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

Twenty-nine years ago I was a student nurse working as a 3-11p aide for the summer at a nursing home. I have often said that it is the hardest I have ever worked! I will never forget seeing the nurse sitting at the desk reading a romance novel while the aides labored to care for the patients. She never once offered to help...just pushed the med cart and sat down when the meds were passed. She would call one of us if a light needed to be answered. Now this nurse was younger than I was and we all had to call her "Miss H," while we went by our first names. She was probably one of my worst nursing role models, but I must thank her because I learned so much from her....how NOT to act! In all my years of nursing I hope to God I have never acted like she did.

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Wow, some very bad stories here, I depend on and trust my CNA's. I know how hard to job is as I used to do it before becoming an LPN. I also know what it is like to complain about a very bad CNA(resident abuse) as I did this as a CNA and got nowhere. I thought being an LPN I could make a difference in patient care- wrong I am told by the DON that it is not my job to answer light's(dayshift), it is the CNA's- but needless to say I still answer lights when ever possible- I try to help the CNA's so they can get an extra small break- because the work is so hard and sometimes stressful and it gives them a little time to recollect themselves. There are times when I have so much to do that I can't always help but I do when I am able, I think most of the CNA's like me because when they reprot something I do investigate it, more than I can say for another of the Nurse's who thinks she knows all about everything.

I respect and am proud of all the CNA"s that do thier job right and care about the residents, not all do- some just come and give very little care and that is very frustrating. Good CNA's are as hard to come by as Nurses-It is so much better when you have people on both sides who care about thier residents and work together for the betterment of thier care and give them the best Quality of Life possible for each individual resident.

If not for the CNA's where would these people be? CNA's become these people's family most of the time.

So just keep continuing your way of caring for these people, the residents notice even if no one else does, your reward is a smile from a resident or a hug, or a thank you for caring about me or maybe even an I Love YOU

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Hi Purlple Princess,

To you and all the want to be nurses out there, don't give up!!!! Just the fact that you recognize unprofessional behaviour when you see it, already tells me that you could out-nurses those gals any day of the week. Unfortunately there are a lot of burnt out nurses out there. Aspire to be the best that you can be. You already have in your mind what a good nurse should be, so follow that, you are on the right track. If management won't support you then maybe you need to look elsewhere for employment. When working in LTC care, you're responsible for someone's grandmother or mother etc. These people are at the end of their lifespan. Always regard them with the highest respect and treat them with the dignity that they deserve. Always be proud of the work that you do, it is what gives these folks purpose some days. As their caregiver you become such a huge part of their world and really a part of their extended family, because let's face it, you will see more of them then their own family will. You have no clue of how you impact that resident when you allow them the time to dress themselves with support or get to the toilet on time instead of soiling themselves, and in time they will impact you more than you can ever imagine, even the folks whose minds have betrayed them with dementia and Alzheimers. LTC is rewarding work, hard physically, emotionally, and spirtitually, but oh so rewarding. Don't ever underestimate the value of your work or effort. If you want to be a nurse, go for it. You know what kind of nurse you want to be, so aspire for that and lead by example. I can't say that I personally worked in a place like you described, and I have no doubt those kind of places are out there. One person can make a difference and there is absolutely no reason why it can't be YOU!!! Take care and good luck, Ruby N.

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After reading this thread, I actually feel better! It really sucks when you feel like you are the only one this stuff happens to. I know not all nurses or even other CNAs are bad ones, they are actually the minority. I finally had enough though, and found another job. The final straw for me was when I went in, got my permanent group for once!, and worked it til 7p.... only to be told that I had to switch to another group because *precious* just had to leave early again! Fine! 26 residents down, only 22 more to go. Not to mention the 4 showers that *precious* hadn't done... she didn't have time with leaving early you know. Yeah! Whatever!! This wasn't the first time either but, you can only take so much before you just get p'oed and tell them to kiss your orifice! This followed the night that a fellow CNA told me flat out she "was too busy to be helping me with my 2-assists". OK. That's the thanks I get for running to everyone else's aid... whether I am busy or not.

