Dissapearing Aids... the norm?

Nurses General Nursing

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I;m not a nurse, or even a student yet... this observation is based on my experience as a patient and a volunteer, many years ago, both at an urban teaching hospital.

CNAs existed in theory, but they were never to be seen outside the cafeteria, especially during evening shifts. I don't like bashing, but I am serious... they just were not to be found, and when they were, it seemed the nurses had a hard time getting them to work. I really am not exagerating: as a volunteer I;d ask who was on when I started my shift, and seldom saw any of the 'on' CNAs unless I went to the cafeteria.

Part of the problem, I think, was that this hospital had a huge # of agency nurses, so there seemed to be little sense of obligation towards co-workers since, "hey, either I'm gonna be gone next week or you are".

Is this typical?

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I'm sure some places are like that but its not just with "DISAPPEARING AIDES" anyone can be like that no matter what the job is as many will tell you....Rn, LPN, Doctors, CNA, Secretary, Waitress. any job the NORM is usually some people just don't like to work. And its not just with CNA's it can be anyone with any job title

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.

I would say this is not typical.

My thing is that I have worked with CNAs that know exactly what their job is and they are very, very good at it and need little direction and then there are others that need all the direction they can get otherwise they may be nowhere to be found. I do not have a hard time getting anyone to help me sometimes others need to know what your expectations are.

I don't know what you are exactly looking for and I am not into bashing. I, too, was a CNA for several years before my 17 years of LPN experience. I know when I was in those shoes initially, I needed direction.

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Beary i Agree i am currently a CNA and I know my place and what is expected of me and i give it all i got, but there are those who don't do the job and use any excuse but its not just CNA i have seen many nurses, cooks, managers a lot of people disappear.

Im not into bashing either, and im not sure what the OP is actually asking or saying but it sounds as if OP is saying that is it the "NORM" for CNA's to be lazy and not do any work.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

I work in a large teaching hospital and our CAs (clinical assistants...same thing) are rarely found on the floors helping the nurses.

Damn CAs. I see em in the cafeteria though, too.

Why is that? Are they lazy?

No, here, most CAs get floated to do other work (1:1s, translating, transport), so they might be on the unit assisting the nurses for the total of 10 hours on any given work week.

So they are there, they are working, and they are invisible to us most times.

Kelly

ETA: I've worked in LTC as an LPN as well, and I rarely visually saw the CNAs, and that was because they were so busy showering, dressing, changing, feeding, cleaning, making beds, emptying foleys, etc etc etc. I'm not gonna lie, there were a few *choice* places I've worked, and a few *choice* CNAs I've worked with where there'd be a resident laying in his own sh*t for hours while the aid/s would be in the lounge watching TV. But, no, it's not the norm.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I must say that from reading the title, I clicked on the thread to find out if the AIDS epidemic is indeed disappearing....

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I work in a large teaching hospital and our CAs (clinical assistants...same thing) are rarely found on the floors helping the nurses.

Damn CAs. I see em in the cafeteria though, too.

Why is that? Are they lazy?

No, here, most CAs get floated to do other work (1:1s, translating, transport), so they might be on the unit assisting the nurses for the total of 10 hours on any given work week.

So they are there, they are working, and they are invisible to us most times.

Kelly

ETA: I've worked in LTC as an LPN as well, and I rarely visually saw the CNAs, and that was because they were so busy showering, dressing, changing, feeding, cleaning, making beds, emptying foleys, etc etc etc. I'm not gonna lie, there were a few *choice* places I've worked, and a few *choice* CNAs I've worked with where there'd be a resident laying in his own sh*t for hours while the aid/s would be in the lounge watching TV. But, no, it's not the norm.

:yeahthat:

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dissappearing lets see. could be that their busy with other clients, on their breaks, or they could be in a staff meeting?

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I have to say, as a CNA, if you see me in the halls all the time, I'm not working. I guess what I am trying to say is if you don't see them, don't you think they might be in a patient's room helping them? I know patients sometimes feel that their CNA is not around. What they don't realize is that the CNA has probably 14 or more other patients to take care of. I always have my phone on so if a nurse needs me or patient needs me, I can be reached. Don't always be so quick to judge CNA's. Just talk to the nurses on my floor, they will say the same thing. Not bashing, just giving my 2 cents.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Today was a good example of dissapearing aides for me...but I found out it was very very poor communication!

I had a very bad day...long story that has to do with an agency nurse doing the shift before me and not getting the job done..and me playing catch up (and I am agency too!!!). Two of the patients wound up in the ICU..and the others so painful (from lack of pain meds in the previous shift) that they were extrememly scared and overly needy!

So seeing as I had to patients crashing on me...I didn't have time to take people to the BSC or what not! I have to prioritize. So I wound up with soaked beds, dirty patients, and very upset folks....

I had called for a CNA several times to help, and she was paged. No one alerted the charge nurse, secretary or anyone that they were in a one on one! Sadly we were all so busy her pager went off and she couldn't answer it or tell us what was going on with herself. (no phone either...suicidals..and we had three!).

So needless to say it was a mess...I was a wreck...and no one knew what was going on with the CNA! Poor gal, poor us! If the desk had known...we could have gotten help (call in another CNA or free up a tech!).

So sometimes it is just plain old out bad luck and communication probelms...I didn't fault my CNA...heck no! But wow..she saw me and the look on my face (I am always smiling and cracking a joke or two...I was sweating and SOB and had my eyeballs poking out of my head with the start of tears!) and she tweeked out! If she saw ME like that...oh man...the whole floor must be nuts! (and it was)......she was so sorry, and I reminded her..not your fault!!!!!!!!

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i walked in to the clean utility room last night and found our cna in one of the wheelchairs-asleep! needless to say that incident will not go without notice. she did not even tell anyone where she was and to me that it totally unacceptable!!!:nono:

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Beary i Agree i am currently a CNA and I know my place and what is expected of me and i give it all i got, but there are those who don't do the job and use any excuse but its not just CNA i have seen many nurses, cooks, managers a lot of people disappear.

Im not into bashing either, and im not sure what the OP is actually asking or saying but it sounds as if OP is saying that is it the "NORM" for CNA's to be lazy and not do any work.

I agree with you

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