Stress: Vent

[winnowill]

A nurse I worked with blew up at every worker on our 2 halls. In the middle of the hall with visitors watching. Then turned to me and said "we need to get on the same page with these CNAs". We were working one short and everyone was trying to get it done. I was running down the hall making beds and helping get rooms straight. Putting myself behind. Then as she walks away she says "Ya'll need to stop making yourselves look busy and work or you can leave right now".

I understand she is stressed. But to have that outburst and go off on everyone is just wrong to me. I've felt like throwing my hands up and walking out too. I get told to start writing a CNA up because she just isn't getting it. Late all the time, flat out lying to our faces that so and so refused this or that, and not touching people for the whole shift. I start writing her up and what happens? I'm called into the office with her present to explain the writeups and she is transfered to another floor.

Nothing but drama every day. We're awful nurses because we can't get this certain paperwork done in time. Oh and by the way, here's another piece of paperwork we want you to do. And you need to get control of your floor even though you barely have time to look up some days. Well I saw what happens when I try to do my job of supervising.

I have never been chewed out in the middle of a hallway by a supervisor in 10 years. I've been here 1 year and it's happened twice.

We've had CNAs and LPNs leaving left and right lately. The CNAs when they just don't show up say they are tired of being talked to disrespectfully and the LPNs are tired of the unreasonable demands. If we don't volunteer to work crazy hours we are not being team players. A CNA told me that she was told to leave her child at the er and come to work her shift.

Really thinking of leaving.

[amoLucia]

I remember reading a previous post of yours re: difficult CNAs. In fact, you're the reason I decided to actually register (so I could respond instead of just being a reader/guest -take this as a compliment). Just know, 'been there, done that' in your situation...so HANG IN THERE but don't leave. A favorite workplace mantra of mine is 'same problems, different faces'. Sooooo start your game plan. "KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS". Bring in donuts on paydays. Get them on your side--it hasn't worked the other way! Then start to make small changes GRADUALLY. Be careful about doing their work at your expense or you will be taken advantage of (and it seems like you have been already). If you can, get your co-nurses in on your plans - there will be strength together. Good luck.

[winnowill]

Usually I try to just "remind" them now that something hasn't been done. But we had state walk in the building that day. I don't want to get chewed out because I know it would have happened. I'm not doing the writeups anymore. From what I've been told after I started they get thrown out after you are called in the explain them. The weird thing is apparently I'm the nurse they like because I'm not above helping "wipe a butt" in their words.

They're two other nurses. One just keeps her head down cause she's given up. The other that just blew her top is looking for another job. And I know to expect no help from the big bosses.

[amoLucia]

Wow! All bets are off when State Survery team strolls in! Just chalk that gal's behavior to the Survey and let it go. You are in a tough position though for support (you have mine and my sympathy because I've been there etc.) I did do the kindness bit with lots (and I do mean LOTS) of compliments at different places in my career. It takes a verrrry loooong time to work but it did. Continue to help but watch your time, use the opportunity to lay on positive strokes. Minimize the writeups, use only for the most serious incidents. They are still the tool of your authority to supervise staff. Focus on the unsatisfactory patient care issues and not the behavior issues when you must hand in something. And keep it across the board, not singling out one cna. Hope this helps. Just a thought---are the CNAs unionized??? That may or may not help depending on the strength ofothe union.

[winnowill]

Union? That's a dirty word in my facility. But I sure do miss it.