Nurses who let NAs Boss them around

germain · Dec 11, 2004

Yes, we all know there are bad CNA's. Seems like any good CNA with experience goes on to hospital or homecare- better pay and hours. I've been an aide for years and I know what you mean that there are bad aides, but I think as long as they are only paid 7$ an hour, there aren't going to be good aides staying in the field.

I bust my butt to help the nurses, I'm never lazy and rarely say no. But in the last year or so, with staffing cuts, I'm being asked to do things that I'm not qualified to do, and I've begun to say clearly no to those nurses who ask me to give meds or change dressings or whatever. It might be nice to have another class of aide that can help more, especially since nurses are busier every day, but until that day I'll do my job happily, but don't ask me to do yours. I don't know your job!

Also, some aides know a lot, really. It may be just a lot about changing a bed, but thats not nothing. I realized that a few of my disgruntled coworkers just wanted to be recognized for what they do. The job has very little praise. Try reverse psycology on your lazy aides- appreciate the good they do and tehy may hate their job less. May.

It is too bad that there isn't much cooperation from the aides. There is nothing worse than working with a lazy aide. I wish you all luck and good aides.

boulergirl, CNA · Dec 12, 2004

I happen to work with an NA who loves what she does. Too bad we're on different shifts. She's one of the few on day shift with whom I get along, and she strives to stay away from the gossip and get along with everybody. If she has a bad word about a co-worker, she bites her tongue before it comes out (and I know it's a struggle for her). As far as work goes, she takes care the residents as if they were her parents. Recently we lost a resident and it devastated her.

So, there are good NAs out there, and she's one of them. (If we had more like her on day shift, I'd consider changing shifts.) :)

Butternut · Dec 12, 2004

Well, when one of the NAs is seen eating 5 times per shift, sitting in the station, can't be found when the call lights are going off, goes out to smoke at least 5 times per shift, is seen coming out of the lounge visiting with another NA and the Unit Shift Manager sits on her big butt, at the desk all shift, bragging about herself and asks if WE have checked all the orders while running our legs off doing everyone else's jobs plus our own, how can one persuade any NA to do anything that is in her job description??? And then we have to listen to the NA telling all about how and what she complains about to the AD. What a setup.....

boulergirl, CNA · Dec 12, 2004

Butternut, sounds like part of the problem at your facility is management. That NA probably got her cues from the boss. But not all NAs are that way.

Butternut · Dec 12, 2004

Yes, I agree that not all NAs are "that way". We have one great one. She should teach the rest how to work and how their attitudes should be.

Yes, it starts with management. It needs a real overhaul.

ktwlpn, LPN · Dec 15, 2004

I
Imagine how hard it would be for an RN without a good reliable NA. .

Many acute care facilities arund here have gotten rid of aides-Primary nursing all the way-of course they ran into problems when they did not have enough nurses...So back came the aides..Bottom line is-only the nurse can do the nurse's job-and everyone else,too.....

Bjo · Dec 15, 2004

I've worked with some NA's who were less than enthusiastic about their jobs. It's hard to put in 8-12 hours on a busy ward if everyone doesn't pull their weight. I don't want to sound like I am living in the land of Perfect, but I have found that if I show some appreciation for their work (no matter how little) that they do, they have tended to do a little more as the days go by. It seems like they are looking for some respect, also. I was a NA, LPN, now RN and I have been on both sides of the fence. I am not implying this would work for all of them, but they get frustrated, too. I know how hard their jobs are. They do the so-called dirty work. They bath, feed, walk, and lift all shift. They get yelled at, cursed at, spit on, sh** on, and hit on. We have a demanding job, and they do also. We all have to learn to work together with our little quirks and faults. It's called teamwork.

boulergirl, CNA · Dec 15, 2004

I've worked with some NA's who were less than enthusiastic about their jobs. It's hard to put in 8-12 hours on a busy ward if everyone doesn't pull their weight. I don't want to sound like I am living in the land of Perfect, but I have found that if I show some appreciation for their work (no matter how little) that they do, they have tended to do a little more as the days go by. It seems like they are looking for some respect, also. I was a NA, LPN, now RN and I have been on both sides of the fence. I am not implying this would work for all of them, but they get frustrated, too. I know how hard their jobs are. They do the so-called dirty work. They bath, feed, walk, and lift all shift. They get yelled at, cursed at, spit on, sh** on, and hit on. We have a demanding job, and they do also. We all have to learn to work together with our little quirks and faults. It's called teamwork.

