Paladin1950
Still love 50's & 60's music!
- Location
- Mohawk Valley, NY
I have been working in nursing homes since 1996. Although about 98% of the people that I have worked with were very good people who are there for the welfare of the residents, there have been a few very bad ones over the years.
A few weeks ago, a CNA (certified nursing assistant), was caught trying to steal money from a blind resident. She was fired of course. I saw her Saturday at the local Price Chopper, and she talked to me and didn't seem to be embarrassed of what happened. I heard through the grapevine, that she had done similar things in other facilities.
It takes a while for a resident to create trust with employees. When you break that trust, it really hurts the resident in so many ways. This blind resident has only your voice to know you by. I enter her room and she says, "Hello." I greet her, and she recognizes my voice, and says, "Hello Rob". Since she is blind, I keep talking to her and let her know what I am doing. She learns to trust you. Being blind, she really depends on your honesty and friendship. She was really deeply hurt when she found out that the CNA tried to steal her money. She told one employee that she thought the CNA was her friend. She is one of 2 blind residents in the nursing home.
My supervisor told me that she suspected a former employee of coming into her office twice and stealing $20 out of her purse. When I asked her why she didn't fire him, she explained that she couldn't prove it.
In a previous nursing home where I worked, an employee stole a female resident's wedding ring. This is something that was given to her 40 or 50 years ago. The administrator held a company meeting and she was mad as hell, and rightly so. There was one CNA that was suspected, and she was eventually fired for something else.
In the same facility, there was a bake sale to help a nurse that had cancer. All the money that was raised (several hundred dollars) was put into the Med Room and locked. The Med Room is always locked for obvious reasons. The following day, someone discovered the money was gone. All the nurses were forced to come in to take a lie detector test.
As in all jobs there are always some bad employees, but in healthcare when you are dealing with the sickly or elderly, you become very attached to the residents and you find yourself getting very angry when one of your co-workers mistreat one of the residents or try to steal their possessions.
One should not be afraid to bring their mom or dad into a nursing home, but they should not bring all of their parent's prized possessions or jewelry into the facility. The resident usually doesn't need money. They have an account that is set up by their family, for hair care, and other things.
In the past when I told a family member that I found a $20 or $50 bill just lying on their parents bed, I would suggest that they tell their mom/dad, to keep their money in their purse or wallet. The family member is always very grateful that you brought it to their attention. They also depend on your honesty and friendship towards their family member. It's one thing less they have to worry about.
A lot of us are really angry still, that someone tried to steal money from our friend who is unable to see.
A few weeks ago, a CNA (certified nursing assistant), was caught trying to steal money from a blind resident. She was fired of course. I saw her Saturday at the local Price Chopper, and she talked to me and didn't seem to be embarrassed of what happened. I heard through the grapevine, that she had done similar things in other facilities.
It takes a while for a resident to create trust with employees. When you break that trust, it really hurts the resident in so many ways. This blind resident has only your voice to know you by. I enter her room and she says, "Hello." I greet her, and she recognizes my voice, and says, "Hello Rob". Since she is blind, I keep talking to her and let her know what I am doing. She learns to trust you. Being blind, she really depends on your honesty and friendship. She was really deeply hurt when she found out that the CNA tried to steal her money. She told one employee that she thought the CNA was her friend. She is one of 2 blind residents in the nursing home.
My supervisor told me that she suspected a former employee of coming into her office twice and stealing $20 out of her purse. When I asked her why she didn't fire him, she explained that she couldn't prove it.
In a previous nursing home where I worked, an employee stole a female resident's wedding ring. This is something that was given to her 40 or 50 years ago. The administrator held a company meeting and she was mad as hell, and rightly so. There was one CNA that was suspected, and she was eventually fired for something else.
In the same facility, there was a bake sale to help a nurse that had cancer. All the money that was raised (several hundred dollars) was put into the Med Room and locked. The Med Room is always locked for obvious reasons. The following day, someone discovered the money was gone. All the nurses were forced to come in to take a lie detector test.
As in all jobs there are always some bad employees, but in healthcare when you are dealing with the sickly or elderly, you become very attached to the residents and you find yourself getting very angry when one of your co-workers mistreat one of the residents or try to steal their possessions.
One should not be afraid to bring their mom or dad into a nursing home, but they should not bring all of their parent's prized possessions or jewelry into the facility. The resident usually doesn't need money. They have an account that is set up by their family, for hair care, and other things.
In the past when I told a family member that I found a $20 or $50 bill just lying on their parents bed, I would suggest that they tell their mom/dad, to keep their money in their purse or wallet. The family member is always very grateful that you brought it to their attention. They also depend on your honesty and friendship towards their family member. It's one thing less they have to worry about.
A lot of us are really angry still, that someone tried to steal money from our friend who is unable to see.
