arrogant nurses

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Aug 5, 2004

As a new person in any facility I hesitate to judge my coworkers. Usually there is some reason behind the madness, like a personal history, knowing the patient, or knowing what has or hasn't worked in the past. Try to keep a positive attitude for the first little while- or just ask why they do things one way when you were taught another.

StephMSeattle · Aug 5, 2004

Post removed

stbernardclub · Aug 5, 2004

AND YOUR POINT IS...haha

You should've seen this nasty one I worked with. She was like an old pit bull. She wasn't one of the stellar performers either. She would order the CNAs around like soldiers and treat her fellow nurses like crap as well. Somebody needed to tell her to ......! I respected the CNAs for not taking her in the back alley and beating her ...... I'd have cheered them on!

Traveler · Aug 5, 2004

It is too bad that you feel like you don't have the support of the nurses. Unfortunately there are some nurses who don't want to be bothered with helping with pt. care. The goal for all of the staff is to provide good pt. care for the residents. It seems like there's never enough time to do everything and the nurses do have to do lots of things that you don't see in the way of tremendous documentation, etc. That being said though, if the residents need to be fed and there aren't enough CNA's to do that, the nurse should be right in there. I know that I have done that plenty of times. Some nurses don't see the value of the CNA's- that's just the way it is. I always tried to have a good relationship with the CNA's. If a CNA told me that something wasn'tright with a resident, I trusted that and always tried to act on it since they are the ones who know the residents best. When the CNA's feel that the nurses don't care and aren't pulling their weight and offer them no respect, resident care and overall morale tends to suffer. You will run across nurses like that but you will also work with great ones. I would suggest that you talk to your DON about your concerns.

michelle95 · Aug 5, 2004

Let me tell you about the last place that I worked as a CNA.

A fellow CNA was working a particular wing during dinner. Some of the residents went to the dining room...a whole bunch did not. There was a single CNA to pass floor trays, answer call lights...etc. I saw her run her *** off that night. I could not leave the dining room to help her. When I walked by the hall one time, I saw the nurse taking her sweet time at the med cart underneath one of the 7 call lights going off. When the CNA went to the DON to complain, the DON looked at her and told her that it was not the nurse's job to answer call lights. Look, I understand, as a nurse I might not have a lot of time to do patient care if I am in the middle of med pass...but, if a resident asks me to put them on a bed pan or help them set up their tray...what do you think I'm going to do? What do you think nurses learn their first semester in nursing school? That's right. Patient care.

Another nurse left the floor to do rehab nursing. When she would walk down the hall and a call light would go off, she would stop and answer it. The DON told her to stop because it was her job.

And, another nurse would help put people to bed after supper. This was before 9pm med pass so she had the time. Again, the DON told her to stop...but, this time she told the nurse that she was making the other nurses look bad.

Pathetic. I could see if nurse's job was suffering because of doing CNA work and the CNA's were propping up the wall. But, us (the CNAs at the time) did a really good job. We were a 200 bed facility and only had 2 bed sores at one time (stage 1 and stage 2).

On the flip side, when I first went to the NH to work as an LPN, after I had worked in the hospital....I would help out A LOT. I would make beds, change folks, give baths, whatever. Then, I noticed that I was working 100mph and some of the CNAs were sitting around. I stopped helping them out so much because I was being taken advantage of. However, just about every day I went into the dining room to help pass trays and feed...something most of the other nurses didn't do. And, if we were short, I definitely rolled my sleeves up and pitched in.

Unfortunately, in my experience a lot of nurses think they are too good to wipe someone's heiney. I think that is just pathetic and makes a horrible nurse.

To the OP, I'm not sure what to tell you. If you had administration like I did, they are just going to tell you that it isn't the nurse's job.

