CNAs that take extended breaks

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

maybe it's just ltc or where i currently work but several of the cnas at my job take breaks up to 60min, twice during the their shift.

i asked a cna where she was after she was gone for an hour. she caught an attitude and said she was in the bathroom. she was clearly lying because another employee saw her on another unit talking.

another cna was gone for an hr and 15 min yesterday. i asked her where she was and she said she was on her break and did not feel like coming back in to work. i told her join the club, no one wants to be at work in 70 degree whether. i told her that she will have to be more mindful of the length of time she is on break.

i have to admit i'm very passive at times with cnas. however, this irks me to no end. it is not fair to me and other good aides to have to answer call lights that could have been taken care of by that patients primary cna.

i'm thinking about having a meeting with 3-11 shift to talk about this issue. if i don't see changes, i guess it will be time to start writing people up.

[CyclicalEvents]

Report them to your supervisor. What's the point of paying for help if they aren't around to help?

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Write them up. I doubt the meeting will change the habits of these people. It has probably being going on for a long time and they just have not been caught or other people have turned a blind eye.

[SNB1014, RN]

um for real??

there is always the off chance perhaps we go on break and accidentally come back ten mins later because we werent so watchful of the clock, or the drive thru took too darn slow, or because mother nature called (and violently so...)

but if you see your cna go on break and you then realize you are without a 2nd set of hands for an hr , tattle, tattle , tattle!!!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

don't bother to ask where or why as that is not relevant. Just write them up and let the chips fall where they may.

[Hygiene Queen]

They should have been written up a long time ago.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

If they're regularly coming back late, write them up.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

You're expected to write people up as a floor nurse? I let unit supervisor/DON/whoever handle that. That's why they get the big bucks. As long as I'm doing my job that's what counts. what do I care if the aides are taking 60 min breaks or seem to be in a contest to see how many smoke breaks they can fit in a 8 hour shift?

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Really? You think it's not your job to supervise the aides? You might want to check the nurse practice act in your state.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

I supervise the floor only in a clinical sense. If I see an aide abuse or harm a member I will of course step in. If I see a resident receive care that could put them at risk I will write the aide up. Absteniteeism, taking long breaks and tardiness is definitely *not* my concern. I have enough to do on the floor without babysitting a bunch of grown women.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

Neglect is abuse and if your aide is not "available" to provide clinical care as needed that ultimately falls back on the nurse. I am the DON - I'm not there 24/7. The nurses are accountable for what goes on (or what doesn't get done) on their unit.

By clinical care I am referring to the aides scope of practice, ie: toileting/pericare to prevent pressure ulcers, assisting with feeding/fluids, etc. BrandonLPN - I bet if you look at your job description you would find that you ARE responsible for supervision of the aides and they are working under your license.

[ginsil22]

Brandon if your aids are gone for an hour and its time to turn your q2 patients, who is doing this? If its not done, that is considered neglect. Also, what would happen when you have an emergency....CNAs are an extension and reflection of you, and quality of care should be on everyone's minds including the CNA.

This discussion about write ups came up in a class concerning leadership and management. If you have discussed this with the aid and the reasons why it’s not appropriate, and the bad habit continues, then I would do a write up. Discussing it first before you do a write up gives the individual an opportunity to improve, and will help build trust.