What would you have done?

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In the dining room last evening and resident begins to cough, could still speak and had good air exchange. Told her, "cough it up MC." She continued to cough and since it was dinner time, all staff was in the dining room and we monitored her.

Dietary aide comes along and begins to hit resident's upper back. I asked her to not hit resident on the back, explained if something was in there she (dietary aide) may lodge it even further. Dietary aide shot back at me, argumentatively mind you stating,"there's nothing in her mouth, she's not choking and I'm not going to lodge anything!" The dietary aide continued to argue with me, dining room full of residents and all staff. I firmly stated, "don't ever hit another resident on the back, thank you."

I was the ONLY licensed person in the building, entire staff witnessed this occurence.

What would you have done?

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

I would write her up. That is not acceptable behavior.

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Specializes in ACHPN.

The dietary aide's behavior was unexcusable. I agree with Flo. Write her up. Also, speak to your nurse manager and ask her to speak to the dietary manager about the situation.

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I agree with Flo. That behavior is completely unacceptable and that staff member needs to be written up and counseled. You did nothing wrong.

Mary McD

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Thank you all, that is exactly what I did. Followed chain of command and went to the DON and had her speak to the dietary manager.

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I probably would have breathed fire out of my mouth, but that's why I don't want to be a supervisor. I agree with the above, if she had any sort of problem there are better ways to talk to you about it.

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Wait, I'm confused a dietary aide has to listen to a RN? I'm not saying it to be funny...I'm just asking, it wasn't the correct behavior at all BUT is this about pulling rank?

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Wait, I'm confused a dietary aide has to listen to a RN? I'm not saying it to be funny...I'm just asking, it wasn't the correct behavior at all BUT is this about pulling rank?

Of course it is! The aide was doing something inappropriate that was not within her scope of duties, could potentially harm that patient, and the RN was responsible. You better believe it was about pulling rank!

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Specializes in LTC.

I woulda done the same dang thing. She is not in any way a medical personall...her hands should not touch the residents.

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Wait, I'm confused a dietary aide has to listen to a RN? I'm not saying it to be funny...I'm just asking, it wasn't the correct behavior at all BUT is this about pulling rank?

Are you serious??

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Specializes in LTC.
Wait, I'm confused a dietary aide has to listen to a RN? I'm not saying it to be funny...I'm just asking, it wasn't the correct behavior at all BUT is this about pulling rank?

Not at all about pulling rank. A dietary aide may be trained in the Heimlich per regulations, but she had no business using any sort of intervention when there was a licensed nurse already on it.

I would have done exactly as the OP did, plus maybe the fire breathing that somebody else mentioned!

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Specializes in LTC.
Wait, I'm confused a dietary aide has to listen to a RN? I'm not saying it to be funny...I'm just asking, it wasn't the correct behavior at all BUT is this about pulling rank?

Dupe post, sorry.

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