CNAs and the dining room in ALF

[michael79]

HELP!!! Our dietary manager is wanting our CNAs to take on more responsibility in the kitchen in addition to their care duties. For example, he wants them to plate up meals in the kitchen (ummm...isn't that dietary's job?), after meals are completed he wants them to bring all the dishes back into the kitchen and place all of them in the dishwashing racks so that all the dishwasher has to do is rinse them and put them through the washer and then set up the DR for the next meal. This takes the CNA at least an hour to do and takes her away from her responsibilities in care. We are asking the CNAs to perform a higher level of resident engagement to include assisting with the activities. How can they do that AND dietary's job? It's not fair! What goes on in your facility?

[pielęgniarka, RN]

Only dietary is allowed to be in the kitchen at our place. There's state regulations about that sort of thing.

[nightmare, RN]

Do your CNA's have food hygiene and handling certificates there? Because that's what they would need here if they were asked to handle food.Also CNA's going into food prep.areas from the floor constitute a cross contamination hazard unless they are being made to change footwear and wear protective clothing.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Nonsense. Dietary is short-staffed. Well, so is every unit I've ever worked.

[michael79]

Nonsense. Dietary is short-staffed. Well, so is every unit I've ever worked.

Quick clarification, are you saying dietary is wrong or I am? Not sure what you mean....

[Derek1975]

Considering the dirty jobs that CNAs do on a regular basis, they shouldn't be anywhere near the kitchen until it's time to take the residents down and pass out trays. That's been the extent of what I've done in the kitchen, pass out trays, make sure it goes to the right people, and take the residents back to the rooms when they're done, that's it.

[dolphind]

That is ridiculous. In our facility the dining staff brings out a cart. The cna serves the food, puts the trays back on the cart, and cleans up. Dining comes and takes the tray back.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

At a hospital I worked at, after the annual walk through by JACHO, our hospital was sited for very few pt. care issues but many cleanliness strikes. The housekeeping manager was fired/asked to leave and the new manager did something similair to this. Posted emails and sent out notices to managers that nursing (RNs and CNAs alike) would be taking on some of the duties that were formerly considered housekeeping responsibilities.

It didnt even get off the floor. Nurses laughed at it all. Some sent teasing emails back to the new housekeeping manager saying things to the like of "And to help the nursing staff, housekeeping will now be passing meds." Nurse managers at first put on mask of support for it, but found it impossible to enforce. Too many RNs and CNAs just let it be known that if that were expected of them, they would be looking for work elsewhere.

Of course, this only worked because, well........the RNs and CNAs couldnt be replaced/fired when they said "no" to the new job descriptions. If you feel safe in finding other employeement, do the same. Be tactfull and respectfull and just state it that you will not be accepting the new job description and that if it is enforced upon you, you can not continue to work for the facility. If you are not confident about finding another job fast, bite your tongue, do the duties, look for a new job and when you find it..........do your two week notice and let it be known the new responsibilities are why you are leaving. If you are a valued employee, your leaving will be considered a big hit. Its called "vote with your feet".

[AnxiousStrawberry]

At my job a PCA sets the table, serves up the food, and then clears the tables. We have one person assigned to the kitchen area, one for tolieting, and another for activities.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Quick clarification, are you saying dietary is wrong or I am? Not sure what you mean....

Dietary.

[CathyLew]

Hmmmmmm... If I was told I had to do this...Im not sure if I would "forget" to scrape off the plates before overloading them in the dish washer, (at least 3 plates stuck together with food per plate slot). ... or if I would be real clumsy and drop a lot of plates.

Our hospital once told us it was our job to break down any boxes we emptied. Like any syringe boxes, boxes of IV solution...etc... and if we needed a box cutter to page maintenence, and they would bring us one. OK. Yea, like I am going to be councelled for not breaking down cardbord boxes.... Lets see that one stick! It turns out the Housekeepers were just ****** that there were so many boxes in the dirty utility room... because central supply decided instead of stocking the floor bins with supplies, they would take a short cut and deliver whole boxes of supplies. the trickle down effect.

Our Union has in our contract that we are not required to perform 'non-nursing funcitons". That has saved us quite a few times when the powers that be decide to dump more crap our way.

I think its a health code violation for your CNA's to be in the kitchen. I would start there.

[DusktilDawn]

Basically this dietary manager is trying to save money on their budget at the EXPENSE OF the CNAs, the patients, and somebody ELSE'S budget. This manager wants to eliminate employees or shifts in his own department at another departments expense. This is exactly the approach the nurses and CNAs should use when discussing the issue with their manager.

I'm also in agreement that this could be a health issue since the CNAs would be going INTO the kitchen area. Many organisms survive as spores and even effective handwashing doesn't eliminate them (C-diff is one, also considered part of medicare's "never" event, facility won't be reimbursed for treating those infected). Definately another issue to bring up.

Also I would contact the State Health unit and ask them a few questions regarding this situation. CNAs aren't trained to be food handlers/preparers. What would be their position on the situation.

Reminds me of the time I worked at a facility where dietary management decided that the nurses had time to toast bread products brought up with breakfast, despite the fact that there were thirty patients on the unit and most units had only toasters that could toast 2 or 4 pieces of bread. That lasted all of 2 seconds. It's amazing how other departments try to eliminate from their budget at the expense of those caring for the patients and by extension the patients.