Unbelievable LTC eyewitness stories

Todd SPN · Jun 27, 2004

This is probably not what you are looking for, but I want to share this. Because of circumstances, I took a job at a dementia facility until I could find work in my real profession. One night I watched a nurse arguing with a lady who had Alzheimers about what day of the week it was. I never had any intention of being a nurse, but as I listened to this seasoned nurse argue that it was Friday not Thursday, I thought to myself that if she could get a license, so could I and I could use the extra $6 per hour! About 2 months ago, my facility hired her to be the AM nurse on my unit. Now I have to follow her and have found out she is even a worse nurse than I imagined back then.

Destinystar · Jun 27, 2004

hey todd thanx for sharing u might want to go to the don & ask her if she thought that the things that this nurse did was ok?? dont act like your trying to get her in trouble just say to the don "i'm confused our instructor told us to do things this way but the lpn i was working with did it that way, pls. tell me which person do you think is correct my instructor or the lpn just want to make sure". lol:rotfl: hopefully the don will know how to answer.

this is probably not what you are looking for, but i want to share this. because of circumstances, i took a job at a dementia facility until i could find work in my real profession. one night i watched a nurse arguing with a lady who had alzheimers about what day of the week it was. i never had any intention of being a nurse, but as i listened to this seasoned nurse argue that it was friday not thursday, i thought to myself that if she could get a license, so could i and i could use the extra $6 per hour! about 2 months ago, my facility hired her to be the am nurse on my unit. now i have to follow her and have found out she is even a worse nurse than i imagined back then.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jun 27, 2004

I wish I could say these things are incredible... however.. and sadly... they are credible... to this day, I might add.

Except for the "smoking at the nurses' station", not all that much has changed, has it?

mandykal, ADN, RN · Jun 27, 2004

Jnette, I just had to watch your avatar.(*cool*)...

Anyways, back to the topic.....A few years ago when I entered the Health Care Field at a LTC, what was so unbelievable is when I realized that it isn't exactly how it should be. There's always that untold stories of what goes on behind closed doors.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jun 27, 2004

Jnette, I just had to watch your avatar.(*cool*)...
Anyways, back to the topic.....A few years ago when I entered the Health Care Field at a LTC, what was so unbelievable is when I realized that it isn't exactly how it should be. There's always that untold stories of what goes on behind closed doors.

Thanx, mandy ! I just love that happy little guy !

Yes.. what goes on behind closed doors. Very disturbing. This is why I could never work LTC, as much as I love these patients. I wouldn't last a day.. I'd be jumping up and down on the NM/DON's desk... :angryfire

And to top it off, your hands are so tied there...as stated so often, the minute you dare to disagree , complain, or offer better solutions, they get rid of you, so either way, you never get the opportunity to give these folks the care they deserve. grrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jun 27, 2004

I came in to work one morning at 7...got report that one of our favorite patients was very poor and not expected to last the morning. All his family lived at a great distance. I went into his room and there was one of the night CNA's sitting by his bed. Before I had a chance to say anything, she said "Don't worry, I clocked out". I wasn't going to say anything about her being there overtime. She stayed with him out of compassion..she didn't want him to die alone.

I know LTC can be horrible, but please let's not forget that GOOD things happen there,too.

Dixiedi · Jun 27, 2004

I wish I could say these things are incredible... however.. and sadly... they are credible... to this day, I might add.
Except for the "smoking at the nurses' station", not all that much has changed, has it?

Darn shame we can't smoke at the station anymore. Really bums me out!

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jun 27, 2004

I came in to work one morning at 7...got report that one of our favorite patients was very poor and not expected to last the morning. All his family lived at a great distance. I went into his room and there was one of the night CNA's sitting by his bed. Before I had a chance to say anything, she said "Don't worry, I clocked out". I wasn't going to say anything about her being there overtime. She stayed with him out of compassion..she didn't want him to die alone.
I know LTC can be horrible, but please let's not forget that GOOD things happen there,too.

Yes, there ARE some wonderful, wonderful ppl there who truly care and give their all. And they are so needed. God bless each and every one.

Thank you for sharing that heartwarming account. :kiss

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2004

I came in to work one morning at 7...got report that one of our favorite patients was very poor and not expected to last the morning. All his family lived at a great distance. I went into his room and there was one of the night CNA's sitting by his bed. Before I had a chance to say anything, she said "Don't worry, I clocked out". I wasn't going to say anything about her being there overtime. She stayed with him out of compassion..she didn't want him to die alone.
I know LTC can be horrible, but please let's not forget that GOOD things happen there,too.

Yah know...I work with a few of these kind of nurses and CNAs..That's why I stay at my place...We had one CNA (almost 73 and strong as an ox!) who would take home some of the residents clothes to mend them( sewing hems, letting them out or taking them in or replacing buttons or zippers) because family wasn't around to get new clothes...Well, when a new DON came she made her stop doing this...because she was taking residents property home (but bringing it back in better condition) :angryfire That would burn me up...these were also families that were able to buy mom an new stuffed animal, but not a new pair of pants or shoes...

I used to buy shoes (cheap canvas tenis) for some of the residents, but was also told I couldn't do this, because it may seem like I'm playing favorites with some of the residents....

Smoking at the nurses station/ lobby only quit about 8-9 years ago at my facility!

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2004

I have another unbelievable story....a cna on break had a resident give her a foot rub (yuk) needles to say..I got a good ethics paper out of this one...and she got a suspension!

Todd SPN · Jun 28, 2004

Thanx, mandy ! I just love that happy little guy !
Yes.. what goes on behind closed doors. Very disturbing. This is why I could never work LTC, as much as I love these patients. I wouldn't last a day.. I'd be jumping up and down on the NM/DON's desk... :angryfire
And to top it off, your hands are so tied there...as stated so often, the minute you dare to disagree , complain, or offer better solutions, they get rid of you, so either way, you never get the opportunity to give these folks the care they deserve. grrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!

Ya know, I must have landed the best job possible in LTC. When things aren't right, I have no problem with saying so. In fact, I probably do more complaining than I should (at least the way I come across), and for being a new nurse. I've said more that once that I'm too old and I've been married too many times to care about losing my job. One of these days they may call me on that. But what some of you have to go through in LTC I find unbelievable.