I have been working with an LPN in a Massachusetts's nursing facility. She travels from Maine to work the 11-7 shift. I am an RN and work the 3-11 shift. I feeling in my gut that she may be hiding something. She is very rude and speaks inappropriately about the patients. Often so loudly that patients have come out of their room. She uses derogatory terms when referring to patients. I just heard that she has been verbally abusive to a patient. I have only been working with her for a short time but feel uncomfortable as I have to report off to her and leave the patients in her hands. Recently I went to the director of nursing to speak about her unprofessional behavior as I feel it is my duty to protect the patients from any harm. Tuesday nite a patient complained about her and I believe she is suspended pending investigation. I noticed that she had been taken off the schedule for the rest of the week. I know the procedure for all allegations of any form of abuse that the person must be suspended until the incident is investigated. I only hope that she doesn't get a slap on the wrist and returns after a "counseling/education" session. Anyways, I always try to remain nonjudgmental and try to give people the benefit of the doubt but also feel strongly that every patient should receive quality care as they come first in our profession. What can I do as I do not want to associate or be associated with this person. Some people should not be working in this field. Especially those who continue despite their apparent distaste for taking care of patients with "infectious" diseases or a fragile COPD, CHF, ESRD patient who requires a lot of special attention. For her that patient is a bother and a nuisance and she makes sure those patients feel that way. A disgust to our profession. If she is burned out then she should take some time off to reevaluate why she became a nurse in the first place. I would appreciate some feedback. As I only received one response in a week. Maybe I put this in the wrong section of the forums. Has anyone else encountered this or feel some people get into nursing for the wrong reasons?

That LPN is doing wrong on so many levels and she needs more than a slap on the wrist.....

I cannot believe it she had been "out of work for less than a week" and now she is back. I thought they would have terminated her. Like I said a slap on the wrist. I dont want to associate or be associated with this person who calls herself a nurse!

Have you thought about keeping notes with date, complaints, situations and going either to the state board of nursing or even the ethics committee of the facility or the nursing board?

MarshaRN says ...

That LPN is doing wrong on so many levels and she needs more than a slap on the wrist.....

 

I totally agree