Back stabbing STNA....HELP !!

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SORRY this is sooooooo long..

I have been in LTC for 27 years......aid for 3 & LPN for 24 years. It never ceases to amase me that there is ALWAYS ONE IN EVERY FACILITY who thinks THEY have ALL the answers....geez, I wish I did.

My problem is one particular STNA who says she CAN NOT work with me. She changed her schedule so we do not work on the same weekend & cut back a day so "we do not work together as often". Last weekend I was off and she told the other nurse (who I usually work with) that she did not change her schedule because of her but rather because of me...just does not think she can work with ME. She tells other nurses & STNAs how she has had to change her schedule because of me & how I yell at her (never once raised my voice). I have spoken to her a couple of times about parts of her job she has not completed but I though that's what Charge Nurses were supposed to do.

The problems: I have caught her in 2 lies r/t patients....she runs to the DON with everything(DON has aids before nurses), she smiles to my face but OH so different behind my back, and she is constantly late but never does anyone say a word to her. The other nurse and I were "talked to" about how WE need to be nicer to these STNAs. Short of doing my work and their work too I am not sure how I could be nicer to them (her).

I have NEVER said anything degrading to her and have always tried to help out but I have my own work to do. She and another STNA are "friends" and both will tell anyone upfront " I have been here 3 years (a record for the facility), I know the policy better than you" so they both do what they want to do. If you tell them what to do you are "a bad nurse".

It isn't like jobs are plentiful around this area and I do not want to give up because of another person. We are on the same unit everytime we work together so I can not work another area to "get away"

I am just at my limit because I feel she just looks for things to tell the DON but when I talk to the DON about her the DON just tells me to be nice because the STNAs work hard.

After all these years this is the 1st major issue for me with an STNA & no support from my DON

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Can you get the other nurses to back you up on things?

document all of your interactions with her and keep that list.

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Specializes in ER, Med Surg,Drug Etoh, Psych.

Sorry for your trouble, can you explain what STNA is?Guess I'm too old to know all these new abbrev. lol

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Thank you for replying, I could use any help or ideas I can get.

I have started a list but if I take it to the DON I am afraid she will do the same thing as when I talked to her before.....tell me to "be nice". This DON is an RN who graduated a couple of months ago, has worked at this place for about 6 years, and has an "all about the STNAs "attitude. She does not speak to us afternoon nurses unless she has to, even if she walks on the unit. Not sure if day nurses even see the DON. I do know the ADON was told by the Corporate CEO that she will never advance in the company because the DON will always be there (the ADON told me herself). This place has "clicks" like I have never seen elsewhere in my career. It is sad because the job is great.

Thanks again

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STNA means State Tested Nursing Assistant.

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I'm confused. Are you a nurse or a 'state tested nursing assistant'?

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Nurse (LPN Charge Nurse)

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Behavioral Psych.

I have seen the same thing at my facility. I think that is part and parcel of the work culture these days along with the lack of boundaries being taught to all staff.

I agree with the above poster saying you should continue to document everything that interferes with your functionality as a nurse with that STNA on your team.

Keep in mind, though, that if she has already moved her days around to avoid you then half of your problem is fixed. Often people that behave like she does will turn their attention to someone else that is within eyeshot. I realize that it doesn't look good in the eyes of your boss, but keep in mind that you are there to do a job and not to please everyone. If this person is the only one running to the DON on you then let her. If you have multiple people telling on you then that's another issue. =)

I try to keep a tone of professionalism at work. I have said things that have made people cry though, unintentionally. Things we say have a different impact on different people. In my case, an aide came to me telling me that a resident, who is difficult to redirect, was awake and needed "something." I told her that I had given the resident a prn she had ordered to help relax her and would have to place the resident on 1 on 1 supervision until she was able to rest. The aide made a comment to another aide that she "wasn't gonna deal with this all night." I told her, "Excuse me, but I am not going to over drug someone just for your convenience." When I saw her reaction, crying, I immediately felt bad...I didn't want to chide her.

I keep telling myself and other nurses I work with that we are human at best. We do make mistakes. We just have to hope that our training and critical thinking skills prepare us to err on the side of safety.

Bottom line is: just do your best with your job and your interpersonal skills. If someone blows it out of proportion, that's really on them...just don't forget to document what you can.

I'm done rambling lol--sorry!

--Mark

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I am so sorry you are going through this, as I can sympathize all too well. I just recently got away from a place where a lot of cliquey stuff was going on and also dealing with a supervisor who just hated me for some reason unbeknownst to me. And she was the same way as the problem person you are dealing with...No problems while in person, but behind your back...

I have also worked with CNAs who cop a big attitude when you ask them to do something (or just ignore that you even asked) - very frustrating.

Well, it looks like your DON is set in her agenda in keeping a staff of CNAs likely because she thinks they are more difficult to replace than nurses. It is hard work and they are not paid the best. Of course, who in the nursing field (nurses and support staff) is really paid commiserately for the work they do?

If I were you, I would try this: Shoot your DON an email that briefly states that the problem between you and this CNA is not resolving and that you really want to try and get it resolved for everyone's benefit, staff and patients, so the work can be accomplished more efficiently, etc. Also say that you'd like to start by trying to talk to her yourself first - just you and her. Say that you will update her with the outcome of the discussion, which will hopefully be a good one.

If the outcome is not satisfactory, then of course you will need to go to the next step of having a meeting with you, the CNA, and the DON - with your list in hand!

That's really the best advice I can give you other than DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, including dates/times/names of witnesses, etc.

Good luck!

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What about meeting with the DON and ADM together?

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Wonder why this is so very familiar. You know that you have two bottom line choices. Put up with things as they are, (unlikely to change). Or make plans and go. Take the advice that others have provided, just don't put too much mental energy into this. You'll make yourself a nervous wreck and get sick. You know what worked for me? I got out of LTC and went to home health. Most of the problems you describe and those I've read about elsewhere, disappeared when I made this change. You might want to consider looking into doing an occasional shift for an agency, then, if you decide you've had enough, you will have someplace to go that has less stress.

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I totally agree with everyone who has responded. Just tonight I was sitting doing my computerized charting and I had a salad sitting beside me (unopened) and this STNA walked by and said "WISH I COULD EAT" in a not so nice tone. Of course, I was by myself but I never showed any reaction at all.

I am looking but have been in LTC many years and really hate to give it up. I did talk to my ADON today and she said just continue being the bigger person about it and I think eventually she will quit.

Thank you to everyone for your opinions. I appreciate it greatly.

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