Co-complainers. Is anything good enough?

[Ntheboat2]

I'm sure there are a million threads on this topic, but I just need to vent a little in the process of getting opinions/advice.

So, I "started at the bottom" by becoming a CNA prior to nursing school and working my way up so to speak. That being said, I know what a hard job it is. I was a CNA and then an intern on a very busy floor. There were constantly several call lights going off, someone always needing to be cleaned up after being incontinent, several people on Q2 turns, everyone (between 10-20 patients per one CNA depending if it was day or night shift) on Q4 vitals, people who needed help eating, ambulating, etc, etc. I literally couldn't take a 30 minute break unless I made a conscious effort and left the floor. I was told we were supposed to get two 15 minute breaks as well, but I think that's a myth.

Fast forward....I'm a nurse in a very different environment. My job now is not nearly as stressful even during the day shift, but I'm currently on nights where it's even less hectic. Frankly, compared to my floor days, it's a piece of cake. Still, there are CNA's and especially one in particular who seemed frustrated by my mere presence as a new nurse and has made comments about "RNs who think they can't do" certain tasks. Keep in mind....there are no incontinent patients, no call lights, nobody who needs help eating or ambulating, etc. I've actually acted as a CNA even though I'm a nurse on a couple of days/nights due to short staff. I never felt overwhelmed or like I needed help from the other RNs. Not only did I do the basic job duties, but I took the trash out more than once (one time is expected, and enough really), wiped down every possible surface you can think of, and stocked every possible item that could possibly be stocked. I literally had to look for things to do to keep busy. So, you can imagine that I'm a little surprised when this CNA huffs and puffs because she has to stop playing her electronic game or put down the book she is reading to get a patient a drink or check a (as in one) blood pressure. I thought it was just this one person with a horrible attitude who just didn't want to work, period. THEN....

A different tech (who generally has a good attitude) was doing personal things on the computer which was no problem. So, we got a patient who needed to have an eye on them WHILE THEY SLEPT and when I told them, they make a comment about how the nurses aren't doing anything.

WHAT?! I actually said, "Well, I'm doing A, B, and C so if you want to go do this then I can watch them for awhile." I know it can be hard sitting in one spot for a long time. I'VE DONE THAT! They declined. Just a side note...the co-worker could still work on the computer as they were doing as long as the patient was asleep and within view.

I started to think....it must just be everyone instead of just the one CNA I mentioned before. Is there just a general concensus by all CNA's that they do everything and the nurses do nothing? I try to do things to "help out" even when there's really no need for help. For example, I'll bag up all the trash if I'm not busy, wipe down everything, or help out with vitals. It never gets acknowledged. I don't need a pat on the back, but if you're going to act like "the nurses" never do anything regardless of what we do, then what's the point in making an effort? That's how I'm starting to feel.

I don't know if it's because I'm "the new nurse" and they don't respect me, or if this is what I can expect forever. I do feel like I don't get as much respect just because when someone needs to leave the floor or take a break, etc. they will go around to the other nurses to make sure it's "okay" but they don't ask me. I would never say no (well, unless it was totally inappropriate timing)...so it's not that.

Am I crazy or does any of this ring a bell? I'm starting to think I need to learn to accept this as the way it is and let it roll off my back, but it really bothers me. I don't even know how to stop caring that someone views me (or us in general) as "lazy" or "better" than them. I won't even ask a CNA to do ANYTHING because of this attitude. Even if they're sitting down reading a book and I'm overwhelmed, I'll just do things (that they are capable of doing and are often expected to do by other nurses) on my own because I don't want to get the attitude. What to do?!

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

It might be because you are new and some like to show thei authority (none) and seniority (worthless). if it is the way it has been it probably will not change . I never complained to the manager in the beginning and recommend suck it up until you know the unit culture and fully understand the social hierarchy and management's attitude. then act accordingly. when i ask an aide to do something while s/he is sitting there doing nothing and get whines or comments about doing it myself or some bs i will flat out sAy, " fine i will get the vitals, or help with the bath you can give meds and page the dr" shuts them up almost all of the time. i never ask for help so i can sit on my butt . and i know when someone is sitting there doing nothing! some of the worst offenders , thankfully, do not work on my shift. most of the aides i work with , i think can do alot better than stay in a nearly min wage job.

[serenitylove14]

Man to see this from both sides is interesting. Idk whether to take up for the CNAs or the Nurses, lol.

1. There are nurses who are lazy and instead of answering a call light would rather play on facebook or pintrest.

2. There are CNAs that do the same thing.

-It seems its a straight CNA bash fest going on here and maybe this one was in the wrong and some others may have been in the wrong does not mean that there arent totally awesome ones out there.

ALSO!!!

