I started working in a local nursing home around 8 months ago. I noticed quickly that the place was in shambles! The Director of Nursing, Aministrater and another department head rarely showed any interest in the goings on of the nursing home.
We, the aides, are never orientated on the use of safety restraints and therefore are at risk of harming a resident by not using the restraints correctly and when asked that we are shown the proper way, the director of nursing ignored our request.
When nurses force residents to do something they do not wish to do, it violates the residents rights and is illegal. Once I reported this to the Director of Nursing he interrupted me and told me that I had to make an appointment to speak with him.
This corperation is supposed to be an "open door" advocate but his door slammed in my face when I reported the residents rights being violated. The department heads are unprofessional to the residents, not just the aides. When a resident falls or injures themself, the RN is supposed to give the resident a complete assessment... They aren't doing that here.
We can't even get some of the nurses to come and examine simple skin tears. These things have been reported to the corprate people, yet I have not seen any change. The director of nursing degrades the aides, making jokes at our expense. And now we are being told that we will no longer be allowed to recieve emergancy telephone calls. I asked him, " what if I get a call that my daughter is in the hospital?" He responded snidely by saying, " Sorry for you." The department heads can never be found in their offices, they are generally outside talking and in some cases, hanging on one another.
Once, the director of nursing was supposed to be passing medicine... But was playing and chasing one of his fellow department heads around the building. When a resident I cared about passed away, I had to clean her up before the funeral home came to pick her up, they made fun of me and another aide because we cried. We take care of these residents. Feed them, dress them, bathe them so of course we are going to get close to them. And when they go it is very difficult for us.
But instead of being understanding towards us as nurses aides, they ridicule us for mourning the death of a resident. I have never been written up for my behavior. I have never been in trouble but I have been ignored when trying to open the department heads eyes to abuse on the floor and we have suffered a sort of abuse from the depatment heads.
I worry for the residents, but when he, the director of nursing, told us we could not recieve emergancy phone calls, nor would they take messages, I, and many others, put in our notice. We are mostly mothers and he knows this.
Obviously the corprate people will not look into anything we say but maybe department heads from another nursing home will read this and examine his/her behavior towards the aides and the residents.
I am afraid to leave the name and address of the nursing home in which I work because I was told by the director of nursing that I could get sued if report a nursing home to anyone other then the main company... Ihs. I don't know if this is true.
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