Being Ignored

Therhapsody89 · Dec 13, 2015

As a former cna and a current rn I'm sorry you've had this experience! I could not get through a day without my cna's help! Unfortunately, there does seem to be a disconnect between nurses and aides, and it is seen in every nursing specialty. Don't let it get to you and affect how you perform on the job, because that will come down on you! Try talking with the nurse privately. If nothing changes then you could go to the boss. If you have staff meetings, it would be a good place to bring your issue up! Good luck!

bebbercorn · Dec 13, 2015

That is completely unacceptable. Can you talk to each of these nurses directly and see what they felt the situation to be? Because if they were busy with something else, that's all they had to say. If you can't get anywhere there, or don't feel comfortable, I would go above their heads to the nurse manager. You could phrase it like "I couldn't get anyone to help me get info on what diet the pt had, which is a safety issue (what if he was cardiac/dm diet, for example, or on swallow precautions??). Can this information be made available in a common place, or techs be included in nurse report if we are not going to be able to get updates?"

clarinets, CNA · Dec 13, 2015

Unfortunately, na's dont have that access...Only nurses do....

Therhapsody89 · Dec 13, 2015

Do you give tech to tech reports? Where I work, techs give each other a report than get a report from the nurse where we typically go over diet, blood sugars, bathing and toilet in needs, and activity needs. Regardless, it's still the responsibility of the nurse to make sure you are well informed of the patient and their needs..

clarinets, CNA · Dec 13, 2015

CNA's give report to each other, but on new admits, I get report from the nurse and pulled left and right to do other things for nurses, I often get ignored...

ktwlpn, LPN · Dec 13, 2015

I am a bit upset and frustrated. I am a CNA at a hospital. One time I had a question about a new patient's diet because he has not eaten for hours. This person was a direct admit from ER. I tried to call he primary nurse in charge of the patient twice but got no response. Therefore I went to the charge nurse who was staring at a computer and literally said nothing hen I asked the question about the person's diet and told them I could not get a response from the primary nurse. Meanwhile other nurses were saring at me. I almost too it upon myself to feed him a regular diet because he did not want to wait. Another time happened when I was asked to do something for patient by the charge nurse, then in the middle of that activity I was asked by another nurse, who was next to the charge nurse, to do something a a similar level for a different patient. The charge did not say anything, and when I asked her for help. she said nothing but stared at a computer. Meanwhile I am bombarded with what the nurses want me to do. Not fair trade...This has happened to me a few times on day shift.
This is not to slam anyone here, but I really need some help here. I would like to be on the same page with all the nurses. If this happens again I am going to the boss!! Any advice please.....

Please remember the nurse is literally juggling dozens of issues at a time.She depends on you to function within your scope independently.If your system is set up in a way that prevents you from accessing important information such as diet,ambulatory status,etc it's a problem.That said DO NOT take it upon yourself to just give a patient something because he or she does not want to wait.That IS a problem.Let's consider other ways to handle this.For instance,instruct the patient to ring his call bell to ask his nurse himself.Then you go on about your business and do what you need to do.I was an aide for years,I know we all tend to focus on our tasks at hand ,often giving little notice to everything going on around us.... Go to your boss,ask her about diet orders...

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2015

If the patient was a new admit, it's likely that there were no diet orders yet. If the nurse isn't answering her phone, it's likely that she's in the middle of something else. It's safe and appropriate to let the patient know that you're waiting to see what their diet orders are and will follow up with them. This is not a circumstance to "go to the boss" about.

I don't typically ignore people at work, but when I do, it's because they're repetitive and unreasonable. If you were ignored one time, that may be an issue with the person ignoring you. If everyone is ignoring you, you may need to look at your own behavior and expectations.

clarinets, CNA · Dec 13, 2015

I don't have access to this information. ... So one piece of advice was given to me....It was to tell the patient to use the call button and ask for the nurse.... Let the charge pick up and answer... This is a new admit. .. I also cannot see sometimes what is behind other walls...

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2015

If the patient was a new admit, it's likely that there were no diet orders yet. If the nurse isn't answering her phone, it's likely that she's in the middle of something else. It's safe and appropriate to let the patient know that you're waiting to see what their diet orders are and will follow up with them. This is not a circumstance to "go to the boss" about.
I don't typically ignore people at work, but when I do, it's because they're repetitive and unreasonable. If you were ignored one time, that may be an issue with the person ignoring you. If everyone is ignoring you, you may need to look at your own behavior and expectations.

This was my initial thought also.

OP, I'm not sure it is reasonable to expect to be on "the same page" as the nurses. Yes, you need accurate information about your patients, but the nurses have a whole lot more on their minds and on their plates than is visible to the observer. Perhaps you were interrupting a train of thought while the nurse was charting? Perhaps you have a reputation for being "needy" and asking unnecessary questions?

It is not unusual, in my experience, for a CNA to receive more than one delegation at a time. It is expected that the CNA can prioritize those requests (toileting before snack request, etc.) and carry out both in a timely manner.

.. I also cannot see sometimes what is behind other walls...

Not sure what you mean by this.

clarinets, CNA · Dec 13, 2015

Not really needy.... Some patients 2 person assists though. Can't see what other nurses are doing when I call... Questions about meal were asked when primary nurse was on computer.... charge was on computer... If I am going to be a nurse, must know what to do....

clarinets, CNA · Dec 14, 2015

It's okay to take more than one task, but when I ask a question about a patient for a task that I don't have access too, something is not right. And get ignored....