Bummed

[Vito Andolini]

I had another new aide yesterday and today. I had to speak to her about leaving the floor without letting me know. I clearly write on the assignment sheet that I am to be informed when someone is leaving the floor. I tell my med cart mate if I need to step off or out for a moment or longer (toilet, lunch, whatever) and I expect the same of my aides. This one took offense, demanding why don't I ask anyone else to do it, how come I'm checking up on her, etc.

I tried to explain but she wasn't interested in my response. I asked the supervisor not to send her back any more. She's a floater so I might get lucky and not have to deal with her any more. Most of the time, she signs up to work but doesn't show, due to not being relieved on her other job. Does she bother to call? I can't figure out why they keep scheduling her. She calls to say she's late but never calls to say she just plain isn't coming. She must have the dirt on somebody.

I'm so sick of people you can't talk to or reason with or say anything to, however nicely, however legitimate.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I agree, CNA needs to tell me before they leave the floor. They also need to arrange for another CNA to watch their lights. Since we have staff bathrooms on the unit, I don't expect them to tell me if they're going to the bathroom, but if they have to leave the unit for any reason, they do need to let me know. I let the CNA know when I'm going on my break, and which nurse is covering my patients. It's just common courtesy.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Most units that I've worked on have staff b/r's on the floor, so no one is leaving the floor to go pee.

Our 'acute side' has 2 RNs to cover 8 'stations'. 'Non-acute' side has 1 RN per 4

stations'. Staff restrooms are separated from the unit by a door (they are in the adjacent corridor). It takes but 20 seconds from anywhere on the unit to reach the restrooms.

Be it a 'pee break', be it walking to the vending machines to get a soda, be it walking to pharmacy (30 second walk each way) to pick up meds; whatever the case be; we always inform each other before pushing off. If we're working the 'acute side' we tell the other nurse assigned to the same area; if not we find the nearest nurse (or the charge).

"Hey, I'm gonna run to the restroom real quick"... or "I'm gonna walk down to pharmacy to pick up XYZ for Room ABC". Any pressing concerns are passed on at the same moment (e.g.: "Most of my pts. are stable but Room 4 has been having issues with low BP, so please keep an eye.")

I see this no different than informing co-workers that "I'm taking a lunch break" or some such. To me, it's simply a way of letting my co-workers know where I might be at any given moment. If any unforseen emergencies/issues/whathaveyou were to arise, at least they'll know:

1. Where I went

2. How soon can they expect to see me again.

EDITED TO ADD: 3. If it ended up being a true life/death event,they'd even know of "overhead paging" would work or if it would be an exercise in futility (e.g.: If I'd walked over real fast to retrieve the lunch I'd forgotten in my car).

IMHO, it's simple common courtesy between professionals - "Hey, I'm gonna be away for a tad bit, leaving you without my physical presence or support. Just giving you a heads up".

I provide the same to my co-workers and the vast majority respond in kind.

cheers,

PS: "Co-workers" here mean CNAs/Techs as well.

PPS: I now work ED, but we followed the same principle when I worked ortho/med/surg/tele as well.

[Batman24]

I'm a RN and I tell the nurse assigned next to me as well as the CNA when I need to pee just so they can keep an extra eye and ear open for me. We all do that whether we be the nurse or aide. I wouldn't even dream of leaving the floor without letting others know nor would our CNAs. This is a non-issue and it's a shame this aide made it into one. This is standard where I work and it should be.

[treysdaddy08]

well, i completely disagree (just my opinion!). if a cna wants to go take a pee break, then go take a pee break! i don't need to know about it. a patient isn't going to code from wearing a wet diaper for an extra 2 minutes. some of you take this whole "my license, my license, my license" thing way too far. it's like a pavlovian response! and no, i am not a student. from now on i'm going to demand that i know where my cna's are at all times. i'm going to ask them to keep time logs. i also want to know what their output is! hehe, jk, but just trying to make a point.

Your point makes no sense. And I agree, you don't sound like a student. You sound like a CMA. When a nurse has to work (hard!) for 4+ years to get her license, they're going to be cautious about it. If I hear a call bell going off, how do I know it's not someone who has fallen and is bleeding from the head, or choking, or stuck somewhere? I assume that the NAC under the nurse (I was/will be a student [long story]) is answering that call light. If I know s/he's not on the floor then I also know I have to get to it. 2 minutes can make a HUGE difference in that amount of time.

And up to this point no one on the board has been sarcastic and rude...except you.

[uscstu4lfe]

kmcnelly... what does the call light have to do with it? at my hospital, it goes directly to the desk and the secretery finds someone available to answer it immediately if it's for something sersious. maybe your hospital is different. but truthfully, in the short time i've been a nurse it's for something like a refill of water, a snack, needs the bed pan, etc. I'm cautious about my license, but I don't demand that a CNA tell me if they're going to take a quick break because we all help each other out.

and yes, i am VERY sarcastic... lighten up!

and, if you were trying something witty by trying to insult me by calling me a CMA, that in itself is rude to all of the CMAs here.

