Showing Appreciation to CNAs, LPNs and others in the team

Nurses General Nursing

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As I plan on being an RN and will rely on CNAs, LPNs, etc., I definitely want to be able to let them know that I appreciate their hard work.

I would like to know from CNAs and LPNs what you would look for in a supervising RN other than the respect you deserve.

RNs how do you treat the CNAs and LPNs that report to you?

Kris :nurse:

Flo, I hate that you ae having such a miserable experience as a CNA!! Wish I could help! I was also a nurses aide (that's what we were called way back when) When I was in LPN school. Some RNs and LPNs were indifferent to my very existance, but there were 3 RNs that were my mentors, and it made all the difference to me. I wish you could have that too, but remember you can always gripe to us, or PM me if you want to. We care! Hang in there!:kiss

Thanks, Zudy. One of the reasons I became a nurse's aid was because I thought I would learn something. And I have learned a lot, but on my own. I just keep my eyes open and observe. I try to watch procedures, and codes, etc. without getting in the way. I even asked the nurses in tele to save the old EKG strips instead of throwing them away so I could practice and the nurse said no because it would violate pt confidentiality. I told her to black out the name then and she refused and threw the strips in the garbage. God, forbid someone actually wants to LEARN something. I tell the nurses I am a student in the hopes that they may " take me under their wing" but most of them could care less. What is worse is that I am a float so no one really has the opportunity to get to know me. I feel like I have no " home". I don't even have a locker or anywhere to keep my things. Sometimes I get pulled 3-4 times a shift without so much as a thank you. The LPNS and RNS get incentives when they are pulled but the CNAS don't get shit. I would just settle for a little gratitude once in a while.

Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

Whenever an Aide gives me a hand, I'm sure to say Please and Thank you. If they go out of their way to do something or volunteer to stay over, I always go up and thank them. I believe that it means more to them when they are personally thanked by the RN's as some RN's take Aides for granted and treat them like slaves.

Lou- saying please and thank you does mean a lot. When I am shown appreciation, I go home feeling as though I made a contribution. It really does make a difference. Last semester I work FRI-SAt 7pm-7am. I didn't sleep on Friday before work because I had school till 4. Well, I worked in ICU and there was a pt who was bleeding out from varices. I literally went to the blood bank 10 times, plus central processing twice, the pharmacy three times, to another floor to get linens, to the nursing office to get a snack for a pt , etc. It was 4 am and I hadn't sat down once since I arrived on the unit at 7pm. Well, things had finally calmed down and the nurses all sat down and started eating food they had ordered earlier(of course no one asked me if I wanted anything). Anyway, I sat down to take a break and was told to go empty all of the hampers in the rooms. Meanwhile they were all relaxing and stuffing their faces. After I did that, I tried sitting down again but that's when they all decided to wash their pts. At 6:50 AM I was told to go to the blood bank again but when I got there,the nurse had forgotten to enter the blood into the computer so I couldn't get it. When I went back to the unit, I was yelled at for not having the blood. I didn't leave till almost 8am that day and never once did I hear a thank you. It would have made all the difference.

Flo1216, you're working with some people that need to be whipped with wet noodles! If ANYONE comes to me with a concern about a patient, I go as soon as humanly possible and go check that person out! That AIDES know the patients much better, because they work with them closely every single day. If the CNA is seeing a problem, there's usually a problem, and I'd better figure out what it is!

I was taught that NO ONE walks by a call light. You stop and answer it, and I don't care if you're the CEO, you'd better answer it when I'm on duty (none of this BS of going to find someone)! I hate that!

If I hear a call light, I usually look up to see where the aides are. If they are all busy, I go answer it. If they are way down on another hall, I go answer it. If they are somewhere in a room close by, I let them get it. And what did it cost me? A couple minutes of my time is all. It not only meets the patient's needs faster, but also encourages teamwork and goodwill on the unit.