-It is not just the CNAs job to make sure that the patients are turned, cleaned, etc. If the patient gets a pressure ulcer, sure blame the CNA, if the patient falls, sure blame to CNA, if the patient dies *J/K* blame the CNA lol. But in all reality anything the CNA does is under your license. Lots of places dont have CNAs and the duties they perform are performed by, whoelse, the Nurse!

OP. Set clear expectations at the beginning of the shift. You shouldnt have to do their job for them. I also understand not wanting to deal with a toxic personality! Sometimes its just easier to do it on your own. But if the problem persist notify the proper person. Where I use to work that wasnt even enough to get some of the lazy ones to do their jobs. It takes ALOT to get them fired, cursing a pts/ constant complaints/ inappropriate language/ bad attitude/ *hey even talk bad to the manager* it still was not enough to change anything where I worked. If the situation becomes so unbearable maybe decide to leave, but I doubt it would get that bad... Your there for to make money not friends.

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

OP, be cautious in taking upon yourself such a heavy workload. Although it is easier sometimes and necessary many times, delegation is important so you can do what only you can do. You'll get burnt out quickly if you don't delegate. If your aides don't help, talk to your manager. Continue talking until something gets done. There is a day shift aide on my floor who does pretty much nothing but has actually told another aide that she is there to try to meet a doctor to marry =o wrong place for that! Good luck!

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

[rn2be73]

not ALL CNAs are lazy but the ones that are make others paint us ALL with the same brush....I have been called lazy...by the nurse sitting at the desk on facebook while chatting with the unit clerk... because i try to use my energy wisely...when i go to toilet, shower, feed, change, reposition a patient ...i take a look around me at their room...if it needs trash taken out or linen change done or meal tray removed...I DO IT WHILE I AM ALREADY THERE...i work with other cnas that run constantly to do the same things...pt calls out...needs brief changed...cna goes in...oh there are no briefs...out to get ONE...back to room...oh there are no wipes...out to get a pkg...back to room...oh i need some chux...out to get ONE....back to room...oh i need some help...call out to desk...wait for help...

sorry but this is incredibly frustrating to me...however nurses see her running and think " oh what a great aide she is " meanwhile patient is lying in wet or dirty briefs while she gets everything together to do the task...and said aide is named tech of the year..

[Ntheboat2]

A HUGE part of the problem is that the tone was already set before I came. The "senior" CNA was friends with the other RN before I came. This RN knows she is lazy, and gets annoyed at times also, but she lets things slide....partly because they are friends and partly because "it's easier to just do it" herself. The thing is, this nurse has been a nurse forever so when she "just does it herself" it's not as overwhelming to her because she's been doing it for so long that she can do it easier/faster than I can. She might be irritated at having to do all the tasks by herself, but I get frustrated AND behind in my work because I'm not as good/fast as the senior RN. I NEED a CNA who will step up and help out. Besides, just because someone "can" handle doing everything alone doesn't mean they should have to. Even if I didn't rely on the help, she should be helping. That's what she's there for.

The other night I was sent to work on a different unit and I had a bigger patient load than I typically have on my home unit. Even though I had more patients (more work) my night went by SO easy because the CNA on the unit I floated to did such a good job. While I was admitting a patient, she was faxing paperwork that has to be faxed, printing out documents, getting an armband ready, etc. It's all really easy stuff (nothing like having to clean up incontinent patients, answer call lights, etc) but it's just a lot of little things that take up time and even though they are "little things" they are VERY important things that HAVE to be done. It was sooo nice being able to focus on the patient without worrying about whether or not the doctor answered his page or if the admission papers got faxed. I knew the CNA was taking care of all those little things and I got to focus on the main task. The CNA job where I work is really more like a secretarial job than anything because there's so little physical labor. I really don't think most of the CNA's can appreciate how "easy" it really is because most of them (if any) have never worked in an acute medical setting where the work is REALLY hard. They'd either get fired or quit within a week, I have no doubt.

Again, I'm talking about a CNA who literally sits down and reads on her kindle, plays games on it, and takes smoke breaks while I'm doing WORK. I'm not talking about a CNA who is charting at the computer and I'm mistaking her for "sitting on her butt" or a CNA who is never visible because she's inside the patient's rooms helping them. Remember, I was a CNA. I had nurses tell me a couple times that they "had no clue where I was for X amount of time" when in reality I had changed 5 incontinent patients by myself and gotten vital signs on the entire floor.

GREAT news though! The main CNA (the "senior" CNA) who is the main problem is transferring to a different floor!! I am sooo happy! That sounds horrible, but it's true. The nurse I work with knows how I feel about the current CNA, and I think she regrets creating a monster, so I think whoever we get as a replacement will be a lot better because she won't allow the things she allowed before. Here's to hoping!