[JohnBearPA]

and, if you were trying something witty by trying to insult me by calling me a CMA, that in itself is rude to all of the CMAs here.

I agree, because most of the CNA's here understand the reasoning behind telling their superior, the Nurse or Charge Nurse, that you're taking a break. If you're playing fast and loose with your staff, I'm just happy you're not at my facility. Believe me, you wouldn't even make it as a CNA. I'm sure sooner or later you'll ends up either understanding, or you'll lose your license for neglect or abandonment. Have a great day!

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

I'm an RN and I tell every body and anybody of my wherabouts when I leave the floor. I would for sure want to know if my assistance were to leave, definitely!

[SharonH, RN]

As long as they make arrangements for someone to cover their lights and their breaks are short, then I have no need for the CNA to report to me when they leave the floor.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

well, i completely disagree (just my opinion!). if a cna wants to go take a pee break, then go take a pee break! i don't need to know about it. a patient isn't going to code from wearing a wet diaper for an extra 2 minutes. some of you take this whole "my license, my license, my license" thing way too far. it's like a pavlovian response! and no, i am not a student. from now on i'm going to demand that i know where my cna's are at all times. i'm going to ask them to keep time logs. i also want to know what their output is! hehe, jk, but just trying to make a point.

I don't think that the OP is monitoring toilet breaks, he is monitoring the activities on the floor for patient safety and accountability. At least if someone is in the bathroom and you shouted for them, they should say something. But, a person disappearing, missing in action is not considerate of anyone else. I always make it my business to first make sure that everything is straight for the moment and I tell the RN if I want to leave the floor to go to the vending machine, even honest enough to say I'm taking a smoke break. This gives them a chance to tell me that "now is not a good time". It also respects the authority and the license of the charge nurse.

[RN1982]

I have an aide with an attitude story..

I was working day shift a couple years ago and an aide from the Hem/onc unit came to get a portable monitor from us so that her unit could send us their patient. First thing, Miss Sassy does is slam her hand on the counter and say "I need an empty chart and I was told that if you can't give me one then I need to beat it out of you"...This is verbatim. She was sooooooooooooo rude and loud. Patients and families are passing through the hall overhearing this. I thought my secretary was gonna jump over counter and beat her. Then we give her the monitor and a cord is missing and she screams at the charge nurse who has nothing to do with ordering equipment...What a mess and she carried this on at her own unit because my aide followed her up there to get her name so that she could report her. I can't believe some people come in with that type of nasty attitude. If you're tired and you don't want to work, don't come to work then.

[Vito Andolini]

kmcnelly... what does the call light have to do with it? at my hospital, it goes directly to the desk and the secretery finds someone available to answer it immediately if it's for something sersious. maybe your hospital is different. but truthfully, in the short time i've been a nurse it's for something like a refill of water, a snack, needs the bed pan, etc. I'm cautious about my license, but I don't demand that a CNA tell me if they're going to take a quick break because we all help each other out.

and yes, i am VERY sarcastic... lighten up!

and, if you were trying something witty by trying to insult me by calling me a CMA, that in itself is rude to all of the CMAs here.

Rightly or, apparently, wrongly, your name to me meant University of Southern California student who is pro life. That's why I thought you were a student. See why we should never assume anything? What does it mean?

Whatever your status, I think you will agree eventually that it really stinks when your team members disappear for more than a quick pee break. Maybe you just have not experienced this special treat yet.

As for needing a bedpan - a couple of minutes can make a big difference in the patient's comfort and mental well-being, as well as how dry the bedding remains and whether or not a linen change will have to be done.

As for the license - well, I hope you never experience the threat or actual loss of yours if you truly value it and need it to support your loved ones. I've never heard any nurse talk so casually of it.

[Vito Andolini]

I don't think that the OP is monitoring toilet breaks, he is monitoring the activities on the floor for patient safety and accountability. At least if someone is in the bathroom and you shouted for them, they should say something. But, a person disappearing, missing in action is not considerate of anyone else. I always make it my business to first make sure that everything is straight for the moment and I tell the RN if I want to leave the floor to go to the vending machine, even honest enough to say I'm taking a smoke break. This gives them a chance to tell me that "now is not a good time". It also respects the authority and the license of the charge nurse.

EXACTLY! :bow: Pagandeva, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE move here! :heartbeat:heartbeat

Plus, let me just add, it protects the aide or whoever is stepping off the ward for whatever reason from accusations of abandonment. And it helps avoid giving the impression of being one who hides or sneaks or is devious and trying to get extra breaks instead of working.