CNA issues

[GeriRNfromNZ]

Heya all,

Im a new grad RN, been at my current job in LTC for approx 7 months.

When I started there were 2 CNA's there who were so unsafe! The final straw for me was when they both flat out refused to my face to hoist a non weight-bearing resident, as they said the hoist upsets her. One of them yelled at me and told me to do it myself cause she wasnt gonna.

So anyway, after a few weeks those 2 cna's were "let go".

Fast-forward to now, we have a good team, apart from one cna. He always comes to work on time, does extra shifts when asked and has good rapport with the residents, but maan can he be unsafe! He gets all hyperactive and does stupid things like setting alcogel on fire or making blowtorches with aerosol cans (IN THE NURSES STATION!).

Routinely I find him sitting in the lounge chatting to residents while his partner is bustin their ass getting the work done. He hoons around the facility backwards in wheelchairs (at night tho) and the other day crashed into the water cooler making all kinds of noise, while there was a resident attempting to pass peacefully in the room closest.

I suppose the issue is this: I like this kid, he has a good heart, but he makes stupid decisions. Im the only RN who takes concerns to the manager about this, the other RN's have all discussed it with me, and all get annoyed at his behaviour, but dont DO anything about it.

I just hate how Im gonna get the label of "bossy nark nurse", when in reality I am pretty easy goin an enjoy a laugh, just not if it compromises patient care in any way.

Anyone had anything similar occur?

[BabyRN2Be]

I suppose the issue is this: I like this kid, he has a good heart, but he makes stupid decisions.

I think you said it all right there. Unfortunately, he's going to have to learn some lessons the hard way. I pray that no one gets hurt or he gets fired while learning these lessons.

[icyounurse, BSN, RN]

I am sure he is not a bad person, but not everyone is cut out for healthcare. Perhaps management could have a talk with him and explain why certain behaviors are not professional and will not be tolerated, then see if he can take constructive criticism and adapt to the facility or not. The blow torch at the nurses station thing is not cool.

[Vito Andolini]

How old is he? Have you tried talking directly to him? You can keep it sort of light. "Hey, Joe, what is up with you trying to burn the place down?" Or "You must think you're Evel Knievel, crashing into the water cooler, Guy". "Man, you've got to grow up!" If the light touch doesn't work, sit him down and have a real heart-to-heart. Let him know he is making you very nervous and that you really need for him to act more grown-up. If that doesn't work, start writing. Never mind what anyone thinks.