lazy mean assistants

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This morning while I was trying to calculate I/O's, admin meds, cover fingersticks, etc...the end of shift duties, I asked my assistant if she had emptied the NG and colostomy and f/c in room 6. She said "nope". I asked her if she would do it. She said "nope, I wont." So I asked her why not. She said that the assistant-trainee needs to do it (this assistant is training her). Now normally I do this stuff myself because it always turned into a confrontation when I asked them to do anything. Well, this assistant-trainee doesnt know how to do it, she says she has never been shown how to. At this point, it was just easier to do it myself. But the rude assistant wouldnt leave it alone. She yelled at me in front of the entrie nurses station about how these new people need to do their job or find another one, that I need to go and show her how to do it! Umm, excuse me? It isnt my job to train the assistants. Im doing my job and its hard enough. Then she follows me to the medcart to argue with me some more. She gets mad and walks off yelling at me. Ya know, when she is swamped or busy, I always helped her do her blood draws, empty trash. I tried to work as a team. But apparently thats what is EXPECTED of me now. When I need help, there is no help to be found. Another nurse is the one who has to help me clean a patient who is a complete when they have a bm in the bed. The assistants on our floor will not clean a patient, will not empty f/c's, will not do any I/O's, they want to skip out on the vitals by asking "which patients do you have to have vitals on." I never ask an assistant to help me, because I get yelled at! The answer is "I dont have time." One day I had a shot in one hand and a cup of pills in the other and was going to a patient's room when another patient called out needing to go to the bathroom. Who do you think had to go...ME. I had to put the meds back in the medcart and go assist this patient to the bsc because the assistant didnt have time (she was standing at the nurses station talking). Ive gone to my nurse manager several times, as have many other nurses. It doesnt do any good. We are short staffed, which allows this behavior to continue. Im ready to QUIT but if I dont figure out how to handle this now, it will happen again at my next job. I dont know how to be assertive. This assistant has worked on this floor for 17years, Ive only worked there for 2 1/2 years. She literally thinks her role is more important than anyone elses. How would you handle an aggressive assistant like her?

Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

There are some "lazy" aides on our floor, but nothing that bad!! I've heard them sarcastically say no a few times, and putting your foot down can be hard, but most of the time if you stand your ground and outwill them it works out. Anyone who has kids can sympathize...I have a willful 6 year old at home, and nothing/no one can be any worse than that! I just don't take no for an answer. I hope I never end up in a situation like the OP.

Recently I was sitting at the desk waiting for a return phone call from a doctor, I had a patient ring to go to the bathroom. The aide walked by and I said, "Hey room blablabla needs help to the bathroom." The aide saw that I was just sitting there, and said, "I'm soooo busy... you do it." I was already kind of irritated because of getting the run around from this doctor, so I stood up and said, "Okay fine, you sit down, take the phone call from the doctor, tell him all about the patient, write out the order, then go get whatever med he orders and give it, okay?" On cue, the phone started ringing, and I said, "go ahead, have a seat." The aide said, "I was just kidding, I can't do that." But there is a grain of truth to every joke, and I know that's what they were really thinking. I was an aide for years, myself, and I know how my CNAs feel when I ask them to do things when they're really busy. Hey, I'm busy too.

Specializes in Medic, ER, Flight, ICU, Onc.

I think part of the problem between aides and nurses is simply that nurses can do everything the aides can do, so aides have no imperative to get things done, and they see nurses sitting down to wait for a call from and MD or to chart and think we aren't doing anything. And we do make so much more than aides I can see where some come to resent it. I've worked with some of he best aides in the world who still are unable to understand that so much of nursing is cerebral. That in a good place RN's are paid for knowledge, not completion of tasks. (Of course, I've worked with some RN's who have the same misunderstanding...and, yes, being good at tasks is important, but it's not the reason for the existence of nurses. Not in this century.)

This morning I woke up, got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and wiped when I was through---independently.

I showered, dressed, and fed my cats---independently.

I made coffee, breakfast, and ate and drank them---independently.

When it was time to catch the bus, I walked out to the bus stop with no problem. I didn't need a walker or a cane, because I had no trouble walking.

I got off the bus at the no-kill kitty shelter I volunteer at and took care of the kitties (feed, water, clean cages). I could see the kitties perfectly and I could hear them meow and purr with no trouble.

The whole time I knew who I was, where I was, what day and time it was, and what I was doing.

When I was finished at the shelter I went to the nearest public computer lab, and got on Allnurses and explored the website.

Then I found this thread............

I always thought that if I quit and reported, or if I was fired for reporting abuse or neglect, I could always find another job. However.............

The residents in LTC mostly have nowhere else to go, and can't choose different caregivers if they're in a facility where the caregivers don't do their job, where they're neglected and abused, and nothing is done about it.

Whether it's temporary or permanently, they can't live independently because they either are physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves, or they need assistance to care for themselves.

The people who work in LTC and are lazy, neglectful, abusive, or chronically insubordinate need to be written up and their behavior thoroughly documented. If nothing is done, it needs to go up the chain of command as far as it will go---even to the ombudsman or the state if necessary, to protect the vulnerable people who need us the most.

