I have to buy my own damn gloves - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

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.

JustJess · 06-02-2005, 11:04 AM

That is ridiculous. If they can make arrangements for latex allergies, they can make arrangements for vinyl allergies. I don't expect to bring in my own pens or paper or computer, do I? Neither should you be bringing in gloves.
Go to HR. That's what we're for.

Prince · 06-02-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustJess

Go to HR. That's what we're for.

HR = Human Resources? I don't think we have a Human Resources rep, as such... All issues regarding nursing, including hiring, firing etc is handled by the nursing administration. I think there's one person that might be called a Human Resources Director or something on paper, but if that's who I think it is, then that's a dead end.

Or did you mean something outside of the company?

JustJess · 06-02-2005, 12:34 PM

No HR department? Frustrating.
I would talk to Nursing Admin then. Do they also deal with employee relations issues? If you are unable to get a satisfactory response... perhaps working in a better facility would be a good idea.

Sage · 06-02-2005, 03:44 PM

Talk to people on the chain of command. Start with your boss, then your boss' boss, and so on until you get yourself heard. Hunt down anyone who could possibly be involved with Human Resources stuff. Call the Better Business Bureau- ask them what you should do. If you don't get anywhere with your company, call a lawyer and ask what your options are. Buying your own gloves is BULLSHIT unless your company specifically says "You have to buy your own gloves because we can't afford to provide them for you."

Stay calm in explaining your situation. When you talk to ANYONE about what's going on, tell them (in a calm manner) that the lack of gloves is hurting your productivity. Having to go to Wal-Mart to buy gloves every night is cutting into your work time. Not having access to the supplies you need is affecting your patients. Above all, be civil, and don't come across as mad or whiny; no matter how much you feel like bitching, DON'T. There will be someone out there who can help you, they might not be in your company but there will be someone. Just make sure you're not doing anything that comes across as hostile- because then you lose respect and your job starts to look more and more expendable.

AND ANOTHER THING: Go to a doctor and get a signed doctor's note saying you're allergic to vinyl gloves. It might seem trivial, but it's proof that you are, indeed, allergic and aren't just "stirring up trouble." Damn the Man!

I commend you for being a CNA- it's like a babysitter to the most terrible kids in the world.

Good Luck

Locobot · 06-02-2005, 05:19 PM

compensate yourself in pharmaceuticals, pop some pills, this problem will go away.

mike059 · 06-02-2005, 06:08 PM

Why not mention going to the workman's compensation baord. if your employer cannot or will not furnish you with the OSHA required equipment that you can use, you have a potential claim. It will require a doctor's note about the effects of the vinyl gloves. this is a risky proposal, but it may work out for you...

*Nikki* · 06-02-2005, 06:53 PM

I do think that $5 a night for gloves is a lot. That is more then I would spend on lunch most times. That really does add up fast.

Ustwo · 06-02-2005, 07:01 PM

Quote:

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?

I once knew a dentist who told me when she worked for some big group practice they only allowed her one pair of gloves per patient. Anyone working health care knows thats often impractical as you may need to do activities which require you to remove gloves durring a procedure if you are by yourself.

I think its rotten (plus vinyl gloves just plain suck reguardless) but unless you can get someone to see it your way in the chain of command I think you are screwed. I couldn't tell you how many different sizes and kinds of gloves I have for my assistants.

Yes they ARE telling you to ignore univesal precautions, they just don't want to have it on paper, and I don't think you can really do anything about it legally.

absorbentishe · 06-03-2005, 02:30 PM

Looks to me like they are cheap asses, period. If something were to happen to you while not protected, then their ass is grass. Also, I think they are required to provide more than one type of glove, so OSHA could come down hard, if leaked. Have you gone to OSHA's website for guidance? If you can print something, and direct them to the website, as well as getting a doctor's note about being allergic, you've got two things on your side. On the opposited side, you may be digging a hole with them you can't get out of, and that would be another legal problem all together.

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?

06-02-2005, 11:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
JustJess Unencapsulated Location: Kittyville	That is ridiculous. If they can make arrangements for latex allergies, they can make arrangements for vinyl allergies. I don't expect to bring in my own pens or paper or computer, do I? Neither should you be bringing in gloves. Go to HR. That's what we're for. __________________ My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

06-02-2005, 12:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
JustJess Unencapsulated Location: Kittyville	No HR department? Frustrating. I would talk to Nursing Admin then. Do they also deal with employee relations issues? If you are unable to get a satisfactory response... perhaps working in a better facility would be a good idea. __________________ My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

06-02-2005, 03:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sage hoarding all the big girl panties since 2005 Location: North side	Talk to people on the chain of command. Start with your boss, then your boss' boss, and so on until you get yourself heard. Hunt down anyone who could possibly be involved with Human Resources stuff. Call the Better Business Bureau- ask them what you should do. If you don't get anywhere with your company, call a lawyer and ask what your options are. Buying your own gloves is BULLSHIT unless your company specifically says "You have to buy your own gloves because we can't afford to provide them for you." Stay calm in explaining your situation. When you talk to ANYONE about what's going on, tell them (in a calm manner) that the lack of gloves is hurting your productivity. Having to go to Wal-Mart to buy gloves every night is cutting into your work time. Not having access to the supplies you need is affecting your patients. Above all, be civil, and don't come across as mad or whiny; no matter how much you feel like bitching, DON'T. There will be someone out there who can help you, they might not be in your company but there will be someone. Just make sure you're not doing anything that comes across as hostile- because then you lose respect and your job starts to look more and more expendable. AND ANOTHER THING: Go to a doctor and get a signed doctor's note saying you're allergic to vinyl gloves. It might seem trivial, but it's proof that you are, indeed, allergic and aren't just "stirring up trouble." Damn the Man! I commend you for being a CNA- it's like a babysitter to the most terrible kids in the world. Good Luck __________________ Sage knows our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's She answers hard acrostics, has a pretty taste for paradox She quotes in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus In conics she can floor peculiarities parabolous -C'hi Last edited by Sage; 06-02-2005 at 03:49 PM..

06-02-2005, 05:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Locobot is awesome!	compensate yourself in pharmaceuticals, pop some pills, this problem will go away.

06-02-2005, 06:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
mike059 Tilted Location: Pensacola, Florida	Why not mention going to the workman's compensation baord. if your employer cannot or will not furnish you with the OSHA required equipment that you can use, you have a potential claim. It will require a doctor's note about the effects of the vinyl gloves. this is a risky proposal, but it may work out for you...

06-02-2005, 06:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Nikki ~~~~~~~ Location: Charleston, SC	I do think that $5 a night for gloves is a lot. That is more then I would spend on lunch most times. That really does add up fast.

06-03-2005, 02:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
absorbentishe Boy am I horny today Location: T O L E D O, Toledo!!	Looks to me like they are cheap asses, period. If something were to happen to you while not protected, then their ass is grass. Also, I think they are required to provide more than one type of glove, so OSHA could come down hard, if leaked. Have you gone to OSHA's website for guidance? If you can print something, and direct them to the website, as well as getting a doctor's note about being allergic, you've got two things on your side. On the opposited side, you may be digging a hole with them you can't get out of, and that would be another legal problem all together.