How would deal with these type of CNAs? - Page 8

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  1. Aug 8, '12 by
    Hi BrandonLPN,We are all cool. No need for anyone here to feel defensive or regret and team work is awesome. No one can do this job alone.
    BrandonLPN likes this.
  2. Aug 8, '12 by
    Many of us nurses were CNA's for many years before becoming nurses. I do understand that a pt can urinate a great amount just after checking on the pt but unfortunately, that was not the case in my particular situation. I was a CNA for 12 yrs before finally having the chance to go to nursing school. So I guess I've been there for so many years that I know when someone is slacking off. I let a lot of things go and yes, leaving a pt soaked in urine is neglect as evidenced by the puddle of urine in the chair when the pt had been in bed for two hours and the chair was parked across the room.

    See, I have to answer for that and then my CNA does. Dealing with CNA's like this is why I checked out this thread. Advice is always welcome when dealing with tough situations. For me, it wasn't about getting anything in a bunch or making up excuses. It was to learn how other nurses deal with it.
  3. Aug 8, '12 by
    Quote from Born_2BRN
    I placed dirty linens on the floor because I had changed the entire bed actual two of my four pts' beds that shift. I didn't have time to run back and forth. There wasn't any linen bag in the room. Like I said most of the time our floor is busy. In that same time my other pts needed me. I feel their medical needs supersede this. So I tried doing the best I could cleaning them up given them new clean fresh linens then move on taking care of other pts. I told myself I would come back for those dirty linens, but other things kept me running and I forgot altogether. This CNA found it on the floor said do I (me) really leave a dirty linens on a floor, really?!
    Everything else aside, while you were overwhelmed with the patients calling for meds while you were helping the patients with ADLs have you concidered that the cna was overwhelmed with the same only with more patients needing bathroom etc etc? Cnas shouldn't ignore calls or be slacking off but I can tell you from experience that there have been so many days that I am toilet in in patient getti g another off the toilet in the process of helping someone get washed up and then going back to the first patient who now wants off the toilet while the third patient is sitting half naked because they can't reach the rest of their body and the second patient has to pee again! All while the nurse ( who mind you Is super busy too) is calling telling me mr jones needs to be changed and breakfast just came. All the trays need to be passed and most of the patients need to be set up ahhhhh this was my day today actually. Lol I'm just sayin maybe these cnas really are super busy. Most of my nurses just call and say so and so needs this and I do it when I can. Rarely would they interrupt a med pass to do my job.
  4. Aug 8, '12 by
    Quote from luvtranscendsall

    I'm sorry but it doesn't matter that you changed 2 of your 4 pts beds and had other things to do. It is never acceptable to leave dirty soiled linen on the floor. If yuo can not see why then I suggest you review universal precautions and your facilities infection control protocol. As a CNA of 8 years and a nursing student in my second year, I understand that there are lazy disrespectful CNA's. I also understand that as a nurse it is a lot to do the meds, charting, and assessments on 4 patients but try doing vitals, bed changes, toileting needs, the nurse's grunt work, plus running to get drinks and snacks and all the personal little things patients needs for 12-15 patients. I can not stand when a nurse thinks she is above and beyond what I do. If I am not busy tending to someone else that is one thing and if that is the case that person does need to be approached but don't leave a room that you are doing something in to come and get the CNA because you feel that is there job or leave dirty linens on the floor for the CNA to pick up because you are busy. guess what we are busy too!
    YES My sentiments exactly. Here is a snapshot of my morning. Put mrs jones on toilet run and put mr smith on toilet. Start washing up mr doe hear mrs jones ringing to get off toilet get called to go help me grumpy he's puking. Mr doe is yelling he's cold go and help him finish his bath now go get.....oh crap which ones on the toilet..... Look for blinking light now coworker needs help transferring. Mr jones needs ice water and the RN. Just let me know I need to do q2 vitals on new admit 1......and it's only 8 am. You need me to what? Lol
  5. Aug 8, '12 by
    Quote from Jeweles26

