the cnas have taken over!!

[beaglemom]

Help, I'm in a situation that I really don't know what to do. I'm a new lpn, about a year and a half. I consider myself a very good nurse and very professional and very fair. However, the facility I am currently employed has a real problem.You see, the cna's think they run the floor, and no one is doing a thing about it. They have blatantly told me that these were "their residents, and they can take care of them better than I can" I have complained to the don and nothing is done about it. The other two nurses that work the floor with me have been there for years, as have most of the aids, and they have been allowed to behave like this. The other 3-ll nurses have complained also but nothing is every done. The don, I'M told is afraid of getting involved because the aids belong the a union and the nurses don't. The aids are constantly involving themselves in nursing conversations I'm having regarding care. They easedrop on conversations with nurses and doctors and family members. I think they even go through charts when no one is around. I was even told by our infection control nurse to be careful, that the aids will "report" you in a second, just to see a nurse in trouble or get fired. I was even told that the cnas had to sign off on bolus feedings, just to prove that the residents were getting their feedings. I put my foot down with that one and was called to the don's office. I now have a fellow nurse sign for them. I have never been in a facility where the cna's were so empowered. It's really scary. I'm really thinking of going into home care. Have already contacted an agency. Would appreciate some feedback with this one, Thankss.

[CougRN]

Leave, go to another facility.

[beaglemom]

Thanks, you're right. Worked too hard for my license. Time to move on. Thanks again..

[CougRN]

For sure. You are in demand and deserve to be treated with respect. If your current place of employment won't support you then you deserve to move on. Best of luck.

[MandyInMS]

I believe the cna's are the eyes and ears many times for the nurses..but critiquing(sp?) their work/job? please..that's a bit much :/

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Taking the lead in a situation like this is something that you will learn in time but this is not the time or place - get out learn that lesson and then come back, perhaps as DON and have the last laugh. (oooh I am being mean:devil: )

[Coldfoot]

Is this a corparate run facility? I agree with everyone else about getting out but one thing to keep in mind is that corperations are around to make $$$$ nothing more. Bad publicity:devil: (of course just about managment practices not patient information) can hit these guys in a way that will exact change for the benifit of your residents. Just my two cents.

[Nighthawk]

You are right. This facility has given too much power to people who are not liscensed or with the clinicle background to do the job.

However I am a firm believer that a company has the right to do business any way they choose, but I function based on my own values. I would be gone from that place in a heart beat, and I would also let RN's I am associated with to stay away from the place.

[redshiloh]

We have had that situation here on SCIC and there IS no way to fix that situation, at least that I know of. We had one CNA that told the NM 'I don't need some nurse to tell me what to do!'

[itsme]

I would leave, and I would call the state. Inform them on everything.

[glascow]

Maybe the nurses should join the union too!

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I have worked in a couple of similar places. There were no unions- it was long-standing lack of leadership from The DON that created the screwed up workplace culture of the aides running the place.

Once this type of "culture" becomes established, any nurse (other than The DON) trying to change it will only end up making enemies there.

In my experience, the only thing to do it get out.