As a licensed nursing assistant in Washington state, I have followed the Susan Meade case with equal parts outrage and interest. A Nov. 3 story reported “Nursing assistant’s license revoked for 3 years: She mentally, physically abused elderly patients.” It boggles the mind that this woman has the opportunity to get her license back and will again be allowed to have unsupervised access to our elderly.
It’s a shame that this amoral individual gives every other nursing assistant a black eye. Yes, we’re underpaid. Yes, we don’t have to enroll in college to obtain our credentials. But we are trained. If one adheres to the training he or she is given, and then follows the rules, which include those of common decency, you can’t blame the system. However, I do fault her former employer(s) for not having proper management training, to issue disciplinary action. That’s on them.
I love what I do and cherish each client as a precious gift. I can only pray that I won’t find Meade working next to me three years from now.
Luann A. Lakemeyer
Battle Ground
