I was shocked that aides would actually admit to doing this.
The CNA's at my job, told me last night, as some of them also do some work in home health, that when they go into a person's home that the resident will encourage the aide to "sit down, put your feet up, take a nap, honey!"
And they say they do it!! They say that they do whatever the resident wants them to do and if the resident wants them to sit down and take a nap, then they're doing what the resident wants.
I told them I didn't think that was what the Home Health agency is expecting.
I said I think you're supposed to be helping that resident with some of those household chores or hygiene needs, not sitting down and taking a nap while you're getting paid.
They said, "Well you can get their sweeping, mopping, making a bed done in 30 minutes and then sit down and take a nap for the rest of the 4 hours you are there. If that's what they want you to do, is sit down and take a nap then you're doing what they told you to do."
I was just floored. I couldn't believe that they would actually go into a person's home, someone they don't know, and sit down and take a nap on the job.
just wanted to add that i would be a bit paranoid if the patient/family told me to sleep...they could be testing you just to see if you would fall for it and then of course report you. i know it sounds kind of wild, but i wouldn't rule it out.
All of those stories are bad. Here,I have one as well. I know a woman who is a home health aid.Sorry idf this gets a little long,but its worth reaing.Anyways she has 2 patients. One is a 15 year old boy,who has a slight disorder.Im not sure of exactly what is wrong with him(maybe mild retardation or something like that?,im not sure).So he goes to school for 4 hrs p/day and then she keeps him for the other 2-3 hrs until his mom is off work.She treats him awful! Some examples:He messed himself one day with a bowel movement and she yelled at him and then marched him to the back of the house,told him to take off all of his clothes and then proceede to hose him down.How could you treat another human being like that?Ive also witnessed her hit him on several occasions.She brings him to her house,which i guess is ok with the boys mom,as long as hes home by a certain time.The thing is she doesnt let the boy inside her house very often,most times he sits on the porch and unsupervised alot of those times.She yells at him like a dog to sit down and if he moves,she will spank him. It makes me so mad 2 c him rocking back and forth on the proch and lonely. If it rains,she will let him in the house,ut he has to stay in the corner. Another disturbing issue is that his mom provides her with 10-15 ollars p/ay 2 buy lunch for her son,but she keeps it for herself.She says he wont be able to tell his mom that he didnt eat,besides they dont pay me enough for this sh*t.I cant stand it any longer,i know i should mind my business but i cant take her treating this boy like he isnt a human being and shes a poor excuse for a home health aie. When i asked her why shes doing it,she said for the money,b/c she makes $2400 p/month and she really doesnt have to work hard,so she will keep her job. I want to report her to the state board before something drastic happens.
Your comment about a family telling you to go ahead and sleep and then turning you in for doing just that, is not paranoid or far-fetched. I've seen instances of this manipulative behavior and had something similar happen to me. I was told one thing by one family member, told the opposite by the other family member, received written orders from the MD which stated one thing, and had a "session" where one family member got on my case about the situation in question. It wasn't until weeks or months later, that I discovered that the family member who jumped me had contacted the agency and made changes behind my back and the back of the MD. Nobody from the agency bothered to tell me. That put me on my guard with these people, if nothing else had warned me before this. There are some families that thrive on dysfunction and family members who love to play off nurses and or aides against each other and against the agency.
You made a very astute observation. Anyone who has this happen to them, is between the rock and the hard place, because employee handbooks state that sleeping on duty is an offense that usually brings job termination. The individual can't lie, they can't tell the truth. They walked into the trap set by the family. The family knows you can't sleep on duty. When they get you to do their bidding, then it is easier for them to manipulate you on the next item and then the next. They hold it over your head. Wise to not get in this boat.
Please report her before something bad happens. This is one case where I wouldn't mind my own business.
All of those stories are bad. Here,I have one as well. I know a woman who is a home health aid.Sorry idf this gets a little long,but its worth reaing.Anyways she has 2 patients. One is a 15 year old boy,who has a slight disorder.Im not sure of exactly what is wrong with him(maybe mild retardation or something like that?,im not sure).So he goes to school for 4 hrs p/day and then she keeps him for the other 2-3 hrs until his mom is off work.She treats him awful! Some examples:He messed himself one day with a bowel movement and she yelled at him and then marched him to the back of the house,told him to take off all of his clothes and then proceede to hose him down.How could you treat another human being like that?Ive also witnessed her hit him on several occasions.She brings him to her house,which i guess is ok with the boys mom,as long as hes home by a certain time.The thing is she doesnt let the boy inside her house very often,most times he sits on the porch and unsupervised alot of those times.She yells at him like a dog to sit down and if he moves,she will spank him. It makes me so mad 2 c him rocking back and forth on the proch and lonely. If it rains,she will let him in the house,ut he has to stay in the corner. Another disturbing issue is that his mom provides her with 10-15 ollars p/ay 2 buy lunch for her son,but she keeps it for herself.She says he wont be able to tell his mom that he didnt eat,besides they dont pay me enough for this sh*t.I cant stand it any longer,i know i should mind my business but i cant take her treating this boy like he isnt a human being and shes a poor excuse for a home health aie. When i asked her why shes doing it,she said for the money,b/c she makes $2400 p/month and she really doesnt have to work hard,so she will keep her job. I want to report her to the state board before something drastic happens.
I want to report her to the state board before something drastic happens.
Something drastic has happened. A child is being abused. Please report her to her agency, the childs mother, the state board and the police. If you witnessed these things happening it is now your responsibility.
Please report her before something bad happens. This is one case where I wouldn't mind my own business.
Yea, if you report her, you are going to put the family and patient in trouble and not the aide..I belive that you were never exposed to home health..If you were, you would know that the family members make the rules that sometimes go against what the home health agency wants..A nurse can turn the family in and the patient because how they supervise..But in reality, the nurse should just leave if it gets to that point..
I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Why would the patient and family get in trouble if it is reported that the aide is abusing the child?
Yea, if you report her, you are going to put the family and patient in trouble and not the aide..I belive that you were never exposed to home health..If you were, you would know that the family members make the rules that sometimes go against what the home health agency wants..A nurse can turn the family in and the patient because how they supervise..But in reality, the nurse should just leave if it gets to that point..
I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Why would the patient and family get in trouble if it is reported that the aide is abusing the child?
The patient requested that the aide can sleep...That is a supervision problem there..In home heatlh, the patient and the family are the supervisors..The home health agency does not supervise like how the family does...And it is not a child from reading the OP's post..
I wasn't responding to the original poster. I was responding to the poster quoted in my OP. And yes, I have been exposed to home health.
The patient requested that the aide can sleep...That is a supervision problem there..In home heatlh, the patient and the family are the supervisors..The home health agency does not supervise like how the family does...And it is not a child from reading the OP's post..
angel337, MSN, RN
899 Posts
doesn't surprise me at all. i know home health rn's (private duty) who have done the same thing.