CNA diary - Do you believe your patients or your associates?

[littlegoat]

The DSD told us in the meeting that our co-worker passed meal tray beside the urinal (the urine container, I do not know if this is a right word :)) to the resident and mentioned that patient should be helped by two CNA after the case happened. Another CNA said he saw the patient took his dinner in the hallway and by nurse station that evening. He emphasized that at least three people could prove that patient did false description. If the witness did not stand out, I doubted that CNA might get penalty for a fake complaint.

I am wondering if DSD could investigate the facts before she submitted the case in the meeting. If no one jumped out to challenge this thing (talked about the real situation) and let it go, then that CNA became a scapegoat. Personally, I do think if I were DSD, I would double check my CNA's performance first and then go back to find out that patient records before I made any judgement or take any further action.

We understand the majority of residents are aged people - they may not be confused yet, but most of them having terribly bad memories. And I believe most of CNAs are responsible to do their jobs once they choose this as their careers (some of my team mates even had more than thirty years experience). They should be respected too even they are in the lowest level in nursing field. I wish some day the DSD won't say - " the door is open " which always be mentioned again and again.

What is the process to investigate a case? Do you blame on your CNA first? Are patients always right?

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

We do a thorough investigation. Its not about believing one or another.Its about gathering all the facts first then making a decision based on facts.

We are in a customer service buisness where the customers are always right, which is Not True.

[ItsTheDude]

there has to be a paper trail for legal reasons, ltc is a favorite target for lawyers, as it should be.

however, i've read some of the op's other posts/threads and i don't know where you work, but you seem to take things a bit too personal and don't blow things off and have fun with them.

as i posted to one of your other threads, cna's where i've worked let everyone (lpn's, rn's, etc) know to leave them the hell alone and treat them with some respect or they'd have no problem taking time off, thus increasing the work load for everyone else and causing care problems. guess what happens when enough cna's call in "sick" for a shift, that's right, those lpn's and rn's are wiping orifice and care is going to hell and the real responsibility for care is on the higher ups (their licenses and careers are on the chopping block), not the cna's that are "sick". those lpn's, rn's, etc understand real quick the value of cna's and start treating them better, because cna's sure as heck ain't gonna get paid better.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

there has to be a paper trail for legal reasons, ltc is a favorite target for lawyers, as it should be.

however, i've read some of the op's other posts/threads and i don't know where you work, but you seem to take things a bit too personal and don't blow things off and have fun with them.

as i posted to one of your other threads, cna's where i've worked let everyone (lpn's, rn's, etc) know to leave them the hell alone and treat them with some respect or they'd have no problem taking time off, thus increasing the work load for everyone else and causing care problems. guess what happens when enough cna's call in "sick" for a shift, that's right, those lpn's and rn's are wiping orifice and care is going to hell and the real responsibility for care is on the higher ups (their licenses and careers are on the chopping block), not the cna's that are "sick". those lpn's, rn's, etc understand real quick the value of cna's and start treating them better, because cna's sure as heck ain't gonna get paid better.

Yours is certainly a real professional way to problem-solve, Dude. Essentially, it's revenge, bullying of professional staff, and no concern for the wellbeing of the patients. Did you know that "going on strike", which is essentially what you suggest, is illegal for professional nurses to do because human lives are at stake? Nurses who want to strike must give notice. So you are putting aides in a non-professionally behaving group. Do you think this is the best way for them to gain respect? I think it's a good way for them to get fired.

There's no need for jealousy. Each person has his important and necessary role to do. No role is above question. Even doctors, even administrators, even patients. Why not nurses and aides?

We all need to be responsible and mature and as safe as possible, even when we're angry with someone at work. Please rethink your suggestion to have the nursing version of the "blue flu".

To OP: No one should automatically be believed or disbelieved. A proper investigation should take place.

[ItsTheDude]

kooky, i'm not a cna, i moved up the chain years ago. as i stated, those have been my observations of what cna's did at ltc places i've worked at. being a cna isn't a profession, the only time cna's are treated remotely like professionals is when nurses/admin want to scold them about professionalism, ha. too many nurses have never even been a cna, let alone one in ltc, so they have no real appreciation or respect for them, i have been one and now i'm on the other side and feel for cna's in ltc (crap job, low pay, nurses/admin/residents/family... always pooping on them, high turnover, hard work, etc).