A CNA snatched meds from me.

Flo1216 · Dec 14, 2002

Because CNAS aren't supposed to administer meds! And to grab something out of someone's hand is just plain rude and inexcusable. My two year old nephew does that!

fairyprincess2003 · Dec 14, 2002

One: CNA's cannot give meds(unless I think I have heard of some places they can get a certification as a med passer, but I doubt she had it in this case)

Two: NO ONE can EVER give any med that they did not get ready themself. Big NO NO. It is NEVER ok for anyone else, be it a CNA, or another nurse, to give anyone a med you poured and performed the 5 rights for.

Agnus · Dec 14, 2002

It was a dysfunctional administration at the time. The CNA is gone and my heart bleeds not.

Our shifts over lap so the CNAs come on a half hour before we do. This evening the night CNA's had just come on. One answered the phone. It was for me. I was with a patient and asked who it was. It was the administrator on call.

I answered and he told me when you answer the phone you identify yourself and don't ask who it is. I expalined that I was with a patient. Then he explained that the CNA did not identify herself and asked, "who is this." I relayed this to the CNA and shed copped an attitude. I don't tell anyone who I am. Lets call him at home and see how he answers the phone. She went on and on about how he wasn't her boss couldn't tell her what to do etc. Started arguing with me. I couldn't reason with her and she could not be civil, so I dropped it. Later I approached her and told her, "you shot the messenger." She asked what that meant. I explained and told her that I was only delivering the messaage and I did not deserver to be treated like that.

She responded sarcastically, "Guess what. Guess what." From her tone I felt that I could tell what was commming. I just said, "yea ,I know. You don't care." She said, " I did not say anything. " THen kept shooting me looks. The CEO came in and I talked to him about this.

Then I felt I should warn the Charge and other RN on nights that she would probably be moody after the CEO talked to her. I also did not want her to get away with talking trash about me.

At the end of the converstation she walked in. I don't think she heard anything but I said to her, "I was just giving them a heads up. " She responded with, "well good for you." In a very sarcstic tone.

This CNA has been designated receiently as "Lead CNA" she is supposed to be a go between for the CNAs. But obsservations have been that she thinks she is in charge and can boss the other CNAs anyway she wants. What a crock. She is in her 50's and acts like a spoiled brat.

We have some great CNAs and I do not put them in the same catagory with her. She is lazy, arrogant, a bully, rude, cruded.and yes I worked on the same shift with her for a long time, so I do know first hand even though we are on opposit shifts now.

Up till now I've gotten along with her and she's shown respect for me. Tonight takes the cake and is without any excuse.

Thanks for letting me vent

mario_ragucci · Dec 14, 2002

Lol, this is the funniest thread in the world! If a CNA disrespected me, or gave me flack, in a sniff, I would become very humble and angelic for my own amusement. You don't understand.

jdomep · Dec 14, 2002

I too am a student and would hope that if that situation arises i would have the gall to do exactly what cargirl did - awesome way to cover your butt and get something done (hopefully anyway)

Good luck

Brownms46 · Dec 15, 2002

I recently had a run in, with a CNA who was on light duty, and was bought into the clinc to room pts. But this CNA felt since she was the most senior hospital employee, except for a CMA, she would run things. She would decide who got what rooms for the day, give out assignments to the nurses, decide who was made a NS (no show), obtain MD orders, tell me and others what they should and shouldn't do..so on and so on. She would make sarcastic remarks in front of pts, and tell me what I was or wasn't going to do!

I told her in the beginning, when she first got there, I would room my own pts. She ignored my request to do so. Finally I had had it, and went to the RN on duty that day. The RN not used to working with LPNs went to the NM, who came back to me, and thought I should be glad to have someone room my pts.

Since I was new to the clinic, I wanted to room the pts. myself, so I would be aware of what they were there for, and to get to know them. Also many times the MD/resident would come outt of the room to ask for a repeat B/P or orthos, or a UA..etc. Also many times I had no idea what pts. where actually there and or what rooms they were in. Then the MD comes out, asking why this or that wasn't done, and I have no answer, as I had no idea what who was where, and why.

