there is an ongoing situation where i work. a nurse on that shift is verbally abusive to patients, cursing in front of them, talking to them like they are animals, and neglecting them. i could spend all day documenting examples of this ongoing behavior.
maybe three weeks ago i reported what i have been witnessing for 6 months. until then, i guess i thought maybe a charge nurse would do something about what was going on. i didn't want to cause trouble. i knew that the charge nurse was seeing the same things i did. nothing changed. finally, i reported the situation directly to a manager.
one tidbit of the whole story had to do with internet use. all night long, looking at really weird, sometimes inappropriate sites--basically, if one looked at the pattern of internet use, it would clearly show that patient care wasn't taking place.
the only thing that i'm aware of that came out of my complaint was an order that the night shift was no longer allowed to use the internet. not for any purpose.
but, the problem is not internet use, it's a matter of work ethic and morals. replace using the internet with reading magazines and gossiping--the problem is still there.
the dehumanizing treatment and borderline neglect of patients is the big issue. the demented and confused patients are the victims.
i knew somehow that complaining would come back to haunt me. i realized quickly that i would have to leave the department, and i've arranged that.
what's bothering me is that this situation is going to continue and that possibly it may never be addressed. patients on that floor on certain nights will be treated and talked to like animals.
my grandmother died on that floor. i made the decision to change careers on that floor. i never even considered beginning my nursing career anywhere else, and i am sad that i have to leave. i see my grandmother in every patient there, and i can't leave knowing that people are going to continue to be treated in such a way.