The way an entire unit runs is directly related to the charge nurse. If a charge comes to work grumpy, everyone is grumpy. If the charge is helping, everyone starts helping each other. If the charge compliments people and is easy-going, the staff relaxes and feels good about themselves. The charge sets the entire tone of any shift and on any unit. You don't have to nag someone if you treat them right, they do their best just because they respect you which makes my job easier in the long run.

I know this is getting to be a long post. Sorry. This business of not answering call lights or failing to take a patient concern seriously really irritates me!

I've seen too many times someone is hired and they start work all optimistic and full of promise. In a few short weeks they're burned out, and gone. It's how we treat each other makes the entire difference, and how you keep good staff.

One little story about a CNA I worked with once (I've worked with many great ones). Her name was Violet. One day Violet came up to me and said, "Come on. We're going outside to have a smoke." I told her I couldn't go then, I had way too much to do. I was stressing. She repeated herself 2 more times, each time I said NO, I've got too much to do. Basically, I told her to go away, I was real busy and didn't have time for a stupid break! She just stood there quietly for a few heartbeats, then she said, "Youda, you're acting like a *itch today and everyone is getting uptight. Now you and me are going outside and you are going to spend a few minutes relaxing and mellowing out!" Here's this CNA standing up to the charge nurse and telling it like it is. I went on break and she listened while I vented. I have always remembered Violet for letting me know that sometimes you just gotta stop and be kind to yourself, too.

Thank you, Youda. I wish I worked with more people like you.

Originally posted by Susy K

I treat CNAs and LPNs no differently than I treat anyone else who is a team-player, is responsible, and a good employee.

ditto.

well, that's the way it should be.

Flo, I am really disturbed at your post. I would actually think that it would benefit all nurses if they had to work as a CNA prior to getting their RN for the main reason of understanding the demands placed on CNAs. I feel that there are many RNs (particularly the ones you are working with, Flo) who couldn't handle the duties that you carry out. I will think of you and your post as I go through my schooling and career. One of my goals is to become a teacher in a nursing program and I will try to instill in my students that all members of the healthteam are important, not only the MD and other RNs.

Flo , I also wanted to say , I feel so bad that you are treated so badly. It made me realise now lucky I have been . When I first started thinking about going back to school, I was working as a patient service person { combination of housekeeper/transport and nurse assistant} .It was the nurses on my unit , mostly the RN's , who convinced me I could do it. After I was in school they would let me assist them with tx or whatever . Not that they really needed my help , but knew I wanted to . I continued to work week-ends while in school and they would help me study for tests , answer dumb questions {without making me feel like an idiot} and quiz me from time to time.If it had not been for this group of nurses I don't think I would have even went back to school.

Your post makes me see I am truly blessed. Thank You.

:sniff: i wanna go work with youda :sniff:

:chuckle

i'm a cna in a ltc facility. and just for once, i would love for the nurses that i work with to realize that i have things that have to be finished before shift end the same as they do. and that i know mrs. so and so is wet. i know that she is wet 3 times an hour. but i also have 12 other patient that may have been wet for much longer than mrs. so and so and deserve to be dry also. i am one human with 2 hands and one behind that i run ragged every shift that i work.

thank you. that is all. :D

Thanks, all! I'm on Sabbatical, which means I'm not working right now. But, I'll let you know where I land . . .

I don't understand dogging the CNAs. Yes, sometimes there is a lazy one, but that's rare. I believe people are adults and know their job. If I stay out of their way, they can get it done. If something isn't getting done, there's a problem on the floor, not a problem with the CNA or nurse. (Is the CNA behind because Mr. Jones just had diarrhea from his bed to the bathroom?) It's part of MY job to figure out what the problem is, and try to correct it so everyone CAN do their jobs. Usually the problem is not enough staff to do the job, so what good does it do to dog someone because they can't be in 3 places at the same time? I've had real good luck just grabbing someone and working the hall that's falling behind and helping the CNA get caught up so we can all go home on time.

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