CNA's not wanting to help out

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2008

oh, boy! please tell me that you are not an employee right now who will be promoted to a staff nurse position and be in a position of supervision over them. my advice would be to ask to be placed on another unit. these cnas are going to test you by deliberately being insubordinate. the only way to handle this is to get together with your boss and have a strategy ready. (1) know what their job duties are according to the book because they sure will and will let you know if you get it wrong. (2) learn exactly what the disciplinary policy is. (3) give a verbal warning first of what you will do if they don't correct their errors and if they repeat an error, follow through as promised. i'm not being funny, but people who train animals follow through on reward and punishment and that's why they have perfectly behaved animals or they get rid of them. children and bad employees are no different. the first one to cross you is the one you are going to have to get assertive with and stand up to. if they don't do what you tell them, then they are going to have to suffer the consequences. and that is where you are going to have to prove to them all, because it will get around through the grapevine, just how much you are going to let them get away with.

are you by any chance working in a nursing home? here's two book suggestions for you:

managing difficult people: a survival guide for handling any employee by marilyn pincus
working with difficult people by muriel solomon

vashtee, RN · Oct 5, 2008

You are still a student. Why don't you just ask the nurse responsible for your patients how you should handle it?

Wishes_RN · Oct 5, 2008

I am currently an LPN and I have been working for one for little over a year, I basically have 1 CNA that works for me and its a small place with 2-4 ct. at most and since its soo small and sometimes not very busy, at times the CNA feels like tv is more important or doesn't volunteer to do things around that should be done, like toileting or repositioning q2 or simple things like that. I always have to initiate, but I feel like they have worked their for a while that I shouldn't have to tell them what should already be done. Which I am seeming to have to do, which is kind of annoying.

JaxiaKiley · Oct 5, 2008

I'm always willing to pitch in a hand, but when someone is trying to pawn their job off on me so that they can sit on their duff? No way. I don't think so. It's not about being rude -- it's about expecting people to do their job.

Good luck trying to work it out.

Wishes_RN · Oct 5, 2008

I did and she just said you are going to get CNA's like that...and left it at that?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2008

wishes_rn. . .when i had cnas who liked to congregate around the big screen tv in the living room i strolled down there and pulled the plug out of the wall, stood there and told them there were lights ringing that needed to be answered. if they told me they were on their break i told them they were not because they didn't come to me first, so go and answer the lights because the patients come first and then they can take their breaks. they had to let me know they were taking a break first. know the rules and make sure you enforce them. if they keep doing it, write them up so the don has written documentation of what they are doing. one or two write ups usually makes them realize you are serious and that you have authority and are willing to use it. i did the same thing with phone calls. i stood next to them the whole time they were on the phone until they hung up. they hate when people stand over them and listen in. in one facility i took the phone off the wall and locked it up.

you have to understand that this is childish behavior on their part, so you need to treat this exactly as you would treat a child.

akanini, MSN, RN · Oct 6, 2008

Daytonite....I like that post!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Oct 6, 2008

Good suggestions....new RN here and there are a few techs where I am that apparently feel like sitting on their tushes most of the night instead of doing some of their job duties is more important. Apparently taking vitals and toileting encompass the majority of what they want to do. Fresh ice and water? Ha! Running blood to the lab when the tubes are down? Are you kidding?!?!? I'm sure my facility is thrilled with paying me twice the price to do those things AND staying over 30 - 60 minutes each shift. I went to the charge that night and "asked" if I was out of line to expect those things. She mentioned she would talk to the folks in question.

I may be new, but I'm not stupid and am not out to make friends at this point....I am learning MY job as best I can and my hands are full with that. Dealing with lazy techs is not something I plan to make a career of, especially when we also have some excellent techs on our floor. I was a tech; I understand it's a two-way street and I'll pitch in with what I can as often as I can. We are a TEAM.

In my opinion, if the ones who don't want to work don't want to work, then they can leave. There are plenty of students and others who are applying for their jobs in droves.

