A CNA snatched meds from me.

[Yonsei94RN]

I am a brand new nurse and working at LTC setting and have had problem with a CNA who has a certain relationship with DON.

She has showed lack of respect on the day I started working here. For example, she's always rambling something when I pass in front of her and been sacastic all the time. Today, Things happened. When I am sitting at the desk getting order from an doctor, she's yelling out and saying "According to this book (Alert book), I dont need to get this residents vital signs, why do I have to" like superviser. The thing is that she didnt see the font page. So what I did was sit next to her and show the page that she could not see and explained her nicely. after that, she was busy making excuses and never say sorry for shouting out to me.

She has been working there quite a while like, I guess, 10 years or so. she thinks she know everything about the residents. today, when I gave meds with pudding on it to a residents, she refused to take the last bite. the CNA who stood there snatched the last spoon from me and gave it to her when I didnt ask for it. I was so supprised and just said "thank you" to the resident. and got out of the room. she might think that I said thank you to her.

Come to think of it, I think I was so stupid. But dont know how to handle this CNA. I wasn't like this. But I dont know why. Seems to me, An LPN, who also worked there for a long time and are very friendly with the CNA, is not helping me and is avoiding to confront her on behalf of me ( I thought that she might give me some advice) Is anybody out there who can help me?

Is it only my problem?

[Sleepyeyes]

I've worked in many many nursing homes (agency and FT), and I avoid the homes that have these CNAs who are basically running the building because there isn't enough licensed staff to properly supervise them.

Because it is YOUR job to supervise HER, not the other way around.

Her behavior is NOT acceptable, and trust me, she knows it. She's playing a very in-your-face game of defiance and disrespect. The Powers That Be should have seen this coming and stopped it long before you got there, and since they haven't, and since you're a new nurse (not used to dealing with this stuff once and for all) it aint gonna happen.

This CNA is exceeding the boundaries of personal courtesy AND her job description.

Because her behavior has not been corrected by key authority figures, I would definitely start hunting for another job before she jeopardizes your license and challenges you at a critical judgment call. I would also tell the DON at your exit meeting that if they want to keep professional staff, they need to have CNA's who do what the charge tells them, and not the other way around.

Unless you wanna play power struggles in addition to your other duties when you're at work all day.... ... and IMHO, who the heck needs that????

PM if you want.

[Sleepyeyes]

In the meantime, you just might wanna establish that you WILL write her up if she does anything like that EVER again.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I have found putting the person on the spot with a mediator type person helps. If she has been there 10 years it may be the way the place is run. Good luck.

renerian

[kmchugh]

Ditto to what Sleepyeyes said. Start looking for another job now. Given the shortage of nurses, particularly in LTC, finding a job ought to take you, what, about 15 minutes? And, once you found the job, have a straight talk with the DON. Let her know what the problem is, and exactly why you are leaving. Let her know that you will not work in a facility where the CNA's are allowed to run the floor over the nurses.

Kevin McHugh

[mattsmom81]

Totally agree with Sleepyeyes and Kevin. :)

Being a nurse is tough enough without having to deal with problem employees who disrespect us and undermine us...and think they're in charge.

If you can't get your DON to support you, vote with your feet...lotsa jobs out there for nurses. :)

[Sleepyeyes]

This thread might help you a little here, too.... :)

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26881

[Flo1216]

Oh, my God. I hear so many horror stories about these nursing homes. In fact, many of the CNAS I work with in the hospital used to work in nursing homes and none of them have a nice thing to say. And the bad things I hear are ALWAYS about the CNAS. Why are they allowed to run the show? Also, everytime we get patients from the nursing home, they tell us how much they hate it. I can't say anything, because I am not there, but it bothers me. There HAS to be some good ones out there, right?

[Sleepyeyes]

Oh my goodness, flo, yes there sure are!!!

and you know, when I left LTC, I wrote letters of recommendation for each and every one of them. I gave them a copy --and I gave the administrator a copy as well, to put into their employee files.

The others?? well, they know who they are.

[fence]

There are CNA's who really care about the resident and respectful to the nurses. I was DON in LTC faciilty for over 3 years and ran across all types. I finally left the facility because of the lack of reliable and conscientious workers. I find that in long term care the workpool is very limited and help is so hard to find that the attitude is work them no matter what we can't afford to loose them. My suggestions is to start looking for another job and also be ready to confront this person next time she is disrespctful and write her up. Good luck.

[nursedawn67, LPN]

Sounds like a write up to me. :)

[adrienurse, LPN]

Your story is bringing back painful flaxhbacks of a job I wish I would have left faster but stook with out of stubborness. Unlicenced personell who perform tasks like vital signs make me really uneasy. There is just too mysch responsibility on my part to supervise, and we all know we don't have the time. There are good LTC facilities to work at tho.