For the past couple months, I haven't been putting up with ANY aggressiveness from coworkers.
In the past, these type of folks would burn me out and I would end up depressed and/or quit. But now,
I decided it's best for me to grab the bull by the horns and give them a taste of their own medicine. Since
I'm so new to this approach, I find myself suprised by some of the stuff I am saying back! I am also questioning
my professionalism when I say/do these things. I am so used to "taking it", but that approach never worked, so
this is where I'm at. And so far, I only put one coworker in her place after she tried to rip me to shreds in report.
Ever since then, she is as NICE as can be. But the other night, I had a "issue" with a CNA...
This CNA has an attitude. I am new to nights, and my first night working, one of the nurses asked this CNA is she was OK. She replied hatefully, "Yes I'm OK. WHy do you always ask if I'm ok. If I"m not OK I will tell you" and then
stormed off like she was compltely insulted. My eyes got big. All of the nurses looked at one another in shock, and I sat there and shook my head in disbelief. One nurse replied "Oh Raindrop, that was nothing. That was very mild."
So a few days later, I had my first encounter with her. I was in the middle of trying to start an IV, when she came in and said she needed to change the patien'ts soild bed now and wanted my help. I told her that I will help, but as she can see I am in the middle of something and when I am done, I will come and get her. She didn't like that. A few minutes later, I went to the nurses desk to get her and there she was talking about me. I asked her what was wrong with what I said and she said, "The patient needed changed. It would have taken us 3 minutes to change him, but you made him lay in his mess for 10 minutes."
I nipped it right there by explaning that I am here to help and am here for my patients, but it was very rude of her to expect me to drop what I was doing to help her. I also explanied that the patient had to wait 10 minutes to get cleaned, versus 5 minutes....is not a calamity. She said "Well, that isn't right, but whatever your the RN, your the boss..." I then told her that "I want to get along with her and work well together, but I will not tolerate any attitude." She, of course, ignored me the rest of the night.
Now I'm qustioning if how I handled it was the right way? Mind you, this CNA is notorious for being very difficult. I just wanted to lay my boundaries. I can see her burning ppl out if they allow her. And I don't want that to happen to me. Of course, I'm hoping this won't backfire. Her ignoring me and giving me the cold shoulder isn't acceptable, but I can't make her be nice to me.
Why can't ppl just behave professionally and be nice? Seriously.
I probaby would have handled it the same way. You can't always drop what you are doing to shift into a different task. Sure - it's uncomfortable to lie in soiled sheets, but it's also uncomfortable to have to prolong having an iv stick. It's probably nerve wracking enough for some patients to just have you in there with the prospect of a needle stick, but to stop half way to change linens then have to restart the process -pure torture for some.
I think you handled it very professionally and respectfully. Having an iv site is crucial, as you never know when you may need one. Having a clean comfortable patient is important; however, not having an iv site in place can mean the difference between an efficient code and a delayed one should the patient go sour on you. You prioritized appropriately. The one thing I might handle differently would be taking the NT/CNA into another room and then ensuring the boundaries and expectations are addressed. As to her ignoring you/giving you the cold shoulder...as long as she does her job, ensures patient safety, and is professional, maybe it is better this way. Some people are just toxic to others' state of mind and need to be kept at arm's length.
When I was a CNA, another CNA left a resident mid air in a hoyer lift and went to get me to assist him. Of course, I was right in the middle of cleaning up one of my residents. I told him I would come to help him as soon as I could. He was insistent, telling me that he had left her in the hoyer lift. When I again told him that I couldn't leave my patient exposed, and that he shouldn't leave his patient unattended in the hoyer lift, he ran to the charge nurse to "tell" on me. The charge nurse approached me and I told her like it was. This other person left the shift four hours early, leaving me to finish his assignment as well as mine. When I took over his assignment he had only taken care of two patients for all the time he had been there. I ended up having to work two hours overtime because of him. What is important about this story is that I spoke up for myself and told the nurse what she needed to know. But I did my job the way it was supposed to be done. The other employee's attempt to manipulate the charge nurse and me cost him his job. He felt it necessary to come in the next day and quit because he couldn't handle the job. Don't let anyone push you around. Attempt to speak in a professional manner when you speak up, but speak up, and hold your ground. This CNA will continue her behavior in an attempt to wear you down so she can control you. Don't let her do it. I've seen this so many times on the job. The only way to survive as a first line supervisor is to hold your ground.
I think you handled it very well, you definitely need to stand your ground with her. I am surprised that with an attitude like that, that CNA is still employed, why is management still putting up with such unprofessional behavior?!
Flare, ASN, BSN
4,431 Posts
I probaby would have handled it the same way. You can't always drop what you are doing to shift into a different task. Sure - it's uncomfortable to lie in soiled sheets, but it's also uncomfortable to have to prolong having an iv stick. It's probably nerve wracking enough for some patients to just have you in there with the prospect of a needle stick, but to stop half way to change linens then have to restart the process -pure torture for some.