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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?

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Does this resident have dementia or a history of this type of behavior? Did you document everything that went on and the threat the resident made to you? I hope so.

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.
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AlvaDeer May 17, 2024
I worry about this place as well; do they not know their residents?
I often think we should "plant" a resident mole to report back on treatment.
I might volunteer for the job! 81. I qualify.
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If / when you are called in (I presume there will be a time when you called in and asked about this incident)
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.
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PurplekaySTNA May 17, 2024
I called today (day 5) and the DON didn't answer I left a message, and she then messaged me on my phone that I can't come back to work till I sign two education papers on Monday meaning I will miss out on four shifts. I wasn't called in about the incident the DON called me casually on my phone and asked me about it and I told her everything I've put on here. when she messaged me today, she said I only had to sign those papers because they can't prove that there was any abuse.
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Wow. As someone who started as CNA, went to LPN and then worked up to RN I sympathize with your story, especially with your being new there.
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.
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In training, we are taught not to hold hands or lock arms with the patient while walking. The patient will either use a cane to walk or a walker using both hands. Also, you can use a gait belt to help with transfers from bed to wheelchair or from wheelchair to toilet. Also, gait belts are used in walking as well to help steady the clients.

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.
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JoAnn29 May 17, 2024
My daughter is an RN. When we had Mom living here, she taught us how to hold on to Moms arm without bruising her. It was something like resting her arm on mine and me holding her wrist.
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If you are a certified aide you are in demand right now. I would get a years experience in and if things are what you would like, move on. The next place will pay for that experience, the place you now are probably won't. My daughter is an RN and I don't think she has been in the same place 5 yrs. She goes where the money is.
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I think I would be calling the DON. There was another aide, is she still working? Five days, IMO, is long enough to investigate. It was just a matter of u telling your story. Seems the woman is known for not being an easy resident.
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PurplekaySTNA May 17, 2024
The DON is the one who suspended me she told me that I have to come in Monday to sign education paperwork and the other aid wasn't suspended idk why not but she wasn't.
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I called today (day 5) and the DON didn't answer I left a message, and she then messaged me on my phone that I can't come back to work till I sign two education papers on Monday meaning I will miss out on four shifts. I wasn't called in about the incident the DON called me casually on my phone and asked me about it and I told her everything I've put on here. when she messaged me today, she said I only had to sign those papers because they can't prove that there was any abuse. I don't think she would have messaged me if I didn't message her she said it so casually like if she deals with this every day and she had a response for me so quick I think she would have just thought I found another job but I'm willing to make this facility work any who thank you all for the messages and answers. P.S The facility only provides gait belts to their skilled residents not the long term and if we wanted gait belts at night, we would have to wait for therapy to get there at 8am an hour after our shift is over the therapy room is locked from 7pm-7am.
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AlvaDeer May 18, 2024
Great news. Thanks for the update! I think you are new there, and you can assess if they are always this sort of discombobulated in future.
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.
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Tough job I Hope it works out for you .
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You're in NE OH. If you have not done so and aren't comfortable working at this facility, put in a resume to work elsewhere. You should have little trouble finding a job somewhere else.

Good luck.
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Jettalove May 25, 2024
Not if they abuse complaint follows her. She needs to have that settled first then quit and find a better job.
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One more tidbit: after every conversation with anyone from the facility regarding this incident, send an email (or, better yet, a letter through the mail, keeping a photo of the date stamped envelope) to the DON restating what was discussed. For example, “Today we spoke about the month/year transfer to the toilet that Bed Two reported as an abuse incident. You informed me that I will be on unpaid suspension until such time as I sign X statements and receive X training.”
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AlvaDeer May 20, 2024
Or for me that old fashioned dedicated diary which still holds water in court of law. In ink. In compostion book with no tear outs, and corrections not by eraser or whiteout but by strike through. You would be amazing how well a good diary works in court for EVERYTHING.
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