A CNA confession- The Therapist

JoseQuinones · Mar 8, 2015

Whoa! Calm down! Did you ever stop to wonder what she went through to be there?

It sounds to me like she acted professionally. That her words offended you is your decision, not hers.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

Next time say " I was helping one of my fourteen other patients."

Physical therapists evaluate and treat in order to help patients attain their highest level of functioning, and that means helping them to learn basic activities of daily living such as how to safely use the bathroom and get in and out of the shower. That is her job. Patient care is everybody's job.

Maybe she was running way behind and felt frustrated too. I believe that when there is an issue you have to go to the person first. Tell her privately that you did not appreciate when she spoke to you like that in front of the patient and implied you should have been there, because you can not be two places at once. You will feel much better and she will think twice about speaking to anyone like that ever again.

CNAConfessions · Mar 8, 2015

Trust me, I felt it was best that I didn't try to get in her way. She didn't even give me a chance to explain anyway. Besides, I figured out later that she's like that to a lot of people. Just wanted to share my feelings. :)

CNAConfessions · Mar 8, 2015

I would take it professionally, if only she did it in a civil manner, which she didn't. Besides, I was busy with something else, why didn't she call for help instead?

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

You don't have to be psychic, subservient, or take that stuff from her or anybody else. Ever. And just because she is rude to everyone does not make it okay.

hookyarnandblanket · Mar 8, 2015

The best way to deal with someone like this is to respond with "Thank you for sharing." Trying to justify or explain will do no good. You were doing what you were supposed to do. We occasionally have issues with our PT people; ultimately, I don't answer to her. I answer to my charge nurse and if the charge nurse tells me to do an admit, I do it.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2015

The PT is ancillary staff. The RN is in charge of the unit, the workflow and most of all the patients. She is your supervisor, not the PT.

OnlinePersona, LPN · Mar 9, 2015

It was a busy day. Call bells going off, people calling, you name it. Anyway, my friend was at lunch, and her admission was here. So, I had to do it. While I was gathering the vitals and weight, a call was for one of my rooms. I should've called them and told them I was busy, but I was busy as well. What I didn't know was that the therapist was going to see the patient. Soon, I'm out of the room and go to my patient. I open the door, and guess who's there? The therapist. For a second, I was glad, because the therapist was helping the patient to the bathroom. But she looked at me with a cold stare and said these words without compassion or sympathy.
"You should be here."
I was shocked. I was sweating and tired from the admission I just went to, and you ***** at me, while the patient was there? I told her I was busy, but again, she said,
'You should be here."
I swear, something inside me wanted to cuss the glory out of her, but I didn't. I was better than her, and I knew it. Anyway, I helped her and she took the patient to therapy.
From that day on, every time I looked at her or had to help her, I do it with tension. I knew there are going to be employees who treat you bad, but not as bad as her. In a sense, I felt sorry for her. Why, because she was a middle aged women, who seemed to be doing her job for quite some time. My advice to her, if you can't work with people and treat them like ****, just because you are higher, then quit breaking your back and find another damn job, ya *****.

i would of ripped her up in pieces and flushed her down the toilet :sarcastic:

but yeah thats just ridiculous. i would of set precedent right there and then, im not the one.

fairdinkum · Mar 26, 2015

I loved your post! I wish the hospital staff knew the position we're always in with call lights and demands.

I'm really surprised the PT was like this - they have always been the one department that supports me. And helping patients do physical activity is part of their job. I've have had the PTA volunteer to give my patient a bath since it would help them get the patient's ROM in and help me be somewhere else.

Don't you get those kind of comments and a daily, if not hourly, basis from the RNs and patients? I do. If one of them bothers you a lot, this is going to be a hard job. I agree with other posters that trying to explain will never help. I would just ignore the behavior and pretend it didn't happen. You could try setting precedent but at this point I've come to terms with fact that as a CNA no one will ever think you're doing your job right, and you just have to get over it. And yes, imagine flushing her down the toilet :)

fairdinkum · Mar 26, 2015

"Mar 8 by JoseQuinones, ADN, RN

Whoa! Calm down! Did you ever stop to wonder what she went through to be there?

It sounds to me like she acted professionally. That her words offended you is your decision, not hers."

Next time one of your stressed out, overworked CNAs talks back to you, you'll remember this comment you made here, right?

cnaman95 · Mar 29, 2015

... It seems to me that the therapist is the one to blame. The CNA was in a bad spot, as I can understand since I've been a CNA for almost two years. The therapist had no reason to act like that to him. She could've called for someone else while he was busy, but SHE decided to take the patient to the bathroom. It was HER choice. You can't blame him for not being there. He was busy. I'm sure you as a nurse would understand.