arrogant nurses

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Being new as a CNA I'm trying hard not to be judgmental. But I notice some of the LPN's just seem like they don't want bothered at all with the " aides". Granted they have a lot on their plate. But sometimes when all I need is to reposition someone and can't find another aide an LPN will help me. Also some help feed residents in the dining room. There are a couple in particular that just seem to act like they know it all and won't help with anything. I told the lpn that a resident needed a dressing and she waited 4 hours before doing so. Granted this lady would have just pulled it off. But still she recently had an amputation and it's still healing so she needs it covered to avoid infection. Plus I had never been on a wing all by myself and so another aide offered to switch. I saw no problem in this because she would sign for caring for these people and I would sign for hers that I cared for. But this same nurse said no! They usually don't let someone go alone unless they've been there at least 3 and a half to four months. I've only been there two months and no prior experience. It just irkes me some of these nurses act like hot shots. They've probably never been in our shoes and that's why. :o

Many times a nurse has every intention of helping her aides, especially if the aide is alone. But many factors are in play that the aides just don't seem to understand. The most important thing for a nurse to do is Prioritize. There are patients to assess, meds to give, charting, charting and more charting, tedious tasks, that albeit aren't as physically gruelling, but are very mentally draining.

As a nurse, when I have time, I do answer call lights, sit at bedside and comfort residents, help with bed checks, and assist with getting residents up. But there are just some nights that priortizing duties mean, that you might have to answer a call light, and tell that resident that an aide will be in shortly, because there are many duties, or unexpected things that come up. But many aides have the mindset that all nurses do is sit behind the desk, but charting is a very big part of our job.

I've also had aides that would lolly gag around, and when they knew they weren't going to be able to get everyone up, they would come tell me I needed to help them, at this point, I don't help, because if I've got to stay busy, and have my own job to do, then its just as important for the aides to stay busy, stay focused and get their jobs done as well.

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

You "potty" the residents??? Puhleeeeze...they are NOT babies.

You "potty" the residents??? Puhleeeeze...they are NOT babies.

Okay, I "assist them to ambulate to the restroom to void or defacate". Better? Anyway, while they are my patients, they ARE my babies. I treat them with the same care and attention that I would a baby minus the "honey and sweetie" remarks.

Specializes in Critical Care, Long Term Care.

Everyone who posted has made valid points.

However when staffing is such that there is on RN (me) to keep track of 60 patients on 11-7am shift with 2 or 3 aides(if I am lucky I have 3) and need to give meds on 45 of them between 5-8am, let alone all the charting and accucheks, vital signs, etc...I do assist and answer lights as I am able. I agree that someone could be on the floor so we need to answer the lights now rather then later.

I have CNA's stare at me in disbelief because I do answer lights, walk pts to BR, change diapers, help pull pts up in bed etc. I am all for team work. I worked 18 + years in acute care without CNA's. I am use to doing things for myself and will still assist as able. I depend on the CNA's to tell me if a patient is changed or not 'acting right" or if they find someone unreponsive or crashing....I have to depend on them as I work very PRN. I value their knowledge.

But like all the other posters there are good and bad in nurses as well as CNA's. I have seen CNA's spend all their free time on their cell phones! (wish we could ban cell phones in general !!) and have seen them not give the care they should. I call them on it if I see it. But eveyone needs to just try to work together. I will give you respect for the work you do if you give me respect for the work I an reponsible for and need to do.

I thought I was told at one time that it is against state regulations to stop and give bedpans or other care if you are doing a med pass (?...I am not well versed on state regs but I was told that one time when state was coming in...) also you will be leaving on time so I would like to do what I have to do and leave on time also. I have yet to see a CNA not get a lunch or break when on the other hand I can rarely get lunch and my break isusually on the run at the desk as I chart.....so can't we all work together and respect each other?

Where I work, we don't have an RN on the 11-7 shift, although I wish we did. We have approx. 110 residents, 6 cna's, and 2 lpn's....although quite frequently one of the lpns is left alone for a few hours each night. Usually one lpn stays and passes the midnights, then another comes in around 5 to pass the 6 am meds. Thank goodness for the great aides I work with during the night. Trust me, sometimes those night shifts are non-stop chaos!

I could spend all shift doing just personal care for my patients. Trouble is, I'm accountable, as the nurse, for MORE than that. Having a good assistant is invaluable...I feel spoiled when I have one on my unit as ICU generally does NOT.

Low self esteemed people love to split and fight groups against another...I prefer to work WITH my coworkers. But I will NOT do my lazy coworkers' work FOR them either...so lets all make sure we're doing our share of the skilled work we are competent to do. Nurses as well as CNA's. We all know a few lazy ones in EACH group don't we.

Being new as a CNA I'm trying hard not to be judgmental. But I notice some of the LPN's just seem like they don't want bothered at all with the " aides". Granted they have a lot on their plate. But sometimes when all I need is to reposition someone and can't find another aide an LPN will help me. Also some help feed residents in the dining room. There are a couple in particular that just seem to act like they know it all and won't help with anything. I told the lpn that a resident needed a dressing and she waited 4 hours before doing so. Granted this lady would have just pulled it off. But still she recently had an amputation and it's still healing so she needs it covered to avoid infection. Plus I had never been on a wing all by myself and so another aide offered to switch. I saw no problem in this because she would sign for caring for these people and I would sign for hers that I cared for. But this same nurse said no! They usually don't let someone go alone unless they've been there at least 3 and a half to four months. I've only been there two months and no prior experience. It just irkes me some of these nurses act like hot shots. They've probably never been in our shoes and that's why. :o
An LVN in a convy or LTC doesn't have time to help CNA's, especially when you have one or two CNA's goofing off in the activity room instead of turning residents or changing soaked diapers.
Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.

