CNA's that run the unit...advice please!

[skyandsydneysmom]

I want to start out letting you all know that I recently graduated and passed NCLEX-RN. I am working at the same LTC facility that I did as a CNA so I have an inside view of what is going on with this particular unit. There are two day shift CNA's that LITERALLY run this unit...every CNA that works with these two dreads every day because they go out of their way to make it hard on the others. In addition, they are intimidating to some of our residents but are smart enough to pick out the ones that no one would believe if they actually filed a complaint. I have worked with them myself when I was a CNA but for some reason they never gave me a hard time...I guess they knew they wouldn't get far with it. It has been suggested to the DON that they be put on different units because they team up together but nothing has been done. To make matters worse, the DON has somewhat of a personal relationship with them and many complaints have been filed and nothing has ever come of it. I work 3rd shift and sometimes they harass my CNA's during shift report (they work 1st) in the morning. I cannot stand for this abuse...not to my staff and certainly not to my residents! I just don't know what to do...if I go above the DON I am worried I could lose my job if I cannot plead my case. I am sure that one of you has experienced a similiar situation and if so PLEASE tell me what you did to address this sort of situation

[Woodenpug, BSN]

Sorry for your negative experience. I know what you mean. I took the low road and found a different venue.

[j464335]

I have been in a smiliar situation..many times..all of them in LTC facilities.

You should try to access the relationship between the facility administrator and the DON, if they are close you can only report it to corporate or could try complaining about it anon.

This seems to be the norm in these places, no matter what state your in!

[lilaclover]

Wow, this must really happen at every LTC facility...

[tablefor9, RN]

Ok, so I work in an acute care facility and we have a "queen bee" right now. Not sure how that one's going to work out, because she's Mama's Darling and can do no wrong in mgmt eyes. My plan for right now is to fly low, and let her hang herself, because you can only hide incompetence and nastiness for so long before it outs.

Edit to add: she is on another shift, so difficult for me to confront her personally.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

if they are on another shift, all you can do is support yours, and inform your CNAs that you will take responsibility if there is a issue with something during report with one of your residents. However, make SURE your CNAs are doing their job....changing patients, doing their tasks, etc. I ran into this before, and let them know that I'm in charge of the residents, not them. If they want to play rough, I'm ready to rumble with them. I started as a CNA, and I know the job.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

I had a CNA from 1st shift yelling at my CNA'a (3rd shift), because they didn't do something she wanted done before she came on shift. She even tried to tell me what to do! I told my girls thier shift was done & thanked them for thier hard work & sent them home. I then informed this person that the CNA's were following MY orders, I was thier boss not her, and if she should have a problem with what they did or didn't do, she could come to me, NOT THEM!! I also reported her attitude to the unit supervisor, (luckily the other nurses backed me up) as she was nasty to Nurses, CNAs, housekeeping and patients. While they didn't write her up, they did have a long talk with her. Never had that problem again.

[RxOnly]

Is there any way possible that you can report off "with" your CNAs?? If these day-shifters didn't bother you while you were a CNA on the unit, maybe they'll tone it down if you're present when they take report... of course you've got you're own work/report to worry about, but maybe just having your support will help your fellow night staff cope if the DON isn't acting on this.

I hate these kinds of situations... I also work 3rd shift and reporting off to some of the day nurses at my facility can be less than pleasant. Best of luck to you! :)

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I had a CNA from 1st shift yelling at my CNA'a (3rd shift), because they didn't do something she wanted done before she came on shift. She even tried to tell me what to do! I told my girls thier shift was done & thanked them for thier hard work & sent them home. I then informed this person that the CNA's were following MY orders, I was thier boss not her, and if she should have a problem with what they did or didn't do, she could come to me, NOT THEM!! I also reported her attitude to the unit supervisor, (luckily the other nurses backed me up) as she was nasty to Nurses, CNAs, housekeeping and patients. While they didn't write her up, they did have a long talk with her. Never had that problem again.

Yes, do this!!

Is there anything that they do that is a violation in the handbook? 0 tolerance if they are mentally abusing the residents. That needs to be reported asap.

[shiccy]

This does seem to be the theme with LTC's for some reason. It's a shame they're run by what seems to be one head person and nothing gets done because of this.

What I would suggest, and have heard, is that you complain higher than the DON if that's possible, which usually it is.

I had a similar issue with a ancillary staff person that has been in the business AS an ancillary staff for >25 years. To make matters worse everybody knows she's the way that she is. I am a person that doesn't put up will BS. If you can't act like an adult, that's fine. I don't really care, however at the same time I refuse to be your friend if that happens. I'm cordial and courteous as I can be to everybody. That being said, what ended up being the final straw she was trying her hardest to get me written up for signing off orders after *I* processed them -correctly- and putting things back where they needed to be. Long story short after speaking with a FEW supervisors they have all sat down and talked about it. It happens that there's a personality conflict - ie- she just doesn't like me or my personality. I didn't do anything wrong, but it didn't make the lateral violence any less real.

I guess what I'm saying is DON'T take it. If they are doing things to make your job harder, call them out on it in a diplomatic way. NEVER get cornered or caught in a room by yourself with them because they can make up any lies they want about you and disseminate as they see fit. Finally, DO take the issues if they continue to the DON, even IF they're friends. If it continues, then take it higher up. If others are interested in having the lateral violence stop as well, having more than yourself complain if things don't shape up is something that MUST happen.

Good luck. I'm still working on my issues, but at least it's out in the open after I opened the can of worms with my supervisors. After that happened, things calmed down considerably. I'll never be this persons friend, but at least I don't have to deal with her being a jerk.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

We have some great CNAs, and some who are toxic. Recently, we had a staff meeting where everyone had a chance to voice their concerns. In the end, though, the area manager informed them that they were free to look for work elsewhere, if they weren't happy. And good for her. Some of these CNAs need a reminder that it is the RNs who are in charge, not them. More importantly, that everyone needs to function as a team.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Wow, this must really happen at every LTC facility...

It does NOT happen at my facility. This kind of behavior is not tolerated.