I am an LPN and there is an RN at my work place who has for several months now who has continually failed to perform her assigned duties. This happens every time she works not just once in a while. This nurse fails to chart and follow up on resident's health issues, she fails to do her treatments, in fact she never even signs her treatment book as if she totally is oblivious to it's existence.
This nurse fails to respond to CNA reports of a resident requiring her immediate care, if she does respond the CNAs say they must approach her about it multiple times and maybe after several hours she may go see what the resident is needing help with. This person has been seen by myself and other employees sleeping for long periods of time. She fails to assist the other nurses in performing tasks that are required to be completed on that shift. When and if she does make any attempt at charting on a resident she fails to provide vital signs and assessments required by the facility. She fails to enter O2 sat levels, blood pressures, pulses etc in the medication administration record as required, however she does initial the space.
This type of activity has been ongoing for months and the longer it goes on the angrier I become about it. She also routinely takes advantage of another nurse, who btw is 70 years old and is a rocking good nurse. She knows that if she calls this nurse and asks her to work for her she will not say no. The elderly nurse has been counciled many times by the supervisors for working so many overtime hours and was directly told not to pick up any extra hours for other employees. Still when the slacking nurse asks her to work for her she cannot say no. Furthermore the older nurse refuses to report the slacker for being absent. Just a few days ago the slacker and the older nurse were scheduled to work the same shift. The slacker never called and never showed up until 4 1/2 hrs into the shift, then she announced she had to leave in 2 1/2 hours. In the time she was there she did nothing more than change 2 or 3 names on our report sheets and supposedly passed some medications for one out of four halls.
Honestly considering the poor, and what I consider unethical working practices, I have my doubts that when this nurse is supposedly passing her medications she is even doing it at all. And I have heard complaints from nurses who have relieved her midshift and mid-medpass that if she passed any meds they were very few.
Now this job is not this nurses primary job. She only works PRN yet usually is scheduled 1 or 2 days a week. And being PRN she is able to choose what days she is willing to work. Yet she often calls and asks to trade days with other employees saying she worked her other job that day and is too tired. And if she does get someone to trade with her she makes attempts to get out of that obligation as well. The older nurse I spoke of before has lost out on many days off because of this. And I know this woman knows exactly what she is doing, and even though that is taking advantage of a co-worker she has no shame in doing this on a regular basis.
I have thought that by now the supervisors would have figured out that this woman was not doing her job. There are so many things that to me stand out snd should be obvious. However, I have looked for signs that this nurse was councelled and I have seen no changes in her work ethics. I have openly complained to other nurses about this nurse hoping she would hear about it and realize somebody had her number. I have seen no evidence of that either. In fact when I complain about her others open up and share their stories and complaints about her with me.
I really want to go to my boss and tell her what is going on. However, I have never been good at approaching my supervisors, I have some sort of fear of authority figures stemming way back into childhood. Yet at the same time I am concerned about the welfare of my residents and am very upset that they are not receiving good nursing care. This woman is an RN for crying out loud, she knows better and should be setting an example. She has been a nurse over 20 yrs.
What advise I am looking for is how to go about approaching my boss without sounding angry and bitter and coming off as if I am perfect or something. I know all nursing have short comings and that somedays all the work just doesn't get done. I have been a nurse 13 yrs I am quite aware that I am not perfect nor do I claim to be. I have only ever made a complaint about a fellow co-worker one other time. And when I did so I did not feel my supervisor listened to what I had said to her, nor made any efforts to investigate. I really don't want to go through that again. I want to be heard, taken seriously, and the situation investigated, and hopefully resolved. I am not to sabatage this person honestly, but I think we reap what we sow and should suffer the consequences of our own actions when they are the wrong actions. I believe she doesn't even consider the consequences. I mean how can one go for months on end not doing their job as a nurse and provide good patient care??? And then how can one do this and live with their conscience??? Perhaps she has none. Anyways, please help give me some ideas on how to bring this up to my supervisor. Thanks |
