I just have to share this story from the Imperial Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center in Madison, Tennessee. It appears this nursing home hired a temporary nurse to work at the facility. The nurse, a LPN, was shocked at the poor care being provided to the facility’s residents. The nurse was working at Imperial Gardens when a technician called him to the room where the patient was soaked in her own urine. On the same day he observed severe bedsores on another female patient, who had not had a bowel movement in 10 days and was in severe pain as a result.
The nurse reported (appropriately) the poor care to his supervisors. Guess what happened next?
He was suspended and later fired. He subsequently hired an attorney and filed a wrongful termination and “whistle-blower” claim against the nursing home. I am happy to report the trial judge denied the nursing home’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit and it appears a jury will get to decide the issues.
My Take: Kudos to the nurse. The good care providers in long term care facilities should be protected when they report abuse and neglect of the elderly. I hope Imperial Gardens pays dearly for its actions….maybe other nursing homes will learn a lesson.