    Just thought Id point something out...I get that RNs make more than CNAs, but they in NO WAY make great pay lol! Simply wanted to make that clear. A lot of CNAs seem to think that about nurses, and it is absolutely not the case. Where I was working, as a new RN, they were paying just a little more than 20$/hour. That is after 3 years of school. And it would be the same whether I have an ADN or BSN. BUS drivers were making more money, had more benefits, and could actually go on strike if they wanted more, which RNs cant do. So, yeah....jus' sayin'
    Just saying.... Double what I make right now 75% more on weekends sounds damn good to me. I can not wait to be in your shoes. It may not be great money but its not poverty. It burns me that cnas (yea yea I know., no education) make such crap. I do what I do because I freaking love it but it would be nice to clear enough to pay the rent. Yeah can't wait.
  6. Aug 9, '12 by
    Quote from Paco69
    I'm lucky to work where I work, where EVERY single CNA on my unit (day, eve, and night) is plain AWESOME! Not one of them is lazy, and they work well with us nurses. And there are a good mix of men and women CNA's on my floor. We treat them with respect and they don't huff and puff when we ask them to help out. Everyone knows their scope, and no one thinks they are above the other. When I did clinical there as as student, they even treated me awesomely. Now as an employed nurse, I embrace their value. Without them, my job would be much more intense.So, not so unfortunately, I have never met a bad CNA.
    I wanna work where you work
    Szasz_is_Right likes this.
  7. Aug 9, '12 by
    Quote from YouwishiwasyourCNA
    Just saying.... Double what I make right now 75% more on weekends sounds damn good to me. I can not wait to be in your shoes. It may not be great money but its not poverty. It burns me that cnas (yea yea I know., no education) make such crap. I do what I do because I freaking love it but it would be nice to clear enough to pay the rent. Yeah can't wait.
    And again, I get THAT too. But its not even about NO education. Lets compare 6 months schooling to 3 years. Its normal to make more money. Just like Im not resentful of the MDs who make like 10 times what I do, because they had to go to school much longer than I did, and amass much greater student loans.
    Off topic a bit, Ive repeatedly told my high school dropout brother that he should be grateful to be making the almost 15$/hr he makes and quit complaining! In this economy, in this day and age, it seems to me that if you dont have a high school diploma or GED, you are lucky to not be flipping burgers at minimum wage! And I dont say that because I am implying that dropouts are dumb or dont deserve it or anything like that. I just mean that with the unemployment rates as they are, there are millions of people with degrees who cant find work. So, if an employer has to choose, I would think most would go for the degree...
  8. Aug 9, '12 by
    Oh, and please dont get offended, I was in no way telling you that you should be grateful for what you make...I really think CNAs, or at least the competent ones, are grossly underpaid and underappreciated. I love all my awesome CNAs and tell them often!
  9. Aug 9, '12 by
    Now Im sure I will be getting some backlash for that. People tend to misinterpret what I say, take it the wrong way and all. Sorry to those that might offend, it was not meant to.
  10. Aug 9, '12 by
    Quote from Jeweles26
    Oh, and please dont get offended, I was in no way telling you that you should be grateful for what you make...I really think CNAs, or at least the competent ones, are grossly underpaid and underappreciated. I love all my awesome CNAs and tell them often!
    I get what your saying and I certainly think nurses are underpaid too ( in my area anyway) especially given the money that school costs. I just think that cnas should be paid more. When I leave work I literally limp around my house. I love love makin a difference in my patients lives and honestly I would be a cna forever if it would pay the bills and I my body would hold up. I just can't get over being paid 10 bucks an hour and not clearing 100 bucks a day ( 12 hour shifts) Im in the process of getting my RN and actually I'm kind of dreading the part where I don't get to do as much patent care. *sigh* but that's how it works. Go to school get a degree and spend the whole shift cya with documentation. Lol. But I totally get what your saying and I know you get what I'm saying