Annoyed with coworkers work ethic

[marvelmom]

I remember being a CNA. I remember working short staffed. There wasn't many times I worked full staff. (We all know the call in rate with most facilities). I remember having to tough it out and work harder in order to complete my tasks, and most importantly complete them right. I remember not being able to leave till all my work was finished. I remember all this because I was still doing CNA work a mere 5 months ago.

I'm now a nurse and overtly annoyed with my CNAs, to put it nicely. Every night I clean up after them as I am doing my med pass. I'm attaching call lights, putting O2 on, putting the safety mats on the floor, turning on alarms, washing faces, doing oral care, pulling dirty laundry and trash out of the room, etc.

I have tried to assert everything needs to be completed before clocking out. I've resorted to riding their rears. I've also wrote people up. It wouldn't be so bad if this was a rare occasion but it's literally every night. It's not just when I'm there either. Other nurses on my shift have complained about the same thing.

I have went to the DON multiple times and get no where. Her favorite thing to say is "in their defense they were short handed". No. I don't care if their short handed. Before leaving a room take 5 seconds to turn around and scan the room for anything that you may have forgot. It's a time saver in the long run because then I don't have to tell them to go back and fix things (not that they ever listen to me).

My DON told me to stop doing their work for them but she's just not understanding that if I don't then it doesn't get done. We're talking about the safety and health of our patients. This is neglect and could be prevented easily if our staff had repercussions for not doing their job, which they don't. Writing them up does no good at all. I know because I've been doing it for 3 months and nothing has changed.

My biggest irritation is that I've been exactly in their shoes and I completed my duties correctly. It can be done.

I don't know what else to do aside from walking out the door but then i have this voice in the back of my head telling me that without me there patients will be neglected for sure and it's not right.

Anyone else ever have this problem? That's a dumb question because I know everyone has so let me rephrase myself. What did you do that finally changed things?

[LTCRN4LIFE]

Did you work under this same DNS? This is the reason "they don't care". Either she/he jump on board and support you or you need to change your approach. Changing your approach with them will take baby steps though. Gather them together....tell them you will be doing rounds about 3 hours before the end of the shift. Make a form. Set it up like a report sheet. Go to each room and jot down the issues.....also make an example of some of the rooms. So it may look like this:

RM 1 Hector Smith: toilet paper left on nightstand; trash not emptied

RM2 James Drummond: w/ch leg rests on floor in walkway; safety hazard

RM3 Althea Carson: Excellent Job!!!!!

RM4 Nathan Brown: Excellent Job!! Resident also stated his aide was very kind this evening

RM 5 Ida Fischer: dirty clothes on floor

RM 6 Yvette White: Dirty dishes need to be removed from room

Okay....now give them this paper and say: Good job tonight Team, things are looking good. We have a few areas to work on. Check on your room numbers and go back and take care of the issues. Jean, you did a great job in rooms 3 & 4. Very good!

emphasize the positive....the rest of the workers will want you to praise them and they will work harder next time to get it.....pretty soon your ship will be how you want it!

[twinsmom788]

This is exactly how to handle the situation. Great idea!