PJ

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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.

Don't let this experience shy you away from becoming a nurse. I am in the exact same situation as you...except when I get treated like that I go elsewhere asap.

Maybe try home care...a one on one type situation. They need help too. I am thinking about it myself. Keep your chin up

:balloons:

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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've worked as a CNA for years (acute and convalescent) before I became an LVN, but I never got frustrated with LVN's or RN's not answering call lights. To me, that was an attendants job. I've worked with dozens of lazy CNA's who whine about their co-workers when they should have focused on their tasks. Me? I got report from the RN/LVN, took my q4-8* vitals, turned and cleaned my patients, passed trays, charted, and waited for the call lights. In fact, I got pissed off when a licensed nurse beat me to a call light.

Nobody got to those call lights before I did!

That's a soldier's attitude.

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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...:)

You are very wise! I know that as a nursing student, it has been very effective to throw myself at the mercy of the CNA's and patient techs on the clinical floors, because they probably know the patient better than I do, and are better with things like transfers. They are usually extremely gracious in showing me what to do and how to do it. Maybe I'll know it all in another life, but I don't think it's gonna happen in this life.

oldiebutgoodie :p

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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
we have some good nurses where i am at, and some great nurses...but some... i had one the other day who complained about having to work a half hour overtime, on ONE occasion, to get her work done! hello? i work 10, 15, 20 minutes over and dont get paid for it because in order to get paid for it id have to do overtime slip signed by sup and no way would i do that for such short amt of OT. it makes me laugh-- you thought by becoming a nurse youd never do OT? i also work through lunch with no pay most of the time. then i have 16 pts and she wants my partner with 14 pts to do her accuchecks for her. (roll eyes). oh-- maybe she was just trying to bond with us by sharing her gripes, who knows.
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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

After reading some of your posts, I have to brag about my coworkers! The vast majority of the nurses I work with (I'm a CNA) are wonderful. They aren't "above" helping us if we need it. They really know the meaning of teamwork. They are an exellent example of professionalism and putting patient care above all else. The DON and ADON are the best people on earth to work for. Once, when I was only 1 of 2 aides on 7-3, the DON strolled on the floor, and saw that we really needed help, and for about an hour helped lay residents down and helped change them. Patient care is priority, and my superiors are a shining example.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

After reading some of your posts, I have to brag about my coworkers! The vast majority of the nurses I work with (I'm a CNA) are wonderful. They aren't "above" helping us if we need it. They really know the meaning of teamwork. They are an exellent example of professionalism and putting patient care above all else. The DON and ADON are the best people on earth to work for. Once, when I was only 1 of 2 aides on 7-3, the DON strolled on the floor, and saw that we really needed help, and for about an hour helped lay residents down and helped change them. Patient care is priority, and my superiors are a shining example.

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My first LPN job was on a LTC unit. The first thing I my charge nurse told me was to respect the CNA's and they will teach you more than you can imagine. How right she was. I worked with the same aide for my first twelve years and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I try to help out as much as I can. Unfortunately there are always going to be some who feel they shouldn't have to do basic care,ADL's. With staffing being what it is today, nursing has to be a team effort. Things just work better that way. We have a recognition/reward program to spotlight those who go above and beyond. I try to write up the CNA's as often as possible and they appreciate that. I couldn't do my job without them.

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Well, just let me put my two cents in here. I worked as a CNA for 2 years during school and I have been an LPN now for 3 years. I know what it feels like to be a CNA and all the job responsibilities but there are a lot more for LPN. BUT!!!!!!!!! LPN's can check on call lights, that is still in their job description. Where I work at now, which is in a rehabilitation school where we have quad's, para's, and TBI's the only CNA we have is a 64 Y/O lady that should have retired YEARS ago. LOL but bless her heart she just keeps on going. She complains to me that I am doing too much and not letting her do anything and she feels like I am not letting her doing her work. She tells me, "I go to do something and you've already got it done, let me catch up, you have charting to do, I'll get this" but CNA work is what I like, I am a people person and don't care a bit to wipe s**t with the best of them!!!!! LOL:roll

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