I was doing last rounds at my current facility, I'm still extremely new and had never worked this assignment before. It was a terrible night. Someone got sent out to the hospital, and another raised their bed all the way up and fell off of it. At this facility it’s two to a room in the long-term unit. I went in and changed her roommate first, she was very kind, then I moved on to the other resident (I’ll call her bed two. Bed two was obviously wet, I've never met her before, so I do the usual ‘hi it's your aide again just coming to check in on you before I go.’ I asked her if I could change her really quickly and then she can go right back to bed. She said no so I said are you sure? it would be really quick, and you can do whatever you want I just don't want you to be in a wet brief it's not good for your skin and you can get an infection. Bed two says, "Get the h*ll out before punch you like you've never been punched before!" I then say well I don't want that so I went to get my nurse and she said to get the other nurse that was training. So, I went to get her but then they got caught up in the room where the person who was being sent out to the hospital was in so I waited a while outside bed two’s room. When the aide that usually has the assignment came to help she said that she gets like that sometimes so we both went in. I let her take the lead since this is mostly her assignment and I'm still considered a new aide (I've been an aide for 10 months). We go in and she helps bed two sit up so she can walk to the bathroom. When bed two was standing up walking to the bathroom she was holding the other aids hand with her right hand and nothing with her left. I was on her left side. the other aide got her on the toilet and had me take it from there. I then got her cleaned up and dressed for the day and when it was time to go back to bed I held her left hand since I was still on her left side. I got her back into bed covered her up and said have a nice day I’ll see you next time!
Later that day I got a call from the DON saying that she had swelling and redness on her right hand and that the resident claimed that we abused her I tell her everything that went on in the room and she then says I'm on suspension till further notice pending investigation. I have been on suspension for 5 days and have heard nothing. I have never been accused of abuse and would never abuse my residents what should I do?
You need to quit this job. If they suspended you over this and the other aide is a witness to there never having been any abuse, you do not want to work for a facility that has so little regard for their help.
In the meantime, call the Labor Department in your state and tell them what happened. They may be able to help you since you did not wrong and are being unfairly punished.
I often think we should "plant" a resident mole to report back on treatment.
I might volunteer for the job! 81. I qualify.
Answer the questions that are asked,.
Do not embellish
Do not add on.
If there is no further investigation and you have been suspended based on what the resident said I would question your supervisor about that. (If you are in a Union you might want to talk to your Union rep)
Anyone can report "abuse" and that accusation HAS to be followed up. So this is standard.
How long did they say your suspension is? If you are suspended until this is closed I would ask the DON what the process is and how far along into the investigation they are.
I think I would want to see what the actual complaint of abuse was.
You have given us a complete write up here and it sounds to me as though you did everything as right as you were able.
I would give this writeup you have sent us to your DON, tell her/him that you fully understand that this must be investigated, but that you did nothing to harm your resident, and will hope she speaks with all involved about the steps you rightly took to get help.
My guess is that this resident has done this before.
I know you fully understand it has to be investigated, and because you are new there they will be more suspicious. That's the norm.
I can only wish you the best of luck. I will tell you in all truth, much into privacy laws as I am, I can't imagine why in the world out extended care facilities and hospitals are not monitored by cameras, for the sake of the patient/residents and for the sake of the staff.
This has to be heartbreaking for you. I think in your place I would offer to do a lie detector exam. The questions would be simple and they explain them before they ask them such as "Did you knowingly do anything that may have hurt the residents hand". And that's about all you can say to anyone here. That you are heartbroken, that you love and respect your residents, that you understand they must investigate and that you did not knowingly do anything that could have harmed your resident's hand.
I wish you the best. This is an all too familiar tale in the world I worked (and loved) and this is unlikely to be the last time you deal with it no matter HOW kind and gentle you are. I hope you will update us.
If the resident told you to leave them the hell alone, why did you persist in trying to get this patient to use the toilet? You could have documented that patient refused to let you take them to the bathroom and then write what the patient said in quotes. If a patient refuses, leave them be. Let them become someone else's problem after you leave your shift.
You were following the orders of the facility. I hope everything works out okay. Go back and read your textbook on the proper way to transfer a client safely.
Never try to force a combative client to do anything since this can result in assault and battery. Patients have a right to refuse care.
I hope everything works out okay for you and the other aide. It sounds like a mess.
You may choose to move on eventually. I would rather see you get a bit of a good outcome from this. Build your resume for being professional, competent, cooperative, complete in care.
The DON is correct that when there is this sort of incident and it's reported they have to treat it as though it were absolutely true, or COULD be absolutely true.
My brother, so otherwise good, had some paranoia around money. He wasn't supposed to keep it in his room, but he sold a few last precious pieces of pottery and he DID keep the money in his room, then became convinced it was stolen from his locked closet, a book where he stashed it. He reported. They had to question everyone, have everyone sign statements, and because it was a certain amount, CALL THE POLICE. He later found it in his folded white towels where he hid it.
This is your first lesson. Call the administration. Stay calm and cooperative, and REMEMBER TO CHART everything. Remember, if you did not chart it it didn't ever happen.
I disagree with Burnt about quitting this job NOW. You would be leaving after an accusation. While the DON shouldn't say anything about this unproven incident when they call for your references from new job she CAN say whether she would rehire you, and if you quit she likely would say "not". So I would hang in there and be the best danged student nurse they ever saw in their lives. And the most cooperative and the best at charting. Just saying. That's what I would do but up to you for yourself. Burnt and I love to go two sides of the coin, and this is her business--she's worth considering for advice.
Best to you. DO update us.
Good luck.