I appreciate your advice Daytonite....good things for us newbies to keep in mind!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2008

i learned this kind of stuff from my mother. i think judge judy and dr. laura were my mother's sisters; my mother just never would admit it. :roll

be prepared for the rotten cnas to hate your guts and do their sneaky rule breaking behind your back and for the good ones to love you to death. what happens is, as long as you are consistent and fair, don't get emotional yourself when you dish out punishment (that takes some self-control), some workers who value a good work environment will start telling you who is slacking off. also, you can't see what is not being done if you ride the chair at the nurse's station. as a supervisor of your subordinates (yes, you are) when you delegate you have a responsibility to follow up and make sure the tasks are getting done and not just assume it. just because their job description says they are to do xxxx doesn't mean they are all doing it. enter you, licensed nurse. it is part of your job although school may not be focusing a lot on the skills connected with this role.

oh, i could tell you stories about the cnas in the nursing homes where i've worked. we had a cna when i worked nights who would disappear for an hour or so every night. it took a week for me to find her. she found a tall backed chair in a resident's room that she carefully turned so the back faced the hallway door just enough to look askew and hide her while she curled up in it and went for a nap for that missing time. when we would poke our heads into the rooms looking for her the room looked a bit messy from the furniture being moved about during the day. very sly until i found her.

with the really rotten ones, only one or two write ups is all you need to get rid of them. i watched them like a hawk looking for rule breaking and its easy enough to find because these people don't think they need to follow the rules. the don usually hauls them in for counseling and these cnas get so angry over it that they often end up finding other jobs. a few tow the line, but most get out of dodge. i never got that. it's almost like once they get caught it's an embarrassment to them and they feel like they have to move on. fine. go bother someone else, but get out of my hair. actually, i think it's a control issue. when they are no longer in control the game is over for them. they probably have plenty of that in their personal lives already and are dysfunctionally acting it out in their work situation.

Melinurse · Oct 6, 2008

i learned this kind of stuff from my mother. i think judge judy and dr. laura were my mother's sisters; my mother just never would admit it. :roll
be prepared for the rotten cnas to hate your guts and do their sneaky rule breaking behind your back and for the good ones to love you to death. what happens is, as long as you are consistent and fair, don't get emotional yourself when you dish out punishment (that takes some self-control), some workers who value a good work environment will start telling you who is slacking off. also, you can't see what is not being done if you ride the chair at the nurse's station. as a supervisor of your subordinates (yes, you are) when you delegate you have a responsibility to follow up and make sure the tasks are getting done and not just assume it. just because their job description says they are to do xxxx doesn't mean they are all doing it. enter you, licensed nurse. it is part of your job although school may not be focusing a lot on the skills connected with this role.
oh, i could tell you stories about the cnas in the nursing homes where i've worked. we had a cna when i worked nights who would disappear for an hour or so every night. it took a week for me to find her. she found a tall backed chair in a resident's room that she carefully turned so the back faced the hallway door just enough to look askew and hide her while she curled up in it and went for a nap for that missing time. when we would poke our heads into the rooms looking for her the room looked a bit messy from the furniture being moved about during the day. very sly until i found her.
with the really rotten ones, only one or two write ups is all you need to get rid of them. i watched them like a hawk looking for rule breaking and its easy enough to find because these people don't think they need to follow the rules. the don usually hauls them in for counseling and these cnas get so angry over it that they often end up finding other jobs. a few tow the line, but most get out of dodge. i never got that. it's almost like once they get caught it's an embarrassment to them and they feel like they have to move on. fine. go bother someone else, but get out of my hair. actually, i think it's a control issue. when they are no longer in control the game is over for them. they probably have plenty of that in their personal lives already and are dysfunctionally acting it out in their work situation.

omg! i am so thankful for the cnas where i work. they are 100% awesome and give me no trouble at all. i don't even have to ask them to answer lights or do their jobs. i can go behind them and they've done their jobs every time. i just can't imagine going to a job and not doing it. wow!