So last night I had to tell one of my favorite CNA's that they were suspended pending administrative review of their actions. It was so hard because I know by reporting what they did that it could possibly get this person fired or worse.
What was so bad? Well... I went into a resident room and she handed me her call light, it was totally taken out of the wall. When this happens as we all know the call light will stay on and ring until its plugged back in. The call light was not oin. So as I am trying to plug it back in I notice something sticking out of the inlet. I thought the wire was broken or something. But it turns out it was the end of a tooth swab stick that was stuck in there. This kept the light from turning on. Mind you this particular resident is a pretty big PIA at times and always on the bell and /or yelling for a CNA or Nurse all the time. Her yelling is why I went into the room & found the stick.
So nurses out there... what would you have done? Honestly I feel so bad about having to report this. But in all actuality this could have been my job and licence on the line had it been known that I knew but did not report. I do not want this person fired,I hope the suspension is going to be enough. But seriously this could have been bad.
Although I am not a nurse yet, I probably would have done the same thing. That was not a good move on the CNA's part and she had to of known it would be found. I know we all have our bad moments but to go to that length to "ignore" that patient is inexcusable.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you were put in that situation where you had to report her, but please don't feel bad about it. You weren't the one that put the stick in the wall.
You did the right thing. It feels awful, but there's a reason we have call lights. Had there been an emergency and the patient wasn't able to yell, she would have been up a creek. Taking away a method of communicating with the nursing staff is not okay, whether or not the patient overuses it.
ReplyDeleteIt still feels icky to deliver the bad news, but you definitely did the right thing.