CNAs "making up" vitals.

[ctmed]

Now, all of us since we read forum boards know better than this (I HOPE!), but I have a little story from my time of working agency as a CNA back when agency was a going thing and a valid way to get work as a CNA.

One CNA I knew was a 5 year veteran of a local area hospital. After years of working the floor on a med surg unit in a hospital, she finally got a decent raise and moved to a prestigous ICU unit. Now, compared to the hustle and bustle of med surg, ICU is much more cilled out at this particular facility. All the nurses are much calmer because they have at most 2 patients. The workload is also much lighter on the CNA as all she had to do was assist the RN with baths, take vitals, and of course poo and pee removal.

One day, the CNA went on her rounds to take vitals. After she was through, she turned in her vitals sheet to all the RNs. As she turned it in, one of the nurses turned to her with a puzzled look. "You got vitals on Mr. J. Mr. J has been dead for 3 hours and they are waiting on the funeral home to pick up his body!".

Needless to say, tha CNA got fired. Probably because there where other issues I did not know about helped. But still, this is a pretty dangerous thing. I think the patient would want someone to know if his pulse rate was 150 resting. Last i heard of our CNA who made up vitals, she had to work for a nursing home well known in that area for being not too good of a place because she was blackballed in that town from working other hospitals.

Anyone else have any stories of gross incompetence like that?

[SP1CEGRL]

I work at a LTC facility and our CNAs are not allowed to take our vitals.... they only do temps but I've watched CNAs sit right in front of me and make up every single temp after I asked them to go get them...... now I carry around the thermometer and just do them myself to make sure that they get done. I had a similar situation when my DON was on the floor I recall her looking at the temp sheet at the evening staff just came on and the temps had all just been "Done" and the DON asked the CNA how Resident X had a temp of 97.5 when he'd been out of the facility since 10am and wouldn't be back until late tonight. I think it is awful to make up vital signs and it's no excuse but I think a lot of it has to do with staffing issues and everyone is just overwhelmed in their jobs and things just get skipped but I would make it clear to my CNAs that vitals are not something that can be skipped esp with patients in the ICU

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Vitals are well vital. I hate the RR = 20 thing but when you think about it 20 is at the high end of the "normal" range so if your going to fake them make them statistically feasible.

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

I know I am but a mere student, but how do these people keep their jobs? I have seen techs who were next to useless and even a bit nasty on occasions and they never get fired. The hospital isn't even union. When I am working on the floor, I guess I might be a little rough on those folks. :-)

[ctmed]

I know I am but a mere student, but how do these people keep their jobs? I have seen techs who were next to useless and even a bit nasty on occasions and they never get fired. The hospital isn't even union. When I am working on the floor, I guess I might be a little rough on those folks. :-)

They keep the job because there is a culture in some facilities where no one wants to touch patients. Or, at least anyone except CNAs (but not all places) Particularly when you have a large census of needy, demanding, or abusive patients that make someone want to do everything they can to avoid being in the room. If the tech/ CNA goes, in a hospital the RN will be put on poo/pee removal, putting her behind on charting. If it is a NH, the remaining CNAs will be working shorter than they already do. Or worse, a CNA supervisor (if the place has them) forced to actually work the floor. Sad, but if you search your feelings, many of us have been in these places. Most with the power to control that will do anything to avoid that. In other words, they are NEEDED.

Or, It could be that CNA is in the "cool" clique and can do no wrong.

BUT - they get useless enough, eventually the facility will get rid of them. Usually when they have been secretly interviewing replacements and background checks come through.

BUT, that's a whole different thread. And do not be so hard on techs. Some places they get pinched, punched, and slung poo at on a weekly basis. Hard to be charming if you are always broke and wading knee deep in poo from some guy who is cussing and hitting you for changing his diaper :)