cna's who don't do their job

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

I started my job 6 weeks ago and my 2nd day of orientation I went with another aide (we'll call her "B") who infuriated me. She charted all of her patients as "bathed" even though none of them was ever given a full bath. If she changed the patients brief or cleaned them after a BM she considered that a bath. A lot of times she charts them as "refused bath" when what the patient really said was "can we wait until after breakfast (or lunch)." Never once during that day did she put water in the wash basin and get out the wash rags. She used the disposable wipes to clean their bottoms and sprayed some deoderant and anti-microbial spray on them and that was it. And yet B always told her nurses that the patients had been bathed. Our charge nurse/PCC asked me if B had actually bathed any patients and I told her no. So the next day B said "you can work with me again today" and our charge said she wanted me with someone else. I let our charge nurse know later that that wasn't an example that I intended to follow and thanked her for not having me work with her again. Our shifts are from 630a to 7p but if something happens during the 30 minute overlap of shift change she always says it's not her responsibility and the other shift needs to take care of it. Or instead of giving the next aide report on the patients she will hand them her patient roster with notes on it and say "I'm leaving." Last weekend she left and then we found out that one of her patients (who happens to be 300+ lbs and needs 3 people just to clean up) had told her an hour earlier that he had soiled himself and needed cleaned up but she left him. So myself and the other aide who were finishing our shift helped one of the aides coming on get him cleaned up. B constantly leaves the floor without telling anyone and comes back when she wants to. Lately she's been pairing up with one of the other aides and saying "lets go see if there's anything new in the giftshop" or some other excuse to leave the floor and leave me alone.

Sunday we had all just gotten there and I heard her tell the other aide "let's just fart around today." WHAT? Besides the fact that she "farts around" every day, what kind of attitude is that to have at work? I'm so sick of it and plan to talk to either my manager or charge nurse when I go to work on Friday. I'm just wondering if it will look like I'm the new girl stirring up trouble. How should I handle it? I also know that unless she is fired or quits, having someone get on to her will not make a difference. She will still do her job the same way.

This other aid deserves to be fired!! You are not over reacting AT ALL!! If I were you, I might try to subtly let the boss know what is really going on. This aid reminds me of one of those nurses who steal drugs that the patients need and then go through surgery feeling every cut and stitch. I understand that you wouldn't want to cause problems for this person , but just imagine this her taking care of your grandma or grandpa.. ya know?? Well - go luck no matter what decision you make. And definantly don't do any favors for this person if you continue to work with her.. Goood Luck!!

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I have been a CNA, Rehab aide for 12 years. I am currently finishing my BSN and I just have to vent. I get really frustrated that people who are concerned that care is not being provided, which is considered neglect by the way, are considered tattle tales! In my opinion, this is why CNAs that aren't doing their job, have a job. I say grow some balls and tell your supervisor. Would you want them taking care of your mom, grandma, etc.?? Your residents are just that to someone and I think we have a moral responsibility as nurses, aides, etc to care for them, this includes reporting those that don't. When I become a nurse i will respect those that tell me when something isn't being done correctly. I don't want someone doing a half ass job under my license!

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I have been a CNA, Rehab aide for 12 years. I am currently finishing my BSN and I just have to vent. I get really frustrated that people who are concerned that care is not being provided, which is considered neglect by the way, are considered tattle tales! In my opinion, this is why CNAs that aren't doing their job, have a job. I say grow some balls and tell your supervisor. Would you want them taking care of your mom, grandma, etc.?? Your residents are just that to someone and I think we have a moral responsibility as nurses, aides, etc to care for them, this includes reporting those that don't. When I become a nurse i will respect those that tell me when something isn't being done correctly. I don't want someone doing a half ass job under my license!

:yelclap: :yeahthat: It sounds like you are going to be a good caring nurse.

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I just quit a CNA position after 3 weeks at the facility...I am an LPN student and I had wanted some 'experience' and that is just what I got. I didn't 'fit in' from the beginning as soon as they found out i was a nursing student. The 'regulars' on the hall basically did what they wanted....I let them 'pick' what they wanted to do (which showers to give, etc)....they ended up claiming that I didn't carry my load.....that they could never find me....yet they were the ones who couldn't be found....taking extra smoke breaks, etc. They didn't follow procedures for transferring residents as in using a gait belt and when I tried to used one it slowed them down so I was then too slow. They didn't check pts for continence every 2 hours....it was ridiculous. I figure that I graduate as an LPN in less than 4 months so why deal with the BS?