There are no guarantees in life. At any time me or any one of us, our family members, or our friends could end up in LTC, no matter how old or young we or they are. It can happen whether through physical injury, disease or disability, or having dementia and needing to be in LTC to be safe and cared for.

I truly hope that, if and when that happens, that there will be safe facilities to go to; not ones that are run by anyone (whether CNA or CEO) who won't care about the physical, mental, and psychological well being of the residents.

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Squeeky Kitty,

How right you are. Without blaming anyone profession, I take your message personally.

I only hope that the possibilities of dementia to disease to disabilities never happens we all know your statement is true.

With reminders and hopeful posts such as yours, it makes me want to become an even bettr nurse and caregiver.

Thank you for sharing.

Just remember, your're the RN, you are supervising her on that shif. Be sure to document it, talk to your sup about it, stand your ground. Respond in a prof manner, show the new assistant what professionalism is, showing the new assistant how, not to behave will be the best thing in a long run.. Sounds like this assistant has had too much room to act out. Time for that to STOP ! You are in charge of pt care, if a staff member is disrupting the department to that point it's time for some serious documentation, the new assistant shoud also document the insident and should be trained by someone else. Stand up for your self. It's like children, even though your busy at work, take the time to deal with the situation or things will only get worse .

Squeeky Kitty,

How right you are. Without blaming anyone profession, I take your message personally.

I only hope that the possibilities of dementia to disease to disabilities never happens we all know your statement is true.

With reminders and hopeful posts such as yours, it makes me want to become an even bettr nurse and caregiver.

Thank you for sharing.

You're welcome. And thank you for your post.

I posted this because it does bother me that people could be quitting without doing anything about the situation they leave behind. As far as the CNA shortage goes, maybe some of those places have that problem because the good ones are quitting because nothing happens to the "rotten apples"? Perhaps more DONs would back up there nurses if the state made them? All I know is hopefully more people will do something to change LTC before they end up there and it's too late.

I haven't read all the posts yet (too many), but in the situation you describe I can really see only one thing to do: Run, don't walk out of there. If management won't stand up to the assistants (their title, of course, means they should assist you)... well, that's a gross lack of leadership. This kind of insubordination should never be tolerated, and it shows you that management cares little for the nurses. Why would you want to work under such conditions?

Unfortunately, this seems of be a fairly wide-spread problem, from what I hear and read (and some personal experience as well). Sometimes it's just better - for you, and your mental and physical health - to quit.

Best of luck to you,

DeLana

Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.

from bad recent experience, put all complaints in writing, be specific and objective. And persistant. Trust me, it just gets worse.

As A Cna Its Very Hard Job To Take Care Of People And Deal With A Charge Nurse That Feels Like You Dont Do Any Thing When Some Aids Are Working Some Times With 6-15 Patients But Never Told Your Doing A Good Job Just That Cnas Are Lazy And Dont Do Anything And Any Body Doing Skilled Are Can Tell You Its Hard With No Good Pay.

Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

Well if they are short staffed then surely your skills as an RN are far more needed than hers, i'd have no probs with standing up to such an idiot if they are that desperate they aren't going to fire you. I'd be asking her why she is sitting on her butt watching TV why patients need care. I'd be challenging her in front of the entire ward about not cleaning up patients, taking vitals etc. I'd even ask her if she would like me to show her how it's done properly.

If they are going to treat you with disrespect then don't ask them to do anything. TELL them. In fact why not plan their daily tasks for them? I'd be writing down whose obs need to be taken and when, and when to do showers etc. Put it up on the wall where they can see it and inform them that these are what need to be done and to tick them off when they are completed. If management or anyone asks then inform them that you are concerned with their time management skills and as the supervising RN you are letting them know what needs to be done and when.

As an RN you are not responsible for their behavior, but you are responsible for advocating for your patients. By not addressing the problem by informing the nurses board and writing incident reports your patients are at risk and IMHO you are not fulfilling your obligation towards your patients.

Specializes in LTC.

In our facility we the "charge nurse" can walk an assistant for insubordination. We don't have to write them up first. If they refuse to do something that we requested them to do then we make the decision as what to do. I'm not saying this is what you should do (if you can do this at your facility) but you have to let them know that you mean what you say. I will help any of them wipe poo, or anything else if they need help but I will not let them bully me.

Specializes in RN- Med/surg.
Perhaps more DONs would back up there nurses if the state made them? All I know is hopefully more people will do something to change LTC before they end up there and it's too late.

The state can't make them if they don't know the problems. When I worked LTC...I would get FURIOUS when I saw staffing. Around the time of state inspection...they DOUBLED our staffing until just after state came...then they cut everyone back again. We literally had twice as many CNA"s on the floor in preperation. It was great. THe residents got superb care...and we weren't overwhelmed, exhausted, and limping when we went home. And...I should add...this is in a pretty good home. (I'd allow my mom/myself to be there if needed) Seeing how it is in a good home...I shudder to think about how other places are.

However...even when you care...it's hard. I almost took a position in LTC because I DO care and want to make a difference. (different facility)...but the pay stinks..and if you're chronically short staffed...you don't have TIME to make much of a difference..and in the meantime you put your lisence on the line. It's a vicious cycle.

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