What would you have said to this CNA

Nurses Relations

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I was almost done posting this but it went away? Sorry if it comes up twice???

Anyway, I am an RN on a busy day shift med-surg/onc floor. The other day it was crazy. It was about 1400 and I had not eaten or peed. I was starting to feel a bit sick. I told the HUC that I was not feeling well and that I was going to take a quick break to pee and eat something real quick. I told her to tell the CNA I was working with that I was not feeling good, would be back quickly, and to give her this note.

The note said - Take temp in 502 and get water for 507. Thanks

Well when I got back, the CNA working with me was livid. She demanded to talk to me in private. She says (and I quote) "I am not your N-word" (but she says the word if ya know what I mean) "You can't just leave me notes and expect me to do what you say"

I was just so shocked! First that she would use the N word (we are both white) and second, that she seemed to not care that I had to get off the floor for just a few min.

So I end up apologizing to HER, explaining why I left the note, and telling her how bad I had to take a quick break. She really didn't care, didn't even give the water or take the temp, and just talked trash about me for the rest of the shift. I heard her later telling the other cna's that 'she put me in my place"

this type of behavior is so dishearting for me, We should ALL be there to support eachother and the patients. What would you guys have done?

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
I actually had a CNA stand up and cuss at me behind the nurses desk once (as a new nurse) and when I told the DON about it the next day... she called me at home and asked me what I would like her to do about it!

That episode would get me terminated right then and there. What do you mean, what do you want me to do about it - Uh, YOUR job, maybe?????? I mean, my mough would get me fired right then and there!!

Anne, RNC

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Oh brother. Not only is assisting nurses in her job description, it's the title of her JOB. A Certified Nurse Assistant. Using the "N" Word is totally out of control. If someone (i.e. a patient) overheard that, there could be BIG trouble for discrimination at your workplace. Yikes! I don't think that I would have blown up at her. I would have calmly asked her why she was talking to me like that. That usually calms people down on the spot. Then I would have explained that I needed those items done for the patients and to please get them done right away. I would have marched myself over to the NM and told them right away what she stated and that you were concerned. This is the best way to continue to make yourself look and feel good and put this CNA in her place. The other CNAs probably know what type of person this CNA is and probably just shrugged her off. Once the CNA digs her own grave and lies in it, the other CNAs won't act like that.

I am currently in a job situation where I overheard another employee bragging about how she called her co-worker an F-N Idiot to her face. She then proceeded to walk over to me an ask me if I would mind if she called me an F-N Idiot. I told her that I wouldn't mind it, I'd turn her into HR and see what happened. She's very nice, to me at least, now. Nothing but nonsense in my opinion. Good luck, OP, let us know how this turns out!

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A write up for insubordination would have been in order. Since you apologized to her, she was accurate in her statement that she put you in your place. You will have continuing and growing problems if you don't put her in her place.

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I can't imagine being upset over being handed a note. It sounds like it was a completely crazy day, and probably not just for you, I'm sure it was nuts for everyone. In a situation like that, I think I would PREFER to have a note in my hand to remind me of something that needs to be done. This CNA sounds like a gem, I respect you for keeping your cool, and am glad you wrote her up. Keep your head high, you did nothing wrong.

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I am in agreement with this...it seems accusory to throw in that this nurse did not take a bathroom break. Most of us have been there...that one thing happened after another and we could not get away. Some people learn to work around this by making sure that somehow, going to the bathroom and sneaking a meal is included, others don't. That is not the issue at hand. The point of this is the nurse delegated a task within her job description.

The OP asked our opinion and from my perspective there are 2 concerns here. First is the obvious insubordination by the CNA. I think we can all agree that what happened here was very unfortunate. But lessons can be learned from both sides. In my opinion it is irresponsible for an RN to not take care of herself and get something in her stomach. And I'm not sure where you work but where I work a bathroom break takes me about 30 seconds to pee and 1 minute to wash my hands. Take care.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
In my opinion it is irresponsible for an RN to not take care of herself and get something in her stomach. And I'm not sure where you work but where I work a bathroom break takes me about 30 seconds to pee and 1 minute to wash my hands. Take care.

It is not at all uncommon in modern day American hospitals for nurses in busy inpatient units to find themselves in a position where they are unable to find the time to leave the floor for a meal break. Wrong? Yes. Fair? No. Reality? Yes.

Fortunately, where I work, we have a strong union that mandates that meal breaks must be accommodated, and if a nurse is unable to take a break, relief is expected to be provided, or the nurse is paid overtime for working through their meal break.

Of course, the nurse in this situation has the responsibility to notify their charge nurse as soon as they realize that their assignment is too busy to allow time for a meal break so that the charge nurse can provide the appropriate resources in order to accommodate that break.

Even so, there are times when one is so busy doing one critical task after another that before you know it, it's later than you realized and you're feeling the symptoms of hypoglycemia and inadequate bladder emptying. When that happens, the appropriate action is to take a break, rather than simply trudging along through it. This is what the original poster did, which was the responsible thing to do, IMO.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.
The OP asked our opinion and from my perspective there are 2 concerns here. First is the obvious insubordination by the CNA. I think we can all agree that what happened here was very unfortunate. But lessons can be learned from both sides. In my opinion it is irresponsible for an RN to not take care of herself and get something in her stomach. And I'm not sure where you work but where I work a bathroom break takes me about 30 seconds to pee and 1 minute to wash my hands. Take care.

Unfortunately most facilities pile a huge burden on the nursing staff, not just RNs, but LPNs as well. Not good for the patients or the nurses. A nursing license can be lost in the matter of seconds. It happens. That is one main difference between nursing and other staff. Some people take it lightly, but most dont.

Yes nurses need to take care of themselves, but until a reasonable patient/nurse ratio is mandated everywhere, nurses will continue running the floors doing what is needed while neglecting their own needs. That is just a fact.

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Unfortunately most facilities pile a huge burden on the nursing staff, not just RNs, but LPNs as well. Not good for the patients or the nurses. A nursing license can be lost in the matter of seconds. It happens. That is one main difference between nursing and other staff. Some people take it lightly, but most dont.

Yes nurses need to take care of themselves, but until a reasonable patient/nurse ratio is mandated everywhere, nurses will continue running the floors doing what is needed while neglecting their own needs. That is just a fact.

IMO - It all comes down to personal responsibility. When I'm in similar circumstances I find a couple of crackers and drink a glass of water. Takes less than two minutes for me. Relieving myself takes less than two minutes as well. As for me If I couldn't honestly find 2 minutes to relieve myself...

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.
IMO - It all comes down to personal responsibility. When I'm in similar circumstances I find a couple of crackers and drink a glass of water. Takes less than two minutes for me. Relieving myself takes less than two minutes as well. As for me If I couldn't honestly find 2 minutes to relieve myself...

Fair enough, but never say never:)

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IMO - It all comes down to personal responsibility. When I'm in similar circumstances I find a couple of crackers and drink a glass of water. Takes less than two minutes for me. Relieving myself takes less than two minutes as well. As for me If I couldn't honestly find 2 minutes to relieve myself...

depends how far one must go to get to a toilet/food area......

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This called for a write up for insubordination. You need to right this ship at once or be prepared to be walked on continuously by this CNA. Shameful on their behalf.

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Specializes in OR.

I have to appeal to both sides you should have taken a break on time so it didn't get to the point of desperation that automatically puts you in a bad situation. The CNA should have reacted in a professional manner and voice her vaild concerns , both were in the wrong in this situation.

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