If I wasn't a shift supervisor and certified med tech, I'd be much less enthusiastic about my job as an NA. As it is, I'm stagnating and getting BORED with my job at this point, but being a med tech allows me to work with my brain (somewhat), which I enjoy. Imagine working as a burger-flipper at McD's , then being propmoted to team leader. That's sort of like what I'm doing.

Being a CNA is hard for those who don't like a lot of hands-on physically demanding routine work, day in and day out. You're at the bottom of the totem pole, so to speak. (And everyone knows it.) And if you can't go back to school or move up in your job, it can be extremely depressing. A little appreciation and respect does go a LONG way.

bonjovigirl · Dec 15, 2004

My mom was a CNA in a nursing home. She LOVED her job. She was so proud of what she did for a living, and it almost was enough to support the family. BUT after 20 years of dedicated work, she had to quit. She couldn't bear to see a pt suffer, so for years she was doing the job of 4-5 CNA's because no one else wanted to work. She would come home in tears many days.

Every where I have done clinicals at (I am still a student) the CNA's were great. Almost all were nursing students, or trying to be. However, one day I came onto the floor of a ortho/ms floor of a very rich hospital. I was about to enter my patients room (the door was half open) when I overheard one tech get angry at another because the patient was lying in her own mess, and she hadn't cleaned her up. Bad PCT replied, "I am leaving her for the student" good PCT said "how long has she been like this?" bad-" oh, I noticed as I was going on break" (she had since come off of break.) good pct started cleaning her when bad pct got mad and stormed out saying "thats the student's job" She bumped into me (evesdropping , I know, bad) and said "Its about time you got here" and stormed away. It was her patient, not good pct's. I reported to my instructor what I had heard, but was told to keep quiet. She was afraid of getting the PCT's angry at us. She said in the past CNA's and PCT's have made students absolutely terrified to go to clinical. I still feel bad about not reporting her. But, I was wrong too for evesdropping.

Purple Princess · Dec 15, 2004

When I went to take my test and passed, I was so proud that now I was considered a CNA in Pennsylvania. Now I just consider myself a butt wiper and not appreciated at all for my knowledge or who I am as a person. I do have some nurses training and have done clinicals in three different hospitals. Have worked in home care and this is the second home i've worked in. But what makes me upset is when the other two girls go out for smoke breaks right before dinner and this forces me to stay on the floor, do the vitals, and answer all call lights. I've even been put in the position to watch both halls. Different aides have tried to make me feel stupid that I didn't know what I was doing. The big thing is the head of the bed. Two aides have jumped me on this. See when you're pulling someone up or changing them it's best to flatten the bed and I know that. But one resident can't breathe too good if she lies flat and the other one was on a feeding and also has difficulty breathing and was having trouble with mucous in her mouth at the time and i was afraid she's gag on it. Now we gave oral care and nurses suctioned quote when they had time. But it was continuous. And i swear it takes me a good 20 minutes to get help and don't dare ask the nurses, god knows they are busy! it might be the only thing i ask for all night and most feel it is not their job. and another thing i politely told an aide i felt she was speakly too harshly to my resident and she goes and tells the nurse! I get yelled at but I try to protect my residents. Now sometimes i know you have to put your foot down when they start to get demanding or want to use their light constantly. Then there is this women that is on fluid restriction and i realize that yet she always asks for a little tea or coffee at bedtime. So I go ask the nurse and he tells me to give it to her knowing full well that she drank everything with dinner and the water with the 2 med passes. I get hollered at by the RN and the LPN weezles his way out of it of course. So now every time anyone asks for fluid i'll tell them to ask the nurse and the nurse can't say that i gave them anything. it's almost like being in grade school where i work the way some of the aides pick. One aide tells me she comes, cares for the residents, does her job and leaves. I get made fun of and picked at alot at this place and i don't know how to make it stop. I'm 22 and should be more assertive then this. They are always calling me at home to come in and i get mandated when i am there to work part or all of midnight shift as well. I think that i am a smart person and want to become a nurse but don't understand why they act this way in the nursing field. All i'm doing is helping people do things they can't do anymore. I bathe, get dressed, relieve myself, get ready for bed, eat, and go to work and help my elders do the same things. The worst thing i could have done however is this. The same nurse that hollered at me had a make-up party at her house and i bought a couple things. about 25 dollars worth. I got upset that night after work and on my way out the door i threw the stuff on the counter where she sits and just kept walking. the most immature thing i could have done. do i ask for the make up back or just consider it a loss? Every job i've ever had i try to make it work. how do i keep my emotions under control even when i feel that i was right?

sandy06 · Dec 15, 2004

Ok, first let me say I am a CNA in the ICU/PCU unit of a local hospital. I have been one for almost a year and am also a nursing student.

