Give them an Inch and They Take a Mile

I use to think that way believe me.. I've even thought about these people being my grandma, grandpa or even parents and what makes it really hard to sympathize is when another elder wrecks it for the good ones. There's complaining then there's going over board and they they take their frustrations out on you and you have to draw the line there because they can also get you into trouble as well. There was an incident one night where my partner got writen up for neglecting one of the elders. My partner and I were working on the same wing and I heard her arguing with this man so I went into his room to see what was going on and he wanted yet another set of clothes and I intervined and told him that this was his fifth set of clean clothes he would be changing into that night and this went on all night so we got tired of it.. so I said FINE!! Here's your clothes and I layed them down on his bed for him. I walked out because I was not going to argue any further. I reported this to the nurse in charge and she didn't follow up or write a report on his behavior. The next night I went into work and my partner received a letter from our employer that an investigation was being looked into about neglecting and abuse of an elder! I was so frustrated when I heard he told our boss that she said she couldn't tell the nurse what he wanted because the nurse was sleeping??? He was lying and he knew it. That's immediately when my trust in elders stopped.. then we began seeing paterns with him getting the kitchen staff in trouble saying that the bread wasn't think enough and they were ignoring him... it's all crap!!!! That was just the beginning of our problems and now we seem to have a bit more control on the situations around our side of the building but it's annoying forsure. A lot of elders come from a mental hospital so they have thier issues but it's scary when they know that our workplace takes their word over ours and they use that against us too. I myself have never been writen up but I see it all the time. I'm going to have to start letting my partner take over sometimes because I need a break.. she doesn't answer a lot of these call lights where I do so now it's her turn. Thanks for your advice Happy Mylotting

I am taking steps in setting a new goal for myself and that's getting a couple of grade twelve courses so I can move up. I have had it but I"m going to stick it out until I've upgraded myself. I still want to stay in the medical field and just experiment on what I prefer more.

That's sad. Yes, sometimes a few rotten apples really can spoil the entire bunch. I agree with laglen, these people are just most likely sad and/or lonely that's why they're acting up to get special attention or notice. But if you're really really upset with your work, and you find that it's starting to disrupt your life (like your health and sleep patterns, for starters), and you don't find it fulfilling anymore, maybe you should start looking for another job. Good, steady jobs are hard to come by these days but if you're starting to dread going to work I think that's a sign that you should go. Or, if you'd really like to stick with the place, do something about the work conditions that you are upset with. Don't you have an employees' union or something like that? Maybe you can air your grievances there, and as a group you can do something about it (how to properly handle the elders' behavior as well as to address the management's bias favoring the patients). Hope this helps :)

I can't even count on both hands where the nurses in charge have already had this conversation with them how they are being rediculous already. Last night was a prime example. It was so tiring and I told this other elder that I hoped he was going to go to sleep because that's what's making him sick.. getting his nights and days all mixed up. Even though I know it's not going to make a different with keeping them around longer but it does indeed take years off your life. That's another thing that scares me about working nights is that my days and nights are opposite now too. It's come to the point where I"m even noticing some elders outside of my work just when I'm shopping or whatever in public that they are so rude there too. I've just got to the point where I've lost respect for them.. and who ever told us to respect our elders? Thanks for your reply Happy Mylotting

that's so terrible! You'll notice that in kids too, but kids you can forgive easily because they might not have been bred well yet, but for old people, c'mon! They're old enough to know the difference already. I guess, that's the reason why they're in a nursing home? Their families probably got tired of their rudeness. I guess all you can do for now, is too avoid being like them in the future? (did that make sense or what?!)

Oh yes definitly makes sense! I can sympathize for those old people who can't do things for themselves and my heart goes out to them but for those elders that know what they are doing and their minds are still with them just causing trouble and treating people like slaves are the ones that tick me right off!!

The thing is Linda is that I'm furthering my education as we speak and I am going to find a new job. I am a kind person and wished these people were kind back! I end up having to just walk out of their room because they are being so mean. I wished I had a better partner to work with too someone more useful. It's just difficult when I'm the only one going into the resident's room to find out why they are calling. I wished there were more people like you that I looked after too. Thanks for your reply

Times like that when I want to tell them to stuff their job is when I wished I won a lottery and just could call in rich! I think that's what I"m going to do from now on is just think of my payday when I'm stressed. I've ended up having to walk out of their rooms because they were being so rude. I'm going to start putting my foot down with my partner too from now on and tell her to go answer some of the lights. Thanks for your reply Happy Mylotting