Are there any disadvantages to working in a nursing home?

Are there any disadvantages to working in a nursing home?

Each environment presents its own challenges, but certain factors can be disadvantages for registered nurses working in nursing homes. Although state laws vary on the staffing requirements for nursing homes, most states require at least one registered nurse to be on duty at all times.

Why did a nurse get fired for giving a prescribed pain med?

Perhaps this is why your DON terminated you. Use this experience to further develop your assessment skills. And don’t be afraid to seek help from the resources available to you when you are not sure of how to intervene with a patient. Send your nursing-related legal questions to Legal columnist Nancy J. Brent, JD, RN:

Can a registered nurse work in a nursing home?

Registered nurses may provide this care in a variety of settings, such as general hospitals, physicians’ offices or patients’ homes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 5 percent of the nation’s RNs work in nursing homes.

Can a company fire you while you are on FMLA?

Your employer may not fire you while you’re out on FMLA leave, as long as you haven’t gone over the time limit. States with family and medical leave laws generally provide the same protection. It’s also illegal to fire you just because you requested or took a leave under either federal or state law.

Perhaps this is why your DON terminated you. Use this experience to further develop your assessment skills. And don’t be afraid to seek help from the resources available to you when you are not sure of how to intervene with a patient. Send your nursing-related legal questions to Legal columnist Nancy J. Brent, JD, RN:

Can a person be fired for no reason?

Most workers in the United States are employed at will, which means that their employers can fire them for any reason, or no reason at all, provided that the reason isn’t discriminatory. (More on that in a minute.) 1 

Can a person Sue an employer for wrongful termination?

If you’ve recently been terminated for cause, you may be wondering whether your employer was within their rights to fire you—or whether your dismissal constitutes wrongful termination. And, if it turns out you were fired illegally, your next question will probably be whether you can—and should—sue.

Can a wrongful termination claim be filed on a violation of Public Policy?

Before a wrongful termination claim based on a violation of public policy will be allowed, most courts require that there be some specific law setting out the policy. Many state and federal laws have specified employment-related actions that clearly violate public policy, such as firing an employee for:

How to file a complaint against a nursing home?

Filing Your Complaint Gather information about the abuse. Work with your attorney to draft your complaint. Take your complaint to the clerk’s office. Have the nursing home served. Wait for a response from the nursing home.

Do you have to work nights in a nursing home?

To meet legal staffing requirements, nursing homes may require RNs to work nights, holidays and weekends. Some nursing homes schedule RNs for 12-hour shifts, and if the nurse scheduled to work the next shift fails to show, the on-duty nurse may have to work overtime.

What to do if you have a problem with a nursing home?

If the facility’s management can’t or won’t resolve the issue, Lee recommends reporting the problem to the state survey agency, which enforces nursing home laws and regulations, and to the local long-term care ombudsman, who can advocate on the family’s behalf for free.

Is it OK to complain about a nursing home?

Some assisted living communities and nursing homes provide wonderful care for their residents. Others are…not so good, to put it mildly. If your senior isn’t getting proper care from their care community, you have no choice but to try to get them to address the problems. After all, moving them to another place isn’t something you can do on a whim.

Why are there so many problems in nursing homes?

Another part of the answer is the unwillingness of residents and their family members to make complaints to nursing homes, due to shyness and a fear that a nursing home will retaliate against a resident in some way. Together, this shyness, lack of knowledge, and fear of retaliation allow some nursing homes to develop and follow illegal procedures.

What to do if you suspect a nursing home is violating civil rights?

If you suspect a nursing home has violated this civil rights law, you should report the facility to your local long-term care ombudsman and to the agency that regulates nursing homes in your state. Medicare offers an official complaint form.

Are there any laws against discrimination in nursing homes?

Federal law prohibits skilled nursing facilities from discriminating against protected classes. In other words, they can’t decide whether people can live there based on their race, color, religion, age, sex, or any other protected characteristic.