UUUGHH (White-coat syndrome?)

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

There's this older gentleman at work who is a CNA. When you ask for help moving or feeding the patients, he constantly states, "I'm just the CNA." I don't know where this comes from and it ticks me off because he always says this. He also wears a white coat buttoned of course, and the patients frequently refer to him as a doctor, as in, "That doctor just brought me my dinner!" He NEVER corrects them. We had one confused little lady who refused to take pills from me (a female in scrubs) and took them right away when he was in the room. The little lady said, "I'll do anything for my doctor!" He is so self-depreciating and it is driving me batty! It doesn't seem very professional either. Any suggestions about what I could do? (Oh and I've already tried saying that he should not refer to himself as "just the CNA" because nurses couldn't work well without CNAs)

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"I'm just the CNA,"

The response to that remark:

"Which is why I'm asking for your assistance,"

I don't know why he would state the obvious (about being a CNA, not the "just" part) when asked for assistance. It almost sounds like it's being said to come across like this: I'm just the CNA so why are you asking me? Using self-depreciation as a means to cause others to avoid asking him for help.

You could try discussing this issue and the "doctor" issue. By knowingly allowing patients to assume that he is a doctor, he could wind up in hot water legally.

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That is very true. I also think people "dumb themselves down" or act like they aren't of much use so they can get out of certain responsibilities. Another explanation is that people call themselves "just" CNAs because they don't feel like they are an important part of nursing staff, since they don't carry licenses (however, I don't think that is the case in this situation).

And I'm not understanding why he's wearing a white coat if he's not a doctor? I think it's disgusting that he doesn't correct people when they call him a doctor. He might as well be saying that he is one!

Somebody take that stupid coat away from him. It means absolutely nothing.

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When I was a Red Cross volunteer, there was a guy kind of like that there. He wasn't even a CNA, though. He'd let his certification lapse (so he said). He wore a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck to work w/ the Red Cross making sandwiches!

But, when you asked him for help w/ anything, he'd say "I'm working for free! I don't have to do that."

or "I have a bad back."

Finally, the Red Cross "fired" him, lol.

ITA with the other posters.

This guy needs to do his job, and he needs to get rid of the lab coat and correct the pts when they think he's a doc.

Geez!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Please explain the white coat? Why does he even have one? :uhoh21:

Have you approached him with a serious conversation about the issue? If so, and nothing has changed........talk to your supervisor!

IMO, Once again, the public's lack of education has spoken. "Assuming" he is a doctor just because he is male and wears a coat is terrible of anyone.

Knowing people will assume you are a Dr. when you aren't and not correct them..............trouble if he keeps it up.

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Hellllllo Nurse said:
When I was a Red Cross volunteer, there was a guy kind of like that there. He wasn't even a CNA, though. He'd let his certification lapse (so he said). He wore a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck to work w/ the Red Cross making sandwiches!

But, when you asked him for help w/ anything, he'd say "I'm working for free! I don't have to do that."

or "I have a bad back."

Finally, the Red Cross "fired" him, lol.

ITA with the other posters.

This guy needs to do his job, and he needs to get rid of the lab coat and correct the pts when they think he's a doc.

Geez!

?

That's pretty bad, getting "fired" as a volunteer.

I didn't comment on the white coat in my initial post because I wondered if Jbeck was referring to a warming jacket that alot of us wear. You may have to discuss the "doctor" issue with your supervisor.

Bear in mind that this person is using "I'm just the CNA" routine because it has no doubt worked with countless others in the past. You probably haven't been the only one he's driven "batty." Maintain your dignity, respond professionally, and don't let it get to you. Remember why he's doing it, and don't give him the power to continue.

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I also think people "dumb themselves down" or act like they aren't of much use so they can get out of certain responsibilities. Another explanation is that people call themselves "just" CNAs because they don't feel like they are an important part of nursing staff, since they don't carry licenses (however, I don't think that is the case in this situation).

I agree Cute CNA, there are those that "dumb down" to get out of responsibilities, which I think is the case with Jbeck. There are also those that refer to themselves as "just" because they don't think they are important, well guess what? How well I do my job is very dependent on how well others do theirs and that is important, not just to me but also to the patients they take care of. Sometimes it's the smallest of things that make the biggest difference.

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[quote=DusktilDawn

.......How well I do my job is very dependent on how well others do theirs and that is important, not just to me but also to the patients they take care of. Sometimes it's the smallest of things that make the biggest difference.

ITA. Having good CNAs and teamwork is more imprtant than the pt having a good doc, IMO. It makes more of a difference in the quality of care they get, and in their outcome.

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Hellllllo Nurse said:
ITA. Having good CNAs and teamwork is more imprtant than the pt having a good doc, IMO. It makes more of a difference in the quality of care they get, and in their outcome.

Absolutely Helllllo Nurse. I wanted to address what Cute CNA brought up that sometimes people don't think that what they do matters if they don't have a license, well it does matter.

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[color=dimgray]wow.....he can't put the two words together and figure out what they really mean? nurse..assist....means assist the nurse with whatever dingbat! we had a fellow cna who wore a scrub jacket that said nurse and i heard some of the nurses complaining about that, and i dont' blame them. when i earn the title rn or lpn, then i'll get one of those too, but until then i know to stay in put in my place in any way i can not to confuse the patients, family members, or step on any toes of my coworkers!

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Specializes in LDRP.

OK, doesn't correct pt's who call him doctor and wants to get out of nursing assistant tasks??

Sounds like someone has an inflated ego, wants to be considered important, and needs to go back to school to earn that title he so desires.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Hellllllo Nurse said:
When I was a Red Cross volunteer, there was a guy kind of like that there. He wasn't even a CNA, though. He'd let his certification lapse (so he said). He wore a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck to work w/ the Red Cross making sandwiches!

But, when you asked him for help w/ anything, he'd say "I'm working for free! I don't have to do that."

or "I have a bad back."

Finally, the Red Cross "fired" him, lol.

ITA with the other posters.

This guy needs to do his job, and he needs to get rid of the lab coat and correct the pts when they think he's a doc.

Geez!

The lab coat has definitely got to go.

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I don't understand what is inappropriate with a white coat , if it's a scrub jacket or lab coat or whatever. Everyone where I work wears them...just like scrubs.

That CNA, just like any other healthcare team member, should let someone know if they are being addressed incorrectly.

When he says "I'm just the CNA" is he saying it as if "Sure, I'm a CNA, I'll help with that" or "You honestly don't expect me to be able to do anything, as I am just a CNA". I don't understand (without hearing it I guess).

I do agree with Dusktildawn's response to that remark.

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