CNA's...complaining constantly...

Rapheal · Feb 1, 2004

If the other nurses don't complain and let her get away with it then I think you are fighting a losing battle. I would try to garner her cooperation in the nicest, most professional way. If she doesn't respond to that then go up the chain of command.

We have one aide who I swear I think drinks on the job. But she is one of the NM pets so unless I see her with a bottle in her hand and have a polaroid picture, witnessed by two people, time stamped and dated- then she will continue on.

Good luck. Bend like a willow- until your sapped. :)

adrienurse, LPN · Feb 1, 2004

yeah

kinda sucks all the happiness and productivity out of the place. Some people just don't have the capacity to trust others and be a team player.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

Take it to the DON. It's not considered a problem till everyone knows about it.

nurseygrrl, LPN · Feb 1, 2004

Put it in writing.

First, speak to her. If she continues to disregard what you have to say, do the above. I deal with this kind of thing all the time and I will no longer put up with it. You either work as hard as I do or get the hell off my unit!

Good luck!

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

Don't expect this situation to change soon. Even if NM recognizes the problem she may not do much to correct the behavior. I have worked with some great CNA's, but the last bunch I worked with were the absolute pits. Behavior you described and worse. Document everything, be fair and professional, and at next staff meeting with other nurses bring up subject of CNA's and their duties, do not single her out, maybe then the NM will send out a memo to CNA's that job performance must improve. Good Luck but it may be a long battle.

NurseJacqui · Feb 1, 2004

Our evening CNAS seem to feel they have the run of the ER for some reason. We have one who is constantly scratching herself and wiping her nose with her hand and who is loud, rude and innappropriate and always on the phone. Asking her to do anything is like pulling teeth. Our other CNAS are trained to draw blood and do EKGS but also can assist in transport and feedings, and cleaning beds and toileting. And last night, I couldn't even get them to do an EKG. There is an EKG tech on weekends for the hospital but they were sitting there doing nothing and are trained to do EKGS and I needed a stat EKG and they told me to page the EKG tech. The charge nurse also asked them. They refused. The charge nurse wound up doing it herself. I have talked to my nurse manager about the problem before but she doesn't do anything. She is also not there during my shift and she doesnt see what goes on. And then she sticks up for them , saying " Well how did you ask them" Not that it matters but I ALWAYS say please and thank you and regardless, I shouldnt have to BEG. I am in the position to delgate tasks...if they can't handle being delegated to, then they should find a different job. I was once a CNA and I never behaved the way the CNAS I work with do. Its getting out of hand. :(

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

I am training in a new dept where there are NO CNAs or techs. Let me tell you, it is so much easier to have all nurse staff.

The techs in the dept where I work now are a constant source of stress and conflict. Some are lazy, insubordinate and they think they know as much as a doc.

There are two excellent ones, but the bad apples make things really hard.

Dave ARNP · Feb 1, 2004

Maybe if they weren't the the most under respected members of the healthcare team they would be a little more apt to do something.

Just a thought

Dave

NurseJacqui · Feb 1, 2004

Dave, respect is also earned. I don't respect someone who sits on their ass with their feet up while I am running around doing their job. I was a CNA myself and let me tell you, our CNAS in the ER have it a lot better than I did. They chose to work in this position and that means accepting delegation. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect regardless of job title but it also has to be earned.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Feb 1, 2004

Frankly, I've found that those who respect and thank their CNA's the most,who give them support, encouragement, and feedback, and certainly praise when due, never fail to get the best out of the CNAs /techs.

I always make it a point to thank our tech/techs for their help before I leave for the day. So much of what they do is taken for granted... we are so involved with our own responsibilities and duties, we have little time to actually "see" what all gets done by these asssistants.

MOST...(yes, there will always be some who are just plain losers, and these can be found amongst nurses as well) will bend over backwards for you if treated with respect and recognition... and thanks.

For two little words, Thank You sure goes a long way. :)

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

Originally posted by TerraRN
Dave, respect is also earned. I don't respect someone who sits on their ass with their feet up while I am running around doing their job. I was a CNA myself and let me tell you, our CNAS in the ER have it a lot better than I did. They chose to work in this position and that means accepting delegation. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect regardless of job title but it also has to be earned.

ITA. I was a CNA for 3 years. I knew my job and did it. I respected my nurses.

The majority of the CNAs/ techs I work with are agressive, arrogant, ignorant, mean-spirited and totally inapporoprate w/ pts. They pretty much run the unit. Yes, I have spoken to my NM several times and had two conferances w/ her and one particularly troublesome tech. Things improve for a week or so, then she goes back to her old ways. She was fired in the past, and rehired for some reason.

I don't buy the "they are disrespected" argument. In my experience, great CNAs are absolutely treasured and treated like gold. I was by many nurses I worked w/ when I was a CNA. Why? Because I earned their respect and appreciation.