How to handle lazy LPN's on the team

Nurses Relations

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We do team nursing on our floor with an aide, LPN, and RN as the team leader for up to 10 patients. I'm new to this. We have a few LPN's who will ignore call lights and ask other people to take care of some of their work. A lot of times we won't have an aide so it's up to the other two of us to take care of baths, vitals, etc as well. Last week this happened and my LPN took four breaks (not including her lunch) and the only time I sat down all day was at lunch. Everyone else noticed this and told me to document it all and give to our manager. However, someone else had told me to be careful because the manager will tell whoever you complained about who it was you who had an issue. However, even though she's the worst there are about four on our floor that will park their butts at the desk once their meds are passed and then complain or have a bad attitude if an RN dare asks them to answer a light or go help someone. A lot of times they'll come up with excuses why they can't do something. It's very frustrating! Is there a tactful way to deal with this or do I just need to go tattle which I really don't want to do esp being new? Thanks for any advice!!

Specializes in Oncology.

That's terrible.

I am so sorry it's that way on your unit. Sounds like the age old tale of people not having any appreciation for the work others' do. They say the grass is always greener, well when it comes to complaining, "the load is always heavier" on one's own side of the fence. What we need is mutual understanding. The orientation program on our unit was extended by a week to allow the new grads to shadow all the other staff, HUC, NA, PT/OT, nutrition, RT, etc. in an effort to build respect and understanding of the work of the unit.

On the other hand, what may appear to be laziness may not be. A family member chewed out a nurse for not spending any time with the patient. What she didn't know was the nurse spent 2 hours on the phone trying to arrange home O2 since it was the weekend; needed insurance approval and everything and she didn't know how to do that. Also, a nurse was complaining about an NA for not getting her blood sugars done by a certain time. What she didn't know was the NA had been helping me w/ a patient who had 10 Stage IV pressure ulcers, the dressings took almost an hour to do.

When mutual respect fails in these situations, I guess you can always do what my coworker did. An RN was notorious for not helping. Another nurse had had enough, ran into the break room and screamed ", get off your fat, lazy a** and come help me!!!!!!!" Now, while I do not recommend anyone do this, wouldn't you know, the "lazy" nurse suddenly became one of the most helpful on the unit? The nurse who lost her cool immediately went to the nurse manager crying and said, "I think you might need to fire me..." Well, the three of them were able to talk it over and the situation worked to everyone's benefit but that could have gone so much worse...apparently the "lazy" nurse genuinely had no idea that was what everyone thought of her. She was devastated to know what the general opinion was of her and made a good faith effort to improve from thereon out.

Specializes in ICU.
Another nurse had had enough, ran into the break room and screamed ", get off your fat, lazy a** and come help me!!!!!!!"

I'm sorry, and I know it's really not funny, but this made me seriously LOL!

Specializes in Corrections.

The orientation program on our unit was extended by a week to allow the new grads to shadow all the other staff, HUC, NA, PT/OT, nutrition, RT, etc. in an effort to build respect and understanding of the work of the unit.

What an AWESOME idea!! I couldn't agree more with your post. We always tend to think the load is less on the other side....If anything is so important it's the fact that nothing can be done to serve our patients better then team work.

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

To: bbuerke

You know, you make me think of the time, way back when- when I was an LPN just out of LPN school and worked on a similarly run unit where the RN's had much fewer patients and had a "lighter load". I ran "to and fro" a lot....and often saw them sitting. True. Can't deny that. I can only say that, since I became an RN (maybe because I am older too), I know that I have had a lot more responsibility when in a hospital role than when I was an LPN in the hospital role. It got a lot more intense with the level of my scope of practice, although, as an LPN- it may have been a "heavier" physical assignment (more total care patients) and more patients in number that I was assigned....balancing the overall acuity. I still would say there were days when my acuity had to be way higher than some of the RN's I worked with...even the ones with CL's and blood products given, etc. In any case, that sure was funny what your fellow employee yelled into that room!! LOL

To stephanieshae27...Ha! Classic case of RNitis. Bet my license on it that you have never been a CNA, nor an LVN. 'Chip on their shoulder'?? Really? Inferiority complex? Why in the world would you assume that? And, of course we are nurses, too! Why would we not be?