Jen2 · Aug 5, 2004

You will encounter people like this no matter where you work and there are two sides to every story. Just try and do your job to the best of your ability. I had an incident with an aide while I was working as an extern where I had to transfer a patient to another floor. This patient was going down the drain fast with too many problems to count. She was so full of fluid that the fluid was leaking out from her femoral line. We disconnected the fluids and changed her twice before I took her upstairs but when we were transferring her to the other bed the aide jumped on me that I was bringing her a patient that was full of urine. I continued to tell her that this fluid was leaking from her femoral line site and she saw that her fluids were disconnected and told me that was impossible. Before I could even get back to my floor she was on the phone with the charge nurse telling her that I just brought her a urine soaked patient. The charge nurse knew the situation and quickly put her in her place. So just try and be aware of the situation. You are new here and you said that you had no prior experience before this. Use this time to learn, ask questions, show interest, and respect those that you work with. Kill them with kindness. If that does not work and you are not happy here find a new place to work. Best of luck.

cddeselms · Aug 5, 2004

You should've seen this nasty one I worked with. She was like an old pit bull. She wasn't one of the stellar performers either. She would order the CNAs around like soldiers and treat her fellow nurses like crap as well. Somebody needed to tell her to F*** Off! I respected the CNAs for not taking her in the back alley and beating her a**. I'd have cheered them on!

Most of the time when you come across a mean nurse they just need some kindness thrown their way. Most older nurses are set in their ways, and when they are always getting new CNA's it just makes them miserable. And when you have CNA's that are demanding or just B's them selves it just does not make life easy for anyone.

LTC_LPN · Aug 6, 2004

let me tell you about the last place that i worked as a cna.
a fellow cna was working a particular wing during dinner. some of the residents went to the dining room...a whole bunch did not. there was a single cna to pass floor trays, answer call lights...etc. i saw her run her *** off that night. i could not leave the dining room to help her. when i walked by the hall one time, i saw the nurse taking her sweet time at the med cart underneath one of the 7 call lights going off. when the cna went to the don to complain, the don looked at her and told her that it was not the nurse's job to answer call lights. look, i understand, as a nurse i might not have a lot of time to do patient care if i am in the middle of med pass...but, if a resident asks me to put them on a bed pan or help them set up their tray...what do you think i'm going to do? what do you think nurses learn their first semester in nursing school? that's right. patient care.
another nurse left the floor to do rehab nursing. when she would walk down the hall and a call light would go off, she would stop and answer it. the don told her to stop because it was her job.
and, another nurse would help put people to bed after supper. this was before 9pm med pass so she had the time. again, the don told her to stop...but, this time she told the nurse that she was making the other nurses look bad.
pathetic. i could see if nurse's job was suffering because of doing cna work and the cna's were propping up the wall. but, us (the cnas at the time) did a really good job. we were a 200 bed facility and only had 2 bed sores at one time (stage 1 and stage 2).
on the flip side, when i first went to the nh to work as an lpn, after i had worked in the hospital....i would help out a lot. i would make beds, change folks, give baths, whatever. then, i noticed that i was working 100mph and some of the cnas were sitting around. i stopped helping them out so much because i was being taken advantage of. however, just about every day i went into the dining room to help pass trays and feed...something most of the other nurses didn't do. and, if we were short, i definitely rolled my sleeves up and pitched in.
unfortunately, in my experience a lot of nurses think they are too good to wipe someone's heiney. i think that is just pathetic and makes a horrible nurse.
to the op, i'm not sure what to tell you. if you had administration like i did, they are just going to tell you that it isn't the nurse's job.

:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire what??? not a "nurses job" to answer a call light?!?! what alternate universe does this idiot don work in????? i'd hate to have to work with any nurse who has the audacity to stand beneath 7 call lights and not lift a foot to see if help is needed. pardon my language, but in my book that nurse is nothing but a lazy assed b***h.

when you work in a nursing home, regardless of what your job title is, every single resident in that facility is "your resident". nurses should answer a call light if there is no one else already headed to the room to see what's wrong. anyone can answer a call light....you never know if someone is in the floor and injured, or if they just need their tv turned down.

