Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Prince · 06-02-2005, 10:56 AM

This question is probably more directed at people that work in health care, but I'd welcome thoughts from anyone...

The LTC facility I work for has cut down severely on supply costs, while purchasing new entertainment equipment and refurnishing parts of the facility. One change from my aspect is that they have switched to vinyl gloves, from latex ones. Because vinyl ones are apparently cheaper, from MedLine anyway.

The vinyl gloves make my hands break out in tiny bleeding pimples. Lots of them. The pimples bleed on their own, and itch so badly that I cannot sleep.

I cannot use these gloves.

They are aware. They've been ordering XL Latex gloves for me, but consistently forget to have any out for me. They cannot leave the XL gloves out in the supply room, because people who do not need them (or have never expressed need for them) take them and use them.

I asked them if they could just give me the case of boxes of gloves to put in the trunk of my car, and I'll just let them know when I run out. They said they cannot do this, and in a way I understand, but... They're having the van driver leave a box or two in a filing cabinet for me, so long as I leave her a note that I need them.

I work the 10/6 shit, and personally take care for between 35 and 40 people, most of which are total care. Office people, including the van driver, are not available during my shift to provide me with gloves. No one in the facility except the van driver has keys to the storage room outside the facility where she keeps the boxes that she leaves out for me.

For the past month or two, she has not been leaving them out for me. She expects me to work about 8-10 shifts with 2 boxes of gloves, each of which has 50 pairs, that's 100 pairs of gloves altogether. She once snapped at me saying I use them too fast. Too fast? What am I supposed to do? Ignore universal precautions altogether, or use the same pair of gloves for several residents on my hall?

The problem, and the reason I am writing, is this: I have been having to purchase my own gloves. I have had to come in to work, find that there are no gloves for me, and go to WalMart to buy some. A box of 25 pairs is around 5 bucks, a box of 50 pairs is around 7-8 bucks. A box of 50 pairs usually lasts for more than one shift, but doesn't cover two entire shifts.

I have been buying my own gloves for over a month. I have taken copies of the receipts, had my charge nurses sign them, and turned them in, for reimbursement. Several times. Nothing has happened, no reimbursement. I've left notes to the DON and ADON. Nothing.

Apparently they are fine with the idea of me purchasing my own gloves.

One of my charge nurses told me that a facility she was hired by once was telling her that they were going to have nurses buy their own gloves. She said she refused to work a shift without gloves provided by the facility, and that the law was on her side.

I assume this does not apply to CNAs, as we are not as important to the employer, in the sense that we are easier and cheaper to replace.

Do I have any rights here at all? Do I have the right to come in and if I find that I do not have gloves available for me (consistently) and would have to buy my own, again and again...do I have the right to refuse to work my shift, without getting written up for patient abandonment?

I understand that 5 bucks a night for gloves may not seem like much, but it adds up, and makes me feel used anyway.

06-02-2005, 10:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Prince /nɑndəsˈkrɪpt/ Location: LV-426	I have to buy my own damn gloves This question is probably more directed at people that work in health care, but I'd welcome thoughts from anyone... The LTC facility I work for has cut down severely on supply costs, while purchasing new entertainment equipment and refurnishing parts of the facility. One change from my aspect is that they have switched to vinyl gloves, from latex ones. Because vinyl ones are apparently cheaper, from MedLine anyway. The vinyl gloves make my hands break out in tiny bleeding pimples. Lots of them. The pimples bleed on their own, and itch so badly that I cannot sleep. I cannot use these gloves. They are aware. They've been ordering XL Latex gloves for me, but consistently forget to have any out for me. They cannot leave the XL gloves out in the supply room, because people who do not need them (or have never expressed need for them) take them and use them. I asked them if they could just give me the case of boxes of gloves to put in the trunk of my car, and I'll just let them know when I run out. They said they cannot do this, and in a way I understand, but... They're having the van driver leave a box or two in a filing cabinet for me, so long as I leave her a note that I need them. I work the 10/6 shit, and personally take care for between 35 and 40 people, most of which are total care. Office people, including the van driver, are not available during my shift to provide me with gloves. No one in the facility except the van driver has keys to the storage room outside the facility where she keeps the boxes that she leaves out for me. For the past month or two, she has not been leaving them out for me. She expects me to work about 8-10 shifts with 2 boxes of gloves, each of which has 50 pairs, that's 100 pairs of gloves altogether. She once snapped at me saying I use them too fast. Too fast? What am I supposed to do? Ignore universal precautions altogether, or use the same pair of gloves for several residents on my hall? The problem, and the reason I am writing, is this: I have been having to purchase my own gloves. I have had to come in to work, find that there are no gloves for me, and go to WalMart to buy some. A box of 25 pairs is around 5 bucks, a box of 50 pairs is around 7-8 bucks. A box of 50 pairs usually lasts for more than one shift, but doesn't cover two entire shifts. I have been buying my own gloves for over a month. I have taken copies of the receipts, had my charge nurses sign them, and turned them in, for reimbursement. Several times. Nothing has happened, no reimbursement. I've left notes to the DON and ADON. Nothing. Apparently they are fine with the idea of me purchasing my own gloves. One of my charge nurses told me that a facility she was hired by once was telling her that they were going to have nurses buy their own gloves. She said she refused to work a shift without gloves provided by the facility, and that the law was on her side. I assume this does not apply to CNAs, as we are not as important to the employer, in the sense that we are easier and cheaper to replace. Do I have any rights here at all? Do I have the right to come in and if I find that I do not have gloves available for me (consistently) and would have to buy my own, again and again...do I have the right to refuse to work my shift, without getting written up for patient abandonment? I understand that 5 bucks a night for gloves may not seem like much, but it adds up, and makes me feel used anyway. __________________ Who is John Galt?