Any "games" for CNA's to encourage teamwork

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I'm trying to get my multi-cultural, overworked CNAs to work together and lose the "it's not my Resident" attitude that has become a problem. Does anyone have ideas on games and activities that can be carried out over the course of the shift to get the aides working together and sharing the load? Although we encourage the mindset that "each Resident is everyone's responsibility", I still hear and see the aides refusing to pitch in when it isn't their assignment. I want to make it fun and am certainly willing to provide small tokens, gift cards, etc. I'm just coming up blank to get everyone pitching in and lending a hand to their fellow coworkers. Can anyone help with suggestions? Thanks!

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

I would be care not to belittle with these kinds of tactics. It is one thing to reward but to try and reward prior to the actual doings is a little sticky or rewarding in general.

You as the supervisor need to portray the image of teamwork as well as saying it pitch in to pass ice, set up a meal tray, etc. Education is the key here either one on one or group.

Another suggestion is to ask the DON, if that is not you, if the CNA's assignments can be change for a period of time so each of them will be taking care of different residents in the course of a week or two weeks for example.

Being consistent with what ever you do will last in the end.

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I did an inservice years ago that was not game pe say. More of and excerise. Scene. Air plane went down in a dessert. List of items. Cannot remember items.first everyone tried to survive on own. Listed chance of survival. Next people was broke into teams. And decided what items are esstential. Better chance os survival working as a team. Maybe call your resources and they heard of it. It is teambuilding. Everyone does better as team. Patients. Leaders and staff.

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I have done call light poker, any CNA who answers another person's call light got a poker card, the best "hand" at the end of the shift got to choose a reward (candy bar, can of soda, fishing tackle etc.).

I was surprised at the extra motivation it provided, and how much fun they had working that evening.

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Oh I like that! You could do different versions of this too.

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that's a GREAT idea! I need that too at my assisted living. I'm the ADON and it's a universal problem, everyone is burned out from working understaffed and you got your lazies too. thanks for the idea.

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has any one here worked in a hospice pain clinic? I want to know exactly what is done.

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Specializes in Geriatric/Sub Acute, Home Care.

I think its a wonderful idea...a reward system...its a darn shame however that staff has to be bribed to do their job......its a very tough job for all involved. your mind set is imperative to how you deal with it.....or stay with it. I find that all staff NEED an uplifting frequently....I used to line up my aides and myself...and we used to give a 2 minute massage to each other...it was fun to see and the patients got a big kick out of it.....and it felt good too.

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I have been thinking about this a little more....you could promote it as a White Elephant" event and ask the staff to donate items..keep a basket of paerbacks, dvd's, cd's, nail polish, candy bars etc

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Specializes in CWON - Certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse.

The name of the thread caught my eye and I must say it's disappointing to have to resort to games in order to get people to do their work. I would also be offended I guess if I was one of the CNA's because it seems like a tactic that you would use with a child. There are plenty of people who are looking for jobs and we shouldn't have to settle for people to produce when they get a pay check. If there is an issue w/ motivation, etc. have you thought about getting their input as to what would be helpful or motivating? Sometimes you just flat out have poor performers who really don't care about patients and they are clearly in the wrong field. That's when it's time to look for someone new. If employees know they can continue to get by and not get fired it's very difficult to elicit change and often the cause of frustration for those who do perform.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

how about addressing the overworked part

i think most people understand that two horses in a team

can pull more than the sum of the individuals

i also believe in rotating assignments

the games stuff sounds like conditioning to me

fostering teamwork comes at a price

you have to know your staff, and the assignments

most CNAs complain that mgrs don't know what goes on

on the floor - mostly this is true

i believe a good start is talking to the CNAs (a lot)

and perhaps following them here and there for

a few hours or so

i had a DON try this, but quit after 3 hours due to exhaustion

fail? not at all, the CNAs respected her for trying and credited her

with having a better understanding

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So true CWONgal! But....not because you can't motivate poor performers....because it promotes teamwork. Poor performers need to be coached or replaced if coaching is ineffective.

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