Unsafe Practices at Work? What do you think?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

I am considering switching jobs.

I have worked at my LTC facility as an CMA, while working through LPN school, I am now working there as an LPN while taking RN prereqs at my college. I have worked there for 1 1/2 years.

Lately, there have been more and more unsafe practices at my facility. I often charge at our Alzheimer's unit, where we have a couple of residents that are always fighting, and I'm talking fistfights. We have been in trouble with State for not reporting these fights (we have to fill out a report and fax it to the Department of Health within 24 hours). Our DON encourages us not to file reports, this weekend one of our residents was kicking another in the groin and abdomen with cowboyboots.

The LPN was on brake, the CNA and CMA witnessed the incident, removed the two residents from each other, then got the LPN. The LPN was filling out the paperwork to send to the state, and called our DON to make sure she has all the paperwork filled out right (nobody wants to send anything straight to the hands of the state inspectors, with your signature and tilte right on the paper, unless everything is right on it :D ).

She told our DON what happened and she said, "So the CNA saw him kicking the other resident" The LPN told her yes. The DON told her, "You didn't see it", the LPN told her no. The DON said, "If only the CNA's saw it, then he didn't kick him, and no report needs to be filled." So, the LPN did not file a report.

I'm pretty sure that if State comes and asks about the incident, the DON will let the LPN take the fall for that. If I would have been that LPN I would have informed that I will chart what has happened, I will fax it to the State, and I will not be back after I finish my shift, if I am asked to chart falsely.

I am getting tired of the practices at my workplace, and would love to find another job. My only problem is that I love my residents, they really enjoy it when I am there, and I always visit and talk with the. I feel like I am betraying my residents if I leave, and that brakes my heart. I know I should leave, but it is hard. I appreciate any imput.

Thank you

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Absolutely WITHOUT A DOUBT, I would fill out the paperwork, give it to the DON and MAKE COPIES!!!! Then make sure you keep all copies, check with the state to make sure these were filed-I believe you can remain anonymous---and if not--send em your copies and document, document, document. If possible have another nurse present during conversations with the DON. It dosent matter WHO saw the abuse---at our facility--I don't care if it was the housekeeper, cook, nurse, maintenance or a family member of another resident, a visitor, the pizza delivery guy, WHOEVER--we take every report and file it!! No matter what!!! Sometimes there are times when a resident strikes another resident and barely made contact, we file a report----no way around it. Then after you check with the state, I would get out of that facility. I realize you get attached to the residents, staff, etc. but you are asking for trouble staying in a facility that does not take abuse seriously. You don't want to go down with the ship.

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

100%.

renerian

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

Maybe it's time for the DON to get out of the facility! I would stay where you are, file the reports, and let her try and fire you! Then if and when she did, I would fight the firing, and go to court if I had to! Those residents need YOU, they don't need HER!

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Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.
Originally posted by robynrn2b

Absolutely WITHOUT A DOUBT, I would fill out the paperwork, give it to the DON and MAKE COPIES!!!! Then make sure you keep all copies, check with the state to make sure these were filed-I believe you can remain anonymous---and if not--send em your copies and document, document, document. If possible have another nurse present during conversations with the DON. It dosent matter WHO saw the abuse---at our facility--I don't care if it was the housekeeper, cook, nurse, maintenance or a family member of another resident, a visitor, the pizza delivery guy, WHOEVER--we take every report and file it!! No matter what!!! Sometimes there are times when a resident strikes another resident and barely made contact, we file a report----no way around it. Then after you check with the state, I would get out of that facility. I realize you get attached to the residents, staff, etc. but you are asking for trouble staying in a facility that does not take abuse seriously. You don't want to go down with the ship.

Ditto...I would be sure to chart the incident in the resident's (both of them) chart too.

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What does the administrator say about this? In my LTC only the DON and Administrator can file these reports. Were the families of the involved residents called and was it documented in the charts? When this happens in my LTC (and it does every so often) An incident report is filled out, family, doc and DON or ADM called. Then they do the reporting... Yes it looks bad with a lot of these occurances, but maybe they need to look and the residents that they are admitting and the care that we are capable of giving. How about calling the DOH or ombudsman and reporting the incidents yourself.. (without giving your name)

Yah now, I get pretty ticked off sometimes when I see some of the stuff our DON has gotten away with... Why should I have to be the one to quit or get out just because they are complete idiots.... If possible I'd report it to higher ups in the company (Might be hard if they are all in cohoots)

Let us know what happens..Good luck

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The report should be filled out anyway and submitted to the DON or Admin. In my experience (every LTC I have worked at) if the nurse didn't witness the incident they still fill out the report with the witnessing unlicensed staff write out what they saw and attach their statement. We did the same thing if it was a laundry/housekeeping staff member or a visitor.

The nurse involved is being asked to break the law (in my state) and having been told not to do it will not save their tail and the state will find out...a family member will complain or an unhappy current or former employee will call them.

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what happens in alot of facilities, including the one i just was fired from; is that even when a cna abuses a patient ~ if the charge nurse reports it, they sack the nurse and cover it up because they don't want state coming in.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, Trauma, Transplant.

Reading this, it really made me realize how so many nurses are battling with unsafe conditions everywhere. It's scary to see that these incidents are not isolated. I hope you find some resolution soon with your particular issue.

I was also browsing these threads partly to find support for my current situation - I have been working as a travel nurse for the past 7 years, and it's getting harder and harder to find safe assignments, but after my last shift - I am faced for the first time with wanting to get out of this assignment asap!

I had a sentinel event - and all I am getting is silence and resistance from everyone I report it to. It's just so frustrating, and the fact that one of my patients almost died in the process makes me sick! What happened to that "oath" that nurses are supposed to feel obliged to, to take care of their patients????

I am going through all the proper channels, and it just makes me sick to work in this kind of environment - my license is too valuable to put up with stuff like this --- and it's just sad to see how many other nurses out there as also battling with unsafe conditions.

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