CNA's in control

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I am in a nightmarish situation where the CNA's are in control. The worst night was when a patient had to go to the bathroom. The CNA demanded that I handle it because she was on the phone to the police to break up a drunken party (mostly because of her BROTHER!) at her house. She also got at least two other CNA's to gang up on me because I was asking her not to use her cell phone, especially not in patient's rooms. She began screaming at me, shaking her finger in my face, shaking a clipboard in my face, and screaming "Get out of my business!!!" She also leaves early with a couple of other CNA's to go to her second job. She is using the term "harassment" to describe my simple wish for her to do her job, and she lies, a LOT.

What can I do?

Maybe I'm making the assumption (can't remember if it was specified on the OP) that this is happening on the night shift when admin is not around. If this was happening to me, (and folks, I'm as serious as a heart-attack here) I would call the police and have the CNA removed in handcuffs.

I would do it in a New York minute.

You might wish for it to be done but in reality, that isn't your call. If the CNA hasn't broken a law you can wish, request, and demand all you want. She isn't leaving in handcuffs. Screaming, waving clipboards, and such isn't against any laws. You can make threats but it will only prove fruitless. You'll stand there demanding the police officers do what they cannot. Arrest someone for NOT breaking the law.

I have to fess up here for a moment. When I read these posts there are times that I know darn well in my own mind that the OP is making something out of nothing. They will make it seem bigger and better than it really was. When you confront them the story gets bigger and bigger. I am NOT saying that is what THIS OP is doing, I have no idea either way. I just look at things a bit more objectively than I used to, that's all.

I would be interested in hearing both sides to the story before forming opinions either way. That goes for ANY story, not just this one.

I don't know, I think about myself. I talk with my hands... even while on the phone!!!! If I have a clipboard in my hands does that mean I am threatening someone around me because I'm talking with my hands while holding an object???

I'm really honestly not referring to THIS OP when I write this. I tend to believe she was in the right. I'm just saying that I like to hear both sides of the story. How many times do you hear a story and the more you question the story the bigger it becomes? People exaggerate to prove a point, THEIR point.

In this case I tend to believe the OP, I think the CNAs were out of line. She didn't start out with a weenie story that quickly grew into a whomper. It started out a whomper. That doesn't change the fact that I would have preferred to hear it play out for myself.

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As a supervisor in a long term care facility, I faced a similar situation when I took my job. There had been a lack of discipline and leadership on my shift and the CNAs were not doing their jobs. They tried that whole "grouping" thing with me when I was speaking to one CNA. I immediately broke the group up by telling the CNA to come to my office to talk to me in private. She refused, and I sent her home. In the meantime, I spoke with each of the CNAs that had "grouped up" privately in turn. Let me tell you, without their comrades standing up there with them they aren't nearly as belligerant. And none of them wanted to be sent home.

The following day I spoke with my DON about the situation, and she met with the CNA and me in her office, where I explained everything. Let me tell you, her attitude was forever changed. This was in June, and since then there have been no problems, in fact she and I get along very well.

It's such a tough situation to be in. I'm sorry you are having to go through this. Please let us know what happens.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Good job, folks, supporting new member.

You guys are great!

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I am so sorry you are going through this. However I would be concerned that actually taping them might be illegal. However I have taped just for my own use so I coul write out the conversation word for word. I worked in one place where we had a toxic stituation with an R.N. who was abusing me verbally and the patients when I went to the nurse manager she was very interested and said she would talk to her about it. I told her she did not need to bring me into it.

All she needed to use was the most recent patient complaint about her. I had witnessed her actions and the complaint was true.

Also illegal most places are camera phones due to hippa violations but having pictures of cna wrapped in blankets sleeping in halls and in nursing stations gave me emotional support and elped me to quit.

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YES! They sleep on the job, and they do use camera phones. It's awful, and on New Year's Eve many of them left early. The following weekend a group of them threatened to walk out, and the RN in charge said that they didn't have to report to me anymore, just to her, and "If they walk out, then we're screwed." They are in control and have been for a while.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

keep a paer trail...it may come in handy in the future

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I feel your pain, I work for a State owned facility and once staff make it through their first year without problems getting rid of them is difficult. I find using the phrase "are you refusing to..." works quite well, I also document with our "Occurence Report" if you have something similar I would use it. Do you get the support and backing of your management, if not take it to the next level.

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I would formulate and game plan and then get 'er done ~ if you DON'T get control now your job will be miserable.

A lot of good tips here.

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Specializes in Case Management.
As a supervisor in a long term care facility, I faced a similar situation when I took my job. There had been a lack of discipline and leadership on my shift and the CNAs were not doing their jobs. They tried that whole "grouping" thing with me when I was speaking to one CNA. I immediately broke the group up by telling the CNA to come to my office to talk to me in private. She refused, and I sent her home. In the meantime, I spoke with each of the CNAs that had "grouped up" privately in turn. Let me tell you, without their comrades standing up there with them they aren't nearly as belligerant. And none of them wanted to be sent home.

The following day I spoke with my DON about the situation, and she met with the CNA and me in her office, where I explained everything. Let me tell you, her attitude was forever changed. This was in June, and since then there have been no problems, in fact she and I get along very well.

It's such a tough situation to be in. I'm sorry you are having to go through this. Please let us know what happens.

This is an excellent example of using those communication skills that we all learned in nursing school. Great Job LoriAlabamaRN

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