How I handled this matter, after going to administration again about her attitude. One day it got really busy, and she ended up running her butt off, as this is what she and admin said they wanted was for her to room pts, and for the nurses to take care of skilled duties. So I sat on my behind and watched her work her butt off.

Then one day, she didn't want to go in on a pap, but since there is no skilled duties to perform, and a pt. was in need of being transferred from the w/c to the toiilet, I instructed her to assist with the pap. She wanted to balk, but it was the only solution as she wasn't supposed to lift.

Also I believe this CNA, who was only supposed to be in the clinic for two weeks, was trying to get her job changed from the floors. As soon as her two weeks of light duty was just about up, she was out again with her back. So they bought her back to the clinic again on light duty. But for the last few days she has been out again. I think she has given up the idea of the clinic being as easy alternative to working on the floors... :cool:

To the original poster, it would depend on how much you wanted this position, and whether or not you wish to keep the job you now have, as to how you handle this. But I would write that CNA up, and continue writing her up, each and everytime she over steps her bounds. I didn't leave the position I'm at now, because I'm making waaaaay too much money to let anyone run me anywhere!

Flo1216 · Dec 15, 2002

What do you mean by rooming patients? And since when do nurse's aids give RNS their assignments, tell them what to do and take doctors orders? You will have to explain this to me..I don't understand!

mattsmom81 · Dec 15, 2002

Flo, some facilities are so dysfunctional they give power to the wrong people...and often it is the cheaper help when the facility is all about $$$.

You are correct that the RN's/LPN"s delegate to CNA's. That is indeed the way things SHOULD be. :)

Hang in there Brownie...didn't know you were in a clinic setting...glad you're making good $$$ to be there..maybe you can turn it around for the better! :)

Flo1216 · Dec 15, 2002

I just don't understand how minimally trained personnel is allowed to run the show. I called my doctor for a month regarding some new medication and some undesirable side effectswhich warranted a medication change and the m/a tried to give me medical advice over the phone. She also never gave the doctor the messages. Needless to say she no longer works there. That would never fly , where I work. I am sure people try it but they never get away with it. Luckily, most of the CNAS I work with are hardworkers who truly care about their pts. There are always a few bad ones.

sunnygirl272 · Dec 15, 2002

Originally posted by Flo1216
What do you mean by rooming patients? And since when do nurse's aids give RNS their assignments, tell them what to do and take doctors orders? You will have to explain this to me..I don't understand!

Flo, i thinkBrownie was talking about a hospital-based clinic setting...it is still totally whacked...but maybe that almost helps understand the scenario...lol...

ktwlpn, LPN · Dec 15, 2002

Yonsei-what's new? Have you taken any action yet? I know it is difficult especially if you are a non-confrontational people pleaser or sightly passive aggressive but you have to take control of the staff and gain respect on the unit or patient care will begin to suffer as the few trouble makers learn that they can "play" you....Mario-explain to us what exactly it is that we "don't understand" Many of us have worked as nursing assistants so we understand that...You will find that middle management in a long term care facility is no walk in the park-our jobs are tough enough just dealing with the pts and their families and other departments and administrators and all of the routine stuff we must accomplish each shift but add in mutiny among the aides and you have the recipe for disaster....While you are becoming "angelic for your own amusement" -whatever the heck that means-the staff may be ignoring resident's needs to get YOU in hot water with the resident or the family or the administration-It does happen......So what don't we understand?

AngiRN · Dec 15, 2002

Unfortunately for you, this CNA knows you are a new nurse and then add in that you are new staff and she is totally taking advantage of this....Believe me, you will chuck this as a learning experience and most of us nurses have gone through it, when you have to prove yourself to others. I first started in ICU as a new nurse and I had a few CNA's and Nurses do the same thing, you just have to show them you have some balls and some of them will back down...If your DON is buddies with this CNA you are basically SCREWED and she will not back you up....So your options are to quit and know at your next job to put out a vibe that u are not intimidated and are very secure with your nursing knowledge or stay at this job and show them some balls and maybe they might chill out! Just remember that for some of these CNAs they do not like nurses, they feel like they work harder and are just as knowledgable because they have worked the same job for yrs and yrs and HAVE NO LIFE