CNA Issue

[firstyearstudent]

The other day I caught the CNA complaining in front on the patient because she had to change her a second time for being incontient of stool. The patient was total care and too weak to get out of bed. I know CNAs get very busy and I help whenever I can, but this is unacceptable. The patient was apologizing and feeling miserable. I didn't know what to do.

I just said to the patient loud enough for the CNA to hear. "You didn't do anything wrong, Mrs. X. Please don't worry about it. You're sick and you have diarrhea. It must be terrible. Your job is to get better. She's just frustrated because she's busy today."

Should I have said anything to the CNA? If so, what? She's a pretty good worker in general.

[Batman24]

If this was the first time I caught this behavior I would take the CNA aside and let them know their comments were unacceptable, unkind, and unprofessional. If they did it again I would write them up and get a paper trial started. As it sounds like this CNA is usually a good worker hopefully it was just a one time event.

[jeninthedesert, BSN, RN]

I probably would have said something to her/him in private, but not in front of the patient. And, I would have reassured the patient like you did. Like Batman said, it's unprofessional and rude to complain to patients about work woes.

[leslie :-D]

If this was the first time I caught this behavior I would take the CNA aside and let them know their comments were unacceptable, unkind, and unprofessional. If they did it again I would write them up and get a paper trial started. As it sounds like this CNA is usually a good worker hopefully it was just a one time event.

like most times, i agree w/you batman.

verbal 1:1 first time.

write up, second time.

during your chat, it's sometimes helpful to empathize w/cna, acknowledging his/her frustration.

but the clear message must be, that pts should NEVER pick up on any negative input.

rather, treating one w/dignity includes being sensitized to the sheer horror of being dependent on a stranger to clean up your mess.

if able, i often take turns w/the techs in cleaning up the various messes.

we have lots of pts w/uncontrolled diarrhea, vomit, bleeds.

i can't imagine any one 'title' being destined to always being responsible for clean up.

leslie

[BradleyRN]

I would write the CNA up from the start. Making a patient feel guilty in a situation like this is abuse. The patient probably feels guilty enough, and now her worst fears of how others feel about cleaning her up have been substantiated. Busy is no excuse. It was a flaw in judgement that should not be minimized by giving a verbal warning. The severity of this inappropriate act should be reflected in the discipline, in hopes that the CNA will realize just how wrong he/she was.

[misslo]

I agree with BradleyRN. The patient didn't CHOOSE to be in that situation, however, the CNA CHOSE her/his job. What do people think they are getting into when they become a CNA? And to complain in front of the patient is totally unacceptable. That is just rude. Period.