New CNA needs to be fired, but is union.

Nurses Relations

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We got this new CNA on our unit. Given she is pretty good, not the BEST one but does her job. her attitude is the worst i have ever seen. I can't even talk about the stuff she says without fuming. She has had many many complaints by coworkers and even patients/families about her attitude.

Our unit always pairs one nurse with one CNA. She was paired with me one day and i'm a pretty new nurse (she HATES new nurses the most). Anyway, i had a patient's whose heart rates were in the 180's, wasn't symptomatic. So i paged the doctor, i'm talking with the doctor on the phone writing down orders to put in. She is standing behind me in a very very loud voice "Lets Go Caitlyn. Off the phone now, our patient needs to get cleaned up. He "shat" everywhere" (Yes, she swore outloud) keep in mind her voice is INCREDIBLY loud. She is clapping her hands in my face, while i'm on the phone with the doctor taking orders. I held my finger up trying to tell her to wait until im done. She gets up in my face and goes "Oh no you didn't" YES im still on the phone trying to take orders. The doctor on the other end is furious because he heard all of this. He was like "Who is that? give me her name. i am talking to your manager."

It isn't just me, she has done this countless number of times to everybody. She does it to doctors, she does it to ther CNA, she does it to nurses. She will get inches from your face and always clap "LETS GO!!! WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW." She talks crap about nurses all the time. She HATES nurses and she says it outloud. If you are a nurse, you are crap in her book. It doesn't matter how nice and how helpful you are. If you have an RN behind you're name, you are hated and she will let you know.

"Why do you all complain about 'being so busy' all you do is pass medications. It doesn't take a genious to do that." She is very overweight and always says things like "You just didn't invite me to go with you guys cause you hate fat people."

She swears CONSTANTLY. I once asked the CNA i was with to get a set of vitals while she was getting the patient up in the chair (set of orthos). This mean CNA i'm talking about goes "Are your legs broken Caitlyn? You are capable of doing it yourself" All i asked was for my CNA to get a blood pressure while she was planning on being in there anyway.

She has been talked to many many many times, and it only fuels the fire in her. she will tell of my manager just as much as she does me or anyone else. My manager is at her wits end because there isn't anything she can do about it since the CNAs are union.

Is it really that hard to fire her?? Is there something we can do to get rid of her?? She has GOT TO GO!!!! Seriously, it gets worse everytime you work with her. I can't work with her...i can't do it anymore.

I have a question. I'm curious about patient reports. Have any patients reported her antics? I believe you said in an earlier post that she is rude to patients as well?

I'm surprised that if she IS receiving negative patient reports that this would not spur some action.

Depends, she acts like the sweetest person in the world around patients. the smarter ones can see right through her and see it is all an act. For example, if a patient has to go to the bathroom for the 3rd time in an hour she will be like "Oh no problem sweetie" but yet roll her eyes at them. I've had patients ask me about her and her "fakeness" I really want something bad to happen, like for something to happen infront of a VIP or something.

Lol, I would ask what it says about her that she is a certified monkey's assistant next time she throws that out. Better yet, go online, print up a bunch of sample NCLEX questions and have her answer them.

hahaha, i laughed out loud. Made me kind of not mind her saying 'a monkey could do my job.' Yes, i'm the monkey but she is the monkey's assistant. Don't ever upset a monkey...

Yes, thanks for the advice everyone! This situation has gotten out of control with her. She is incredibly hurtful at times. I personally think she hates her life and the only way she can feel good about herself and her job (you can tell she hates her job) is to bring others down. For example, she is always always talking about how nurses are "idiots monkey could do our job." She will flat out say it, out loud at the nurses station. "All you guys do is pass pills. I don't understand why you go to school."But yet, anytime a patient asks her a question she doesn't know the answer to she will get the nurse. I want to be like THIS is why i went to school. It is degrading to my degree and everything i worked for. I worked hard to get where i'm at, and to have a coworker bring you down is hurtful.

She recently switched to our weekend (GREAT! i get to work with her more...) and she was sitting at the nurses station charting some vitals. She looks at the other CNA next to her and goes "What was i thinking switching to THIS weekend? you ain't got nobody good on this weekend." That was the whole reason she switched to my weekend group was because there were "no good nurses on her other weekend." she despises nurses, it's pathetic. Adores the CNA's because the "CNAs run the hospital and don't need nurses. They only need to train CNAs to pass medications."

Yea...beause you TOTALLY know how to give IV medications, start IV, run a code, operate ventilators and know what to do when someone is in respiratory distress. Clearly nurses are not needed. Psht!

I guess i will take all your advice and start documenting situations that happen with her with me and things i observe.

And one of the best things you could do is to tell your NM that there is some comments and behaviors that are occuring that are outrageous. Give her a head's up. Are other nurses feeling the same way? This needs to be nipped in the bud and soon.

With that being said, if she is good to the patients, and does what she is supposed to, then if she is a jerk the less people who respond and feed her fire, then she is talking to the air. However, a talk from the charge nurse "do not interrupt nurses on the phone when they are speaking with Dr's" is a reminder of appropriate professional behavior. Some people just need that guidance, no matter how "basic" we all think that people should know this stuff.

Bottom line: A whole "union thing" could be avoided if, in fact, you have the documented proof and go to the NM prior to the end of her probationary period.

Even when the union is involved, it is based soley on the contract. And the contract language should be clear.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Yes, thanks for the advice everyone! This situation has gotten out of control with her. She is incredibly hurtful at times. I personally think she hates her life and the only way she can feel good about herself and her job (you can tell she hates her job) is to bring others down. For example, she is always always talking about how nurses are "idiots monkey could do our job." She will flat out say it, out loud at the nurses station. "All you guys do is pass pills. I don't understand why you go to school."But yet, anytime a patient asks her a question she doesn't know the answer to she will get the nurse. I want to be like THIS is why i went to school. It is degrading to my degree and everything i worked for. I worked hard to get where i'm at, and to have a coworker bring you down is hurtful.

She recently switched to our weekend (GREAT! i get to work with her more...) and she was sitting at the nurses station charting some vitals. She looks at the other CNA next to her and goes "What was i thinking switching to THIS weekend? you ain't got nobody good on this weekend." That was the whole reason she switched to my weekend group was because there were "no good nurses on her other weekend." she despises nurses, it's pathetic. Adores the CNA's because the "CNAs run the hospital and don't need nurses. They only need to train CNAs to pass medications."

Yea...beause you TOTALLY know how to give IV medications, start IV, run a code, operate ventilators and know what to do when someone is in respiratory distress. Clearly nurses are not needed. Psht!

I guess i will take all your advice and start documenting situations that happen with her with me and things i observe.

Yes well.....whatever opinion she has about nurses should have no effect on the respect you have for yourself. Who cares what this insecure petty trouble maker has to say!!!!

The next time she makes those ridiculous comments....I would agree with her 100%.

Yep...that's right Sallie May.....we are trained monkey's and push pills ...that is why we get the big bucks! By the way Ms. CNA the world can't do without me who runs the hospital......I need a raise.

Never let her know it bothers you...pretend she isn't there.

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