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I agree with you.....I was in a rotten position because some of the LPNs were friendly with the CNAs and I did speak to the unit manager finally about the quality of care being provided....but after that i couldn't go back to that hall - they were already making my life miserable....but.....I definitely know how I will handle things as a charge nurse.

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I have just finished reading all this and absolutely do not doubt any of it. When I was orientating with my job, I was shocked. It was nothing like what I was taught was supposed to happen. When the "bad CNA's" figure out you are not going to do it their way, they turn on you, maybe out of fear of being found out or what ever.. and will set you up for some really bad nights. and yes ... they disappear.

One girl i work with is going to school, just like me but works a little differently than i do. she pulls double shifts on thrusday, friday and saturday nights by working 2nd and 3rd. she makes her rounds twice. yes i said twice, thats per shift. any feeders that are bed ridden dont get fed 100% because she thinks they might throw up and make a mess.. its unreal!!! i had to orientate with her on second shift of my 5th day of work. i was already assigned to another girl but this girl was complaining to the lpn that she had a hard load and needed the help more that the other girl. the lpn never looked at the assigned residents just said ok.. go with her. it was awful. i took that list and went to see one of the residents on her list.. i changed this resident and got her up from her nap, into her w/c. as we were coming down the hall, this girl starts yelling at me that i wasnt supposed to get that resident up! she just didnt want her up... she snapped the wheelchair around and said she would put her back to bed. i asked if anyone else needed changing.. she said that i was so slow that she had already seen about everyone else!!! i was only in there... maybe 5 minutes... maybe... she had 9 residents assigned to her. ..(this was about 3:30 into a 3pm to 11pm shift... i had a very long night)

This one has issues that should go up the chain of command. Is she still a nursing student? (I hope not)

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Don't rat anyone out, because than the supervisors kinda see you as a tattle tale..trust me I know...The best thing is to just do your job the best you can and dont pick up her work...if her people are dirty dont clean them up, you have your own ppl, eventually things will catch up to her....and shell get written up....

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
dont pick up her work...if her people are dirty dont clean them up, you have your own ppl, eventually things will catch up to her....and shell get written up....

Um, beyond wrong. I understand that it's not fair to coworkers to have to pick up the slack of others, but how fair is it to the patient? A patient lying in his own excrement is helpless, and it is your job, regardless of whose assignment he is. Supervisors can be oblivious to problem employees if someone doesn't clue them in. Don't let your patients suffer. If they don't have you to count on, who else do they have?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Don't rat anyone out, because than the supervisors kinda see you as a tattle tale..trust me I know...The best thing is to just do your job the best you can and dont pick up her work...if her people are dirty dont clean them up, you have your own ppl, eventually things will catch up to her....and shell get written up....

How would you feel if you were one of her people not being cleaned up???? I doubt you would be giving the OK to skip your personal needs.

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How would you feel if you were one of her people not being cleaned up???? I doubt you would be giving the OK to skip your personal needs.

Well, by you picking up the slack, you are denying your patients of care because you are spending all this time helping other ppls assignments than doing your own..and your own patients are suffering...You can report the aide for not doing her work, but if you are picking up her slack you are encouraging her NOT to do her work because she knows someone else will do it...

Like...If my wingmate is on break I will answer all her bells for her and take care of her patients, but if shes not I will go get her and tell her that her person is ringing...but I will NOT go take care of her patients while she is supposed to be there because than my patients will suffer and they end up waiting..thats why they make assignments.....

By reporting her you are going to make a hostile enviorment to work in AND its her word against yours...plus everyone needs their job. so maybe you can go talk to her and explain to her you cant be picking up her slack.....CNA work is hard and unfortunalty some ppl neglect patients but you are only one person....

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AND by doing your co workers work you could have two patients that have to use the bathroom and are waiting.....that shouldnt be nessessary

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Well, by you picking up the slack, you are denying your patients of care because you are spending all this time helping other ppls assignments than doing your own..and your own patients are suffering...You can report the aide for not doing her work, but if you are picking up her slack you are encouraging her NOT to do her work because she knows someone else will do it...

I worked 11 years as a CNA, and i know it's hard work. But i'd never leave someone needing personal care. I don't call it picking up slack. I call it the humane thing to do. That does not mean that i'd do it without reporting this co-worker to the charge, or let my pts. suffer as a result. I've cared for double assignments before.

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