I have to disagree with the LPNs being lazy and having more credentials meaning your better statement. I know a lot of RNs who are rotten and lazy and could give 2 craps about the patient, I live in NYC and in the city hospital you see it all the time. Nurses giving patients IV while standing up ( Been done and have a nasty bruise from it) and a whole bunch of incompetent care so it doesn't matter what credentials you have. Also doing clinicals as an LPN student I asked an LPN if she could help me with dentures since I was new and didn't know how to place them , she looked at me and said "I DONT DO DENTURES" and walked away. So Lazy is Lazy and rotten is rotten no matter what title you have. Some people do nursing just to have a paycheck and have no feelings for the job and then you have people in the field who care for the patients. You have to look an at individual person not their title to assess if they are a good worker or not.

@stephanieshae27 -- I'm a little surprised and taken a back by the tone you have chosen to use in your entries. I can agree that some sub-par LPNs may have contributed to tarnishing our image as LPNs, however, my instinct and personal observations are that the good outnumber the bad.

I'm also a little mystified that you could harbor such distain for the nursing field being that you still in school - so you technically haven't assumed one of the positions for which you are critiquing. I hope for your sake - and the people who you will eventually co-work with - that you will adopt a less cynical outlook on the profession and look for ways to motivate people to do better.

I wish you the best in school - just bring the positivity!

Specializes in LTC and School Health.
I have to admit that I don't really get this. Yes, I refer to the CNAs I work with as "my" CNAs. I also say "my" boss, "my" patient, etc. Doesn't everybody say "my" when referring to other people they're connected to? I'm sure you say "my boss" all the time. The CNAs sometimes say I'm "their" nurse. None of this means literal possession. Maybe you're too sensitive?......

I see where you are coming from. I'm not too sensitive. It was what they said but how they said it. The OP came across as demeaning LPNS, especially using the word " my". This is just my opinion and my feelings toward the word, you have your opinion as well and I respect that.

I'm an LPN and quite honestly I'm not "yours". It drives me and the rest of the staff crazy when we are spoken of like this.

Thank you!!!! I hate it when nurses say that! Same thing with aides - they don't "belong" to me! Geesh!

Specializes in Home Care.

I really think the title of this thread should have been "how to handle lazy people on the team"

Its been my experience that laziness can come from any member of the healthcare team whether CNA, LPN, RN, RT, PT, OT, MD, DON, clerk, you name it.

On my last unit I tried my best to get everyone to work as a team. But the culture of the unit was not about to change, it was everyone for themselves regardless of how miserable everyone was. I stuck it out for a year then left.

I'm in a supervisory position now and I am part of the team as well as the leader. I smile, I respect my co-workers and I help them when they ask. In return they smile, respect me and are more than happy to help me. We all like going to work and helping each other and our clients.

Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.

Sounds like she has a "superiority complex" with a "chip on her shoulder" and she's not even a nurse...God help the patients. I'm "just an LVN" and my self esteem is quite high. I love what I do and I will respectfully put an RN in his/her place. A degree doesn't mean jack except that you went to school longer, it doesn't mean you're smarter, more caring, have more common sense or respect...you stephanieshae just proves this point. The "im gonna get the best and worst of both worlds"...what a stupid statement, that isn't just about you, it goes for everybody, from LVNs that have to deal with RNs (or soon to be) who spew stupidity, to all involved in healthcare..and once she realizes there are more people in this world and not just her, maybe she'll fall off her imaginary pedestal and oh boy..with her nonsense..it's going to be a long fall..so..I'll make that bed..but it won't be for me..it'll be for her.

Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.
You have gotten wonderful advice. The only thing I want to add is to remember that RNS don't own LPNS or anyone else of that matter. Doctors don't go around saying "my RN".

When I hear people use the term "my" when referring to others I get offended. I'm a RN that have been a CNA and LPN. That term used to get under my skin.

I'm guilty...but I use that term in a respectful and caring manner, specially for the ones who are hard workers and put forth the effort, and it makes me somewhat proud to call them as such as we are a great team. They call me their nurse and we all get along.

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