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".
In the last dept. I worked in at the hospital, our evening shift over lapped the day shift by 1.5 hours - but the minute we walked in SOME of the day gals (nurses) acted as tho their day was over!!:trout:
AND a half hour before it was time for them to leave - they would gather in the break room and wait for time to clock out. So it isn't necessarily the CNA's that do that!
I now work LTC, 3rd shift, and there's only myself and 1 CNA working with 40 patients. The one gal is so great!! At the beginning of the shift I give her a list of special things I want to watch for - if so & so has a BM, if such & such doesn't urinate, etc. I let her know who I want to assess so that we go in together, and not wake them unnecessarily. I think this gal deserves to be paid a lot more than she gets.
OMG goodness wher ein the heck do you guys work that CNA's can get away with all this??? i have been a CNA for a while and i never seen anyof this. These CNA's should not be working at all anywhere
I think "disappearing" might be an overstatement. IMHO it's an individual person/person's work ethic.
My Nurse Techs had between 10 and as many as 30 patients to care for a shift 12h- on days there would be more techs but more hands on work-baths, toileting, beds, vitals, I&Os, etc. Nights the techs would have usually 15 patients per, but no beds or baths unless someone soiled themselves.
If you do think someone disappears and it's a chronic thing...that should go to management. Groups of people shouldn't be lumped in with only one or more person that has an attendance/work ethic problem. Our techs were fantastic and most are still my good friends.
Could it be the CNA's are busy? I am so tired of hearing about how lousy CNA's are and how they have an easy job, but don't do their work. Yes there are a few who really don't work, but believe me, they don't keep their jobs long. CNA"s are sometimes the heart of the facility. They sometimes spend more time with the residents or patients than their nurses and doctors. If you don't see them they are probably working. At my evening job you will rarely see me unless I am on my break. Why??? Because I am constantly going from one residents apt. to the other. Which is why we carry phones. If a coworker needs us for an emergency they just call us and we come running...literally! CNA's are hardworking people who deserve more credit and respect than they get. Its definetly not a job for any old joe.
I worked as a CNA, and while I met some who were wonderful, caring, responsible, and a joy to work with, I've also met plenty who I wouldn't trust with my houseplants. I worked in a place where they didn't even bother to hide, they'd just sit at the stations and talk on their cell phones. That's what they get for having low standards and letting them get away with what they do, especially when they can't afford to fire said CNAs due to understaffing.
:yeahthat:
This is the experience I've had so far. I'm a secretary and I get loads of attitude when I call the CNAs to let them know someone needs something. It's not all of them, just a couple, but those few make me really dread hearing the call bell sometimes. One of our CNAs in particular is constantly saying "ask the nurse, I'm busy" and heaven help me if I call her while she's on her break (she rarely tells me that she's taking a break). Last week we had a new patient come up and she (the pt) needed to use the bathroom but the floor was soaked. I asked the CNA if she could put down some towels and she jumped all over me (in front of the patient!) saying that she was too busy and that I needed to find someone else to do it. I ended up sending the patient down the hall to the other bathroom and cleaned up the mess myself. Sadly, this sort of thing is becoming very common with this particular CNA. Another problem we have is that all of the CNAs like to take lunch or breakfast or both together, which leaves us with zero CNAs on the floor. The charge nurse stopped them at the elevator last weekend and they all refused to go back to work. So she turned them in to the nurse manager and SHE (the NM) had a long talk with them in her office. Not a good situation. We'll see if that little talk changes anything this weekend. However, I wouldn't limit the laziness label to the CNAs. We have a few lazy nurses too and I'm sure you guys have met a few yourself. LOL Laziness is one thing that drives me nuts. I'm the sort of person that likes to stay busy at work and I will gladly help out any way I can if I'm not already busy. I kills me when I see someone sitting around while everyone else is running to get their work finished.
However, I wouldn't limit the laziness label to the CNAs. We have a few lazy nurses too and I'm sure you guys have met a few yourself. LOL Laziness is one thing that drives me nuts. I'm the sort of person that likes to stay busy at work and I will gladly help out any way I can if I'm not already busy. I kills me when I see someone sitting around while everyone else is running to get their work finished.
banditrn
1,249 Posts
In the last dept. I worked in at the hospital, our evening shift over lapped the day shift by 1.5 hours - but the minute we walked in SOME of the day gals (nurses) acted as tho their day was over!!:trout:
AND a half hour before it was time for them to leave - they would gather in the break room and wait for time to clock out. So it isn't necessarily the CNA's that do that!
I now work LTC, 3rd shift, and there's only myself and 1 CNA working with 40 patients. The one gal is so great!!
At the beginning of the shift I give her a list of special things I want to watch for - if so & so has a BM, if such & such doesn't urinate, etc. I let her know who I want to assess so that we go in together, and not wake them unnecessarily. I think this gal deserves to be paid a lot more than she gets.