TN Skilled Nursing Facility, How May I Direct Your Call?
A poem dedicated to your granny. Have you checked in on her lately?
Your granny is fantastic
She really enjoyed her nice dessert
Your granny is always smiling
And never complains that she is hurt
Your granny’s wound is tiny
In a week it won’t exist
And the wound-care nurse used sterile technique
When she worked your granny’s shift
All the residents had fun today
All the call lights were in reach
And your granny took her meds quite well
And stayed in-doors to beat the heat
Granny was left starving today
While a tech stole her dessert
Granny froze in a pool of piss
And was ignored when she was hurt
Granny has a bedsore
It’s so big it could hold a fist
And the nurse wore soiled gloves today
When he drained little Granny’s cyst
The hall was nice and quiet today
The call lights well hidden beneath the sheets
And Granny’s meds were pocketed
While she was left blistering in the heat
I know you can no longer care for Granny
And are no longer able to give her baths
But she will die alone in here
If you don’t advocate on her behalf
As a nurse I would like to think that everyone in healthcare — specifically long-term care — is working in this field because it can be incredibly rewarding, but that’s unfortunately not the case.
It’s a challenge to keep good people because we are overworked and underpaid, and don’t have enough time to complete all the tasks that keep your loved ones safe and healthy.
You should be able to trust skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers to give the very best care, but you can’t. I don’t know what we need to do to fix this broken system, but I do know that your family needs your help.
My best advice: be present and visit as much as you can. Call often and be informed. Know your nurses' names and hold them to a high standard. Be fucking overbearing! It won’t take long before everyone knows they can’t mistreat your granny. And lord, honey-child, I know she will thank you kindly.
Healthcare workers are mandatory reporters. If you know someone at any facility that is being abused by anyone, follow proper protocol and report immediately.
