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Hello im a new nurse aide and i do home care only and liv in postions. I was doing a fill in one day for two days and i saw large bruses on this elder man. The man could not speak he was bed bound. I did not report what i saw because i was un aware i had too. I assumed the agency knew about them since i was only a 2 day fill in and i was new. The permit aide comes back and says she never saw those bruses on him before. She told the agency i did it. Which i would never do to anyone. The bruises looked like they where about a year old and large. So now i got terminated with a investigation pending on me. I don't want loose my license over something i did not do. I feel the agency should look at the two permit caregivers not me. I can't make a large make on a man in two days especially if i didn't hit him or anything. Im so angry the agency said if i saw the bruises i should of reported it. But i was never in a situation like this. Im new and have really no experience on these things.what do i do??? What if i loose my license omg. Please help me someone. Thanks.

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As a licensed caregiver, you were taught, during your licensing, that you are a mandatory reporter. That means that you were obliged to report these bruises. This was part of your licencing preparation and testing. You therefore WERE provided with this information. New or not, you are licensed, and with that comes the responsibility to report abuse. Either you are lying about being licensed, or you are lying about the abuse. I would say you are in a very tough position and I recommend that you get a good lawyer.
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Have you explained to your boss, in a calm and professional manner, what you told us? Admitted your lapse in judgement? If not, I hope you do so soon. Face to face, no email.

All you can do now is defend yourself. It might be wise to consult an attorney but whatever you do, whomever you speak with, make sure that you are honest, forthcoming about what you should have done, and professional. You made a mistake and all you can do now is try to fix it. I wish you luck, honey.
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Can't that bruise be there for other reasons too ? Perhaps moving him around to change him. I hope that's all it was, poor man. That family doesn't have camera's ? I certainly do, and I can view mom from anywhere. Just be patient, if it really wasn't you, they'll find out how old the bruises are in their investigation and you'll be cleared.
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They bruise very easily. What meds is he taking? Cumadin and aspirin are notorious for causing bruising, an big ones as you describe. I have seen black eyes develop as a result of rubbing the eye too hard. You need to be very gentle with the elderly as they bruise very easily.
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Are they investigating the other CNAs. Can't they tell by looking at the bruises how old they are? If you were only there for two days as you stated, then the bruises should have been made earlier. It is bittersweet that you see there are people who will do bodily harm to others. The bitter part is that it happens. The sweet part is your innocence in believing that there aren't bad people in the health care industry. May God give you security clearance..
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Old skin bruises so easily. Even a small blow can get a big bruise. This made me wonder how they figured it was abuse. Sometime my mother can hit her arm on a door and a big bruise will appear that makes her look like someone did something terrible to her. It isn't really a bruise, but an ecchymosis (skin bleed). Was the man's bruise more serious than that?
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Chris, I think you are missing the point. I'm not a CNA, but like you, im a mandated reporter. When you see bruises, you report them to your superior. It's not your job to make a determination; it's your job to notice, make note and report facts. "99 y/o male has 3 cm bruise on thigh. Source unknown" or however you were trained to report these things in writing to your agency.
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I know it was my fault for not reporting but i was new and i just can't believe they are accusing me of the crime. I lost a good job with a good company i learned my lesson now. I just hope they don't find me guilty over something i didn't due.
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It sounds to me like someone else is probably abusing patients. What I would do in your situation is to speak specifically to the head department of nursing of that nursing home and explain what you just described here. If you tell them that you saw old bruises and that you thought the staff knew about it, and you can explain the fact that you're only there for two days and there's no way you could've caused bruises that were very old. Someone is obviously abusing this particular patient whether it be staff or family. Now you know why so many elders fight against being put into nursing homes, and this is only part of the reason why many don't want to go (and I don't blame them).
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I know nothing of situations like these but sometimes when people accuse you of something, they are the ones to blame for something. My first thought was that woman abused the man and saw an opportunity to blame it on you.
I am sad to see you going through this. I hope this situation turns out alright for you and for the old man.
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