Disrespectful Aids/CNA's

Glimpsethepast · Nov 24, 2011

Gosh, sorry to hear of your troubles. I am an RPN at an acute care hospital in Ontario therefore I am NEVER in the position of being a 'charge nurse', however I am a clinical supervisor for first and second semester PSW students and second semester PN students. On occasion it has happened when a student has questioned authority, or prehaps has been down right insubordinate. On those occasions I have dealt directly with the student involved, away from other staff, students, and patients. I ALWAYS have another registered staff member in the room with me to act as a witness. The conversation is calm, and direct. Always begin with a positive note i.e. "Your assigned patient seems very pleased with the bed bath you did on her this morning, well done, however I am concerned that .........."

I hope this has helped at least a little bit. Good Luck and hang in there!

DixieRedHead, ASN, RN · Nov 24, 2011

You don't have to be a charge nurse to write up anybody. And given the set of circumstances that you have stated nothing is going to happen until you write her up.

It is not for an unlicensed person to tell you who to medicate for what. That's your job. You don't have to explain your reasons although she might understand better.

I will tell you that at any LTC facility or hospital the number of times you can be written up before termination is very limited. Usually one, two at the most.

Meet her head on, tell her that her attitude will no longer be tolerated. And let that be it. If it happens again, write her up.

When everybody is in charge of everything, nobody is in charge of anything. Accept your responsibility and expect her to her to accept hers.

sanchezlpn · Nov 24, 2011

Thanks to you that replied about the disrespect I have gotten. I am unsure of where to write someone up at my facility, don't even know if I can....silly...but we are not long term, we are assisted living. There are some rules, but some just get passed over. I am bringing this up with my supervisor, in fact, I am wriitng a request that she be written up for the attitude she has given me. Thanks again and off to work I go.....soon....

jimthorp · Nov 26, 2011

Hi there everyone....I am ranting at this point in my day. I was approached by an aide that wanted me to PRN a resident and because of the condition the resident was in I did not give any other prn's and the aide gave me lip, actually, she was rude, loud and thought she could tell me to give the prn and she even said, I know what it is for, give it to her....well...as the LPN on the floor I did not give the prn as I stated before, due to the condition the resident was in. I am so upset that this aide did this, tried to tell me, the nurse what to do. I get no respect from this same person each night and I am fed up!!!! I have spoke with my supervisor, nothing is done...I am not a hard LPN to work with, but I do expect that I be treated as the supervisor in charge, the nurse in charge when on my floor!
What would you do if your superiors did nothing about this...no one is written up or reprimanded for attitude with nurses....what to do?
nursinggal

First off I'd ask the CNA for his/her rationale for the request for medication then explain my rationale to not medicate to the CNA. It's your judgement call.

Second, you should meet with your boss and find out what the disciplinary procedures are in your facility and if you have the authority to take disciplinary action on your own. If he/she does not give you a complete answer then meet with your HR representative to get the answer and direction you need and deserve.

sanchezlpn · Nov 27, 2011

I met with a friend of mine, who is also an LPN and she explained to me that our facility is not long term it is difference in asst. living and I should have a more relaxed approach to everything, however, what happened regarding meds was that I explained to the person questioning me about this the reason why so she would understand my point, and then she continued to be rude and nasty about the entire situation, and eventually I found out they called my supervisor after this was done, which, was told that I am the nurse on duty. I am trying to have a more relaxed atmosphere and not be so hard nosed, but they don't give me any slack as to my authority rules over them when I am giving meds and I have a license to protect.

nursing gal

jimthorp · Nov 27, 2011

I met with a friend of mine, who is also an LPN and she explained to me that our facility is not long term it is difference in asst. living and I should have a more relaxed approach to everything, however, what happened regarding meds was that I explained to the person questioning me about this the reason why so she would understand my point, and then she continued to be rude and nasty about the entire situation, and eventually I found out they called my supervisor after this was done, which, was told that I am the nurse on duty. I am trying to have a more relaxed atmosphere and not be so hard nosed, but they don't give me any slack as to my authority rules over them when I am giving meds and I have a license to protect.
nursing gal

Again, you need to find out what your company's disciplinary policies and procedures are with regard to your position!

caliotter3 · Nov 27, 2011

You don't have to be a charge nurse to write up anybody. And given the set of circumstances that you have stated nothing is going to happen until you write her up.
It is not for an unlicensed person to tell you who to medicate for what. That's your job. You don't have to explain your reasons although she might understand better.
I will tell you that at any LTC facility or hospital the number of times you can be written up before termination is very limited. Usually one, two at the most.
Meet her head on, tell her that her attitude will no longer be tolerated. And let that be it. If it happens again, write her up.
When everybody is in charge of everything, nobody is in charge of anything. Accept your responsibility and expect her to her to accept hers.

This.

If she is the CNA and you are the nurse on duty, you are the one who should do the initial write up. If you are going to another person higher up the chain to do your write ups, of course they won't get done, and nothing will be done about the problem behavior.

tiroka03, LPN · Nov 27, 2011

I have been in that situation more than once. However, it's easy to forget about the CNA's position. They do get to know the prn meds. They haven't had the training we have gotten in school. They also are the people who deal with the patient more closely than us. She may be a gruff person avocating the best she can. I have had to tell more than one CNA the reasons I will not give the med they want given.

If I can tell that it is a CNA trying to get out of working, and just wants to sit around doing nothing. You know let the meds babysit the patient, while the CNA reads a book or hides out. I save a special surprize for them, I initiate q 1 hour vitals until the "patients" situtation resolves. It is amazing how fast that will solve the problem.

I have been also known to add q 15min checks if the CNA is really working it for all they have. Most realize I do want the pertiant data they see, and I will support them. But, when it gets to be every other pt needs a prn, I am forced to pull the same methods back to them.

Getting To Great · Nov 27, 2011

Both of you are nurses caring for the patients. If the CNA is rude to you, you need to report it or just develope thick skin and ignore him/her. You will meet MD's, LPN's, CNA's, and RN's who are very rude and nothing will be done about it. Just do what you need to do to CYA and do what's in the best interest of the patients.

sanchezlpn · Nov 27, 2011

I am really not trying to be mean or be having them work any harder than they already do, but this one particular situation the patient was not well, the patient was dizzy, did not have steady gait, and was hallucinating, so I withheld a prn for pain. I did what I thought was best and even if the cna does know the patient well, come on, really now....to give prn when this patient was having symptoms of something that could have been exhuberated with pain med (narc)...I am a newly licensed nurse yes, but I love my license and I love these people and do not want anything to happen to them. I do still believe that even though this cna wanted me to give prn and I did not that cna did not have to respond like she did......

nursing gal