then again, i'm the type of nurse that always lends the cna's a hand...whether it's turning a resident or if they need help with feeding. if someone tells me mrs. so-and-so needs some tylenol, i'm up and going to get it for her right then...not an hour later. and i frequently joke with my cna's and tell them that if i ever do hesitate to give care/give meds/help in any way to promptly whack me upside the head if needed. i'm there to help my residents, regardless of what they need......i'm not there to take 2 hours to pass meds or sit at the desk and file my nails, as i've seen others do. i'm proud of the lpn title behind my name, and i try my best to uphold that title proudly. and trust me, my cna's....and i call them "mine" because they always help me as i help them...they are always glad to see me coming down the hall. when i've been off work for a few days, all i hear is "god, we're glad you're back!!!" now that, ladies, keeps a smile on my face and puts a lift in my step....and walks me right on to that next call light with a smile.:balloons: :balloons:

mother/babyRN, RN · Aug 6, 2004

I have probably told this one before but when I was a new grad, I was placed on a med surg floor where the Jamaican CNA had been for 25 years....I was scared to death as she eyed me solemnly..She had seen nurses come and go and she was the one still there....I decided in report to stop the tape and said, quite sincerely, "Norma,I just started out here and I know absolutely nothing." I was candid with her in that I was scared to death...I could see a crinkle of a smile forming as I went on to beg her to just make sure I didn't screw up or kill anyone....Although we never spoke of it again, and she retained her serious demeanor, she did look out for me, remind me when something needed to be done, and helped me out because I did value and respect her opinion, knowledge and experience. That was almost 25 years ago and I still, to this day, turn to the CNAs, secretaries,LPNs and fellow nurses that work along with me because we are and should all be in it together..If something needs to be done that a CNA would normally do and I have time while they are so busy, I will do it....Pity more nurses don't see it that way.....I was fortunate to figure out that one can't do it alone , however wonderful a nurse they may be or think they are...:)

tiroka03, LPN · Aug 6, 2004

On my unit, I depend on my N/ar's. Of course I work with several different ones. There are the ones that believe I am there to assist them, I quesse they forgot to look at their title. In their opinion I am to answer every other light, or if there is two aides on the floor, then every third light.

There are the aides who think they run the unit, and try to tell me how to treat a patient. Even if they don't understand the principals of why I do the things I do. They forget there is a method behind the madness.

There are aides that are so fun and interesting to be around, but they forget I am trying to chart and never stop talking, - ever.

There are aides that really know there stuff, and I can trust their opionions over that of an RN.

There are slow aides, that peek out side a room to wait until someone else answers the next light, do they really think we don't see them?

I find I need to try to balance my job as a LPN, with the aides I work with. I don't mind pitching in at all. But, I usually find I will be answering lights, and the aides are sitting on there behinds when I get out. I then still have mega work to do. Will the aides then pitch in and stock a cart with cups and straws? Not on your life. It seems their magazines become very interesting at that time.

When I am at a cart, taking my sweet time, I am actually making sure the correct med in the correct dose at the right time by the right dose makes it to the correct patient. Usually I have 10 to 15 pills, liquids, and injections a pt to line up. Then with many drugs, I have to take a pulse or Blood pressure first. This time spend at the cart is imparative. But, I do realize on your end it seems like I am dilly dalling. I am not. But, it is not legal to simply label the meds I have already drawn up and throw them in the cart and answer a light. It would then be confusing to refigure it all out afterwards.

Maybe on your unit the nurse sits around while you work. On my unit the aides usually have about 3-4 hours down time, I don't even get all my breaks in. But, there are aides who sit for those hours who still think I should be assisting them more. I don't get it. You were hired to work 8 hours, so what's your gripe - work them. I work mine, my time is always filled up, what about yours? If you are sitting reading, or talking, ect, and not helping the nurse out for all the times she's helped you, then you need to rethink.

nurses4all · Aug 6, 2004

I wish I had more time to help with patient care, but I find that I spend about 2 hours my shift actually assessing patients and passing meds, and about 4 hours are spent charting on them and calling docs. The other hour is spent giving or getting report.

Anyone else see anything wrong with that picture?