Delegation Woes

OnlinePersona, LPN · Oct 18, 2015

Do your job and just show them respect.

NOADLS · Oct 18, 2015

Don't be afraid to go up the chain of command if someone isn't listening to you. It's the quick way to show that you've go a no-******** approach.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Oct 18, 2015

Where I work, the CNA's are taught what their expectations are. Sometimes I do have to ask that they something specific at a specific time. When I first started, I would talk with my DON to first try to understand a person that I may not have been sure about. Usually, the CNA's that give me the most flak are the ones that are agency aids. Though next month we should be having those fewer days as we are finally getting our staffing near to where it needs to be.

FutureCRNP · Oct 18, 2015

I plan on being a nurse who helps as much as possible, isn't afraid to take someone to the restroom, give a bath, feed, etc...but I don't want to get taken advantage of..

NOADLS · Oct 18, 2015

I plan on being a nurse who helps as much as possible, isn't afraid to take someone to the restroom, give a bath, feed, etc...but I don't want to get taken advantage of..

I've seen some nurses with that approach. I personally think there isn't much gain (if any) in helping. The fourth wall is an obstacle which prevents distinguishing a lazy nurse from a hard working one. Why do more work when you'll receive little to no recognition for it?

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Oct 18, 2015

I plan on being a nurse who helps as much as possible, isn't afraid to take someone to the restroom, give a bath, feed, etc...but I don't want to get taken advantage of..

You're too nice. As long as you show appreciation to the CNAs you should be fine.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

Why do more work when you'll receive little to no recognition for it?

Although this viewpoint is not politically correct, I am in total agreement with it.

Many of the CNAs will resent the nurse whether or not you bust your ass answering call lights, feeding, toileting, showering, and making beds. You can help the CNAs with their duties, but they cannot help you with licensed nursing duties (read: Medicare charting, medication administration, incident reports, et al.).

The nurses who bend over backwards to 'help' are often the first ones to burn out and be taken advantage of. Sure, the CNAs might comment that "Jane is a good nurse," but this doesn't automatically confer respect upon Jane.

This is why I focus on licensed nursing tasks first and foremost. State surveyors and nurse managers care first and foremost about your paperwork and documentation. They don't give a rat's behind that you 'helped' the CNAs. They couldn't care less if every resident's pillows are fluffed. It is all about priorities.

NursesRmofun, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

I plan on being a nurse who helps as much as possible, isn't afraid to take someone to the restroom, give a bath, feed, etc...but I don't want to get taken advantage of..

That's a nice approach, but I almost always found I had my hands pretty full with my own tasks and didn't always have a lot of time for doing the normally delegated chores.

FutureCRNP · Oct 18, 2015

Perhaps my "rose colored glasses" have to do with the fact that I'm a brand spanking new nurse that just passed boards about a month ago and I'm " ready to take on the world" =)

I'm very excited to make a change in the world of nursing. So what I'm hearing from more seasoned vets is "slow your roll".

Am I too optimistic? Or just too new of a nurse to know any better about the 'real world' of nursing.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Oct 18, 2015

Perhaps my "rose colored glasses" have to do with the fact that I'm a brand spanking new nurse that just passed boards about a month ago and I'm " ready to take on the world" =)
I'm very excited to make a change in the world of nursing. So what I'm hearing from more seasoned vets is "slow your roll".
Am I too optimistic? Or just too new of a nurse to know any better about the 'real world' of nursing.

Have you been a CNA? Being a CNA I know that nurses do not have enough time to give a bath and do what they need to do. CNAs have their responsibilities and nurses have theirs. It's nice for nurses to help answer call lights but I never expect them to toilet, bathe, or anything else of that nature. Simple things are nice but yeah, slow your roll girl

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Oct 18, 2015

I'd love to work with you.
The most unpleasant CNAs and techs I've had had a bug up their butt about their role. Right before the transition to no techs on our CCU I had one tell me that "it's not her first rodeo" when she refused to lift a turned patient up in bed so he could breathe while we were cleaning him together. She wanted to just finish his bath quickly. But his sats (with a good pleth) were plummeting to the 70s so I flipped him back over and moved him to an upright position on my own.
I learned early on as an RN that the team approach fosters more respect. (or in general just showing your respect of others').
It helps that you're willing to be in the trenches too, but not to the detriment of your own work. For example, I got reamed out, rightfully so, for leaving a patient in vomitus to delegate the task to a CNA so I could finish my assessments. It would not have slowed me down that much more than our discussion of the issue did and it would have been a good opportunity to further assess the skin and airway of my patient. I did have to get some medication before we took care of that patient together to address said patient's nausea.

The only thing I dislike is when nurses see that lights are going off like crazy and the CNAs are understaffed and nurses won't help answer lights! That is the ONLY thing. Overall, I'm very respectful and empathetic of a nurses role just as I expect them to feel the way towards me.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Sometimes nurses actually slow me down if they try to do my work lol I've had nurses put briefs on residents backwards and take 20+ minutes wiping while I helped keep incontinent residents on their side when I could've taken half the time.