I take my job as a CNA very seriously and am always there for the pt and the nurses. I really resent some of the postings - we are not all bad. I do, however work with some NAs that are lazy and not very helpful, but I am not one of them. I do an awful lot of work - trash, collecting laundry, wiping butts, cleaning up vomit, you all know the drill and I only make $9.50/hour. Our unit secretary makes a lot more then me - heck, my babysitter makes more than me! Not much incentive, eh? However, I still know the importance of my job. There are nurses out there that treat me like I know nothing and my only quality is that I can wipe a butt. You need to at least acknowledge that there are some nurses can be as rude to NAs as there are NAs that are rude to RNs.

I think we should all work together - we are there for the patient - not for our own egos. It is a stressful environment and if I can help wipe an extra butt or two to make it easier for an RN to handle their load then I am going to do it, but please don't treat me like that is all I am capable of doing.

marymary · Dec 24, 2004

When I went to take my test and passed, I was so proud that now I was considered a CNA in Pennsylvania. Now I just consider myself a butt wiper and not appreciated at all for my knowledge or who I am as a person. I do have some nurses training and have done clinicals in three different hospitals. Have worked in home care and this is the second home i've worked in. But what makes me upset is when the other two girls go out for smoke breaks right before dinner and this forces me to stay on the floor, do the vitals, and answer all call lights. I've even been put in the position to watch both halls. Different aides have tried to make me feel stupid that I didn't know what I was doing. The big thing is the head of the bed. Two aides have jumped me on this. See when you're pulling someone up or changing them it's best to flatten the bed and I know that. But one resident can't breathe too good if she lies flat and the other one was on a feeding and also has difficulty breathing and was having trouble with mucous in her mouth at the time and i was afraid she's gag on it. Now we gave oral care and nurses suctioned quote when they had time. But it was continuous. And i swear it takes me a good 20 minutes to get help and don't dare ask the nurses, god knows they are busy! it might be the only thing i ask for all night and most feel it is not their job. and another thing i politely told an aide i felt she was speakly too harshly to my resident and she goes and tells the nurse! I get yelled at but I try to protect my residents. Now sometimes i know you have to put your foot down when they start to get demanding or want to use their light constantly. Then there is this women that is on fluid restriction and i realize that yet she always asks for a little tea or coffee at bedtime. So I go ask the nurse and he tells me to give it to her knowing full well that she drank everything with dinner and the water with the 2 med passes. I get hollered at by the RN and the LPN weezles his way out of it of course. So now every time anyone asks for fluid i'll tell them to ask the nurse and the nurse can't say that i gave them anything. it's almost like being in grade school where i work the way some of the aides pick. One aide tells me she comes, cares for the residents, does her job and leaves. I get made fun of and picked at alot at this place and i don't know how to make it stop. I'm 22 and should be more assertive then this. They are always calling me at home to come in and i get mandated when i am there to work part or all of midnight shift as well. I think that i am a smart person and want to become a nurse but don't understand why they act this way in the nursing field. All i'm doing is helping people do things they can't do anymore. I bathe, get dressed, relieve myself, get ready for bed, eat, and go to work and help my elders do the same things. The worst thing i could have done however is this. The same nurse that hollered at me had a make-up party at her house and i bought a couple things. about 25 dollars worth. I got upset that night after work and on my way out the door i threw the stuff on the counter where she sits and just kept walking. the most immature thing i could have done. do i ask for the make up back or just consider it a loss? Every job i've ever had i try to make it work. how do i keep my emotions under control even when i feel that i was right?

Hi

I found your comment interesting until I found out your age. I lost my son in September, he was 22 too. I have been in the nursing field for the last 11 years. I was a Medical Technologist before, for the time period that I raised my son. There is a difference in the types of people that work in nursing than other fields. In addition there is a difference in nursing work settings ( I was a LPN before becoming an RN).

I would suggest that you return to another RN program instead of going to a practical nursing program. You are young and would be a good asset to the nursing field. LPN school was more difficult, more time consuming and in the end I would not use half of the skills that I was taught because it was out of my scope. In addition, most of the people in the class could not work because of the amount of homework and testing involved. Those that did work had poor grades. So give it more thought before making a decision. You are young enough to make any decision at this point in your life. Good Luck.