home that is chronically understaffed and has no equipment for taking vital signs. Maybe there was once an oximeter but nobody knows where it is. The nurse gave me a list of residents to get vital signs on and no equipment to do so. When I pointed out that there was no equipment, I told "the other aides do it- make it happen". Turns out the other aides just write down numbers and don't actually take vital signs. I've worked in some real crappy SNFs before but never have I been asked to fake vital signs. As a nurse, wouldn't that worry you that your aides are blatantly lying to you? Is this common?? Some of the aides have bought their own equipment but for the pennies they are paying me I can't afford that. I'm told asking management for equipment is a losing battle.

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I would ask to borrow the nurse's equipment.

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I did- it doesn't exist. I have my own stethoscope but nobody is asking me to take an apical pulse. There are no BP cufffs since the one broke. Nobody can find the thermometer. Its possible the nurse didn't want to give it to me.

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Funny. Make it happen

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I used to work in LTC as a CNA, and as a TMA, and LPN. Do not 'fake the vitals!' What an awful thing to say! If you get caught by state, that could be a huge deal. Tell the nurse who is telling you to get vitals that you need the equipment first. Go to the DON if need be. It very easily could be that you may need to find a new job. They may threaten to fire you, so be careful, and document what you can and are unable to do. Best of luck to you!

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Write a report and send it along to the Ministery of LTC and your college of nurses. This is so illegal and unsafe

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Yes! That is what I did tonight. Another nurse let me use her own supply of equipment. Yes I have decided I will not do that and tell the nurses I can't do my job without equipment.

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Specializes in kids.

Call the Ombudsman office and high tail it out of there!

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Do what you're told soldier and "make it happen."

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Specializes in kids.
Do what you're told soldier and "make it happen."

Are you kidding?? Fake it and drop someones BP when they take a med that has parameters that hold if Systolic is less then 100 or pulse is less than 60?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

You might want to increase your .

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i'd polish up my resume and look for another job. I would not fake vitals in a ltc setting. a cheap bp cuff on amazon is like 15 bucks. you may want to invest in one to use to cover yourself for now. But in the mean time... and i can't stress this enough... Get Out!! -it's a toxic work environment. Even if the vital sign issue gets addressed - there will be something else that puts you as an employee at risk. Get out!!

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