Hi

I'm sorry you are encountering these kinds of people.I have been an RN for 38 years. I too,have run into these kinds of nurses--it's too bad, but they are out there. I learned, as others have stated, at the beginning of my career, that the long lasting CNA is probably the one who knows the most about how the place works. When I was a new Grad, I went to a Psych Hosp. to work; after 2 weeks,I was the only nurse on 4-12 Shift with 2 CNA's. Those 2 ladies taught me everything!! Thank the Lord they were there. When I was a patient after Hip Replacement surgery, I just had my foley out & I needed a bedpan dreadfully; I had my light on for 45 min. Finally the RN came in with meds!! AHhhhh.. I thought; can you believe she would not give me a bed pan--"I'll call your Aide".I asked her if she had had an accident on the way to work; she looked at me like I was crazy--so I said, Well, I thought that maybe your hands got broken!! She got all huffy & walked out!! Well, I don't think much of that kind of nurse--I was never that way & I hope I never get to be that way!!

So, You will meet all kinds out there in the working world; like some one else said, maybe they just need some one to be kind to them!!

It takes the same energy to be nice to someone, so that's how I am!

I have probably told this one before but when I was a new grad, I was placed on a med surg floor where the Jamaican CNA had been for 25 years....I was scared to death as she eyed me solemnly..She had seen nurses come and go and she was the one still there....I decided in report to stop the tape and said, quite sincerely, "Norma,I just started out here and I know absolutely nothing." I was candid with her in that I was scared to death...I could see a crinkle of a smile forming as I went on to beg her to just make sure I didn't screw up or kill anyone....Although we never spoke of it again, and she retained her serious demeanor, she did look out for me, remind me when something needed to be done, and helped me out because I did value and respect her opinion, knowledge and experience. That was almost 25 years ago and I still, to this day, turn to the CNAs, secretaries,LPNs and fellow nurses that work along with me because we are and should all be in it together..If something needs to be done that a CNA would normally do and I have time while they are so busy, I will do it....Pity more nurses don't see it that way.....I was fortunate to figure out that one can't do it alone , however wonderful a nurse they may be or think they are...:)

I can just picture this story. What a way to handle yourself! Kudos to you!

Being new as a CNA I'm trying hard not to be judgmental. But I notice some of the LPN's just seem like they don't want bothered at all with the " aides". Granted they have a lot on their plate. But sometimes when all I need is to reposition someone and can't find another aide an LPN will help me. Also some help feed residents in the dining room. There are a couple in particular that just seem to act like they know it all and won't help with anything. I told the lpn that a resident needed a dressing and she waited 4 hours before doing so. Granted this lady would have just pulled it off. But still she recently had an amputation and it's still healing so she needs it covered to avoid infection. Plus I had never been on a wing all by myself and so another aide offered to switch. I saw no problem in this because she would sign for caring for these people and I would sign for hers that I cared for. But this same nurse said no! They usually don't let someone go alone unless they've been there at least 3 and a half to four months. I've only been there two months and no prior experience. It just irkes me some of these nurses act like hot shots. They've probably never been in our shoes and that's why. :o

I hate the fact that there are nurses like that out in this world but they are everywhere. I am an lpn. I used to be a cna so I feel I have some understanding for what a cna goes through. I never hesitate to help a cna if they ask for my help. I try not to be like the nurses that I didn't like when I was a cna. Also when a cna tells me something is wrong with a certain patient I jump up and check it out. CNA's are the nurses eyes and ears and notice the slightest change in a patient. Without CNA's hard work us nurses would be in a mess. Thank you for all you do

Dear purple

I too am a CNA and honey this problem is rampant. I am in New York so even the CNA's have very bad attitudes. I have left jobs because of this and have come here for help. It is good you are coming here.

The solution is to remind yourself why you need this job when things are bad and kill them with kindness...and the ultimate solution..become an LPN or RN yourself and treat your staff the way you would like to be treated, maybe even better :)

You are not alone...believe me :) pm me any time

Krissy

Thanks for all that have applied so far. I'm a part time float at my facility and understood that upon acceptance of the job. But lately they have been going overboard. One day I came in at three and within an hour I was bounced between two units and given 3 different lists of people to start taking care of. An hour later it was brought to my attention that a lady had urinated all over herself. She didn't even have an attends on, no undies nothing! She was incontinent. There was a stack of newspapers under her soaked. And I had to clean her up, throw the papers away, wash the wheelchair and get her new pants with an attends on. So why didn't the aide before me do anything?! It made me feel aweful to know she was left like that from the previous aide that shift. And tonight I could have screamed. I was on 2 intermediate they say go to 3 skilled, fine just peachy. I go there then they decide they're going to float me between the two floors. But they couldn't make up their minds who got me the first half. So they have me running up and down the stairs numerous times before they made up their stupid minds! I come upstairs the final time and the precious LPN sais, go downstairs in a snippy tone! I tell her if I go down there and they tell me to come up again that I was going home, she snorts whatever!! very rude........ I just felt like crying. Then this nurse was looking for aides for 11-7 and I was like no. I should have told her to work the overtime herself if she was so concerned. And maybe even change a couple diapers, no can't get those pretty little hands dirty! I don't know whether to complain or let it go. I don't want to leave on a sour note if I plan on being an aide elsewhere. p.s. she was actually blowing spit balls at other staff as well as a couple residents and then belched rather loudly without excusing herself. If I say this to a manager they'd more then likely say I was making this up because oh no nurses don't act like that! I'm not so sure I want to go to nursing school now. I don't want to be a part of a profession that acts like that. I don't know what to do.

+ Add a Comment