I'm curious after reading some threads re: nurses/CNA's.
I'm starting my first job soon and was told by the nurses they had some issues with aids in the past but it had been resolved. The NM said, "You just have to know how to talk to them."
Now I'm a little worried about that. I don't like telling people what to do. I'm afraid I won't be good at it and I hope I don't have to do it. And as a student I often felt like the aids were some of my best teachers. (In other words, they knew more than I did in some cases.)
Nurses and CNAs should be a team. I used to always give my team CNAs a mini-report in the morning and we would confer regularly throughout the shift. Nurses make assessments throughout the shift and delegate accordingly. It was always important to me, however, to make sure we functioned as a team. I had no problem doing things for my team if they were busy elsewhere. It's when a nurse gets a "not my job" attitude, that communication breaks down. My team also was aware of all the duties I had, so they didn't fly off the handle if I couldn't drop everything and help them. Teamwork and communication are learned skills. I was often intimidated by experienced CNAs when I was a new grad. But as you gain confidence, you learn to work more effectively in a team setting.
I agree it's a little of both. Techs know the assignment and what duties to get started on. As things come up it's up to the licensed person to delegate appropriately.
People must communicate, if the tech is swamped and the nurse delegates a polite and mature conversation might go like this: CNA: "I'm swamped right now and can't get to it, but I will, but if you don't mind could you help me?"....not "why don't you do it yourself can't you see I'm busy, you're not doing anything and in the time you took to find me you could have done it yourself".
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. It works both ways.
I would give my assigned CNAs report after I received report. Basically, I would be telling them about which residents needed to have vital signs taken at the beginning of the shift and any other pertinent info that related to the CNAs regular duties. Like so and so had fallen during day shift. So we are monitoring her.
I found it easier to delegate tasks by being very meticulous in my use of the phrases "please" and "thank you". I also addressed them as "ladies" (for lack of a better term). One of them asked me about this one time, and I told her that I had been in the military and didn't appreciate being talked down to or treated with disrespect. So, I tried to be aware of this when dealing with people. I also helped them whenever I could, depending on what I had going on. If you become known as a nurse who is willing to help, you will find a lot of your CNAs will make an extra effort. The CNAs that don't do a very good job and must be constantly supervised are the only ones that will really make you uncomfortable. Here is where you practice your assertiveness skills. And if you have to, then you must counsel the person verbally and then in writing. It is just part of the job.
When you get on the job, have a quick talk with whoever orients you and ask them how they manage. They will be glad to assist you. Good luck.
Specializes in Pain Management, RN experience was in ER.
So do most of you RN's have an assigned aide? I have been working as an aide for the past year and our system is so unorganized. All of the nurses have just random patients all over both wings of the floor. So when I get one hall, I have a mix of all nurses working the shift. It's hard to find each and everyone of them to let them know oh your patient has this BP, or so and so wants their pain meds.
As a nurse tech, it's much easier because I work with an assigned nurse. I love my job now! However, when I become a nurse, I have already experienced what it's like to have such a messy system. I would like to know that someone has all my patients, not trying to find the different UAs to figure out who has who.
I wish I'd get a report from the nurses. My patient information comes from the offgoing shift aide. It's frustrating you've been off and come back on shift to a whole new wing of patients that you know nothing about.
I always try to meet with my nurses in the morning before I start my day and rounding and asking "Who can't bathe themselves, who can, who needs what, etc" and try to go from there. I always make myself available to help the nurses when they ask. Unfortunately, they rarely help me when I need to turn and reposition, etc. I know they're busy, but I can't turn someone who weighs a lot all by myself.
Fortunately, I also have nurses that thank me when I help them.
As a CNA in a hospital, I know what I am supposed to do and how to do it well. I don't need to be told to do things unless it's totally out of the norm and is "special". I am here to do my job and assist the nurses, not to wait around to be told what to do to take up more of their time. When a chart is put down, I enter what I need to enter, order what I need to order, and do what I need to do before it's requested. When I become an RN, I hope for the same from aids.
As a CNA in a hospital, I know what I am supposed to do and how to do it well. I don't need to be told to do things unless it's totally out of the norm and is "special". I am here to do my job and assist the nurses, not to wait around to be told what to do to take up more of their time. When a chart is put down, I enter what I need to enter, order what I need to order, and do what I need to do before it's requested. When I become an RN, I hope for the same from aids.
Ditto that! I know what I'm supposed to do when I come in to work, whatever floor I may be working. And if I happen to go to a new floor one day, I ask "What goes on daily here, what times do y'all do this that and the other?" I'm told, and go on about my day. As soon as I get VS done, I find an available computer and put them in as soon as I can.
Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho, Tele, ICU, Hospice.
is it up to the nurse to tell them?
Where's your first job that you're just starting?
When I worked LTC, it was the same routine day in and day out - you didn't really need report once you got used to the weekly schedule. Though I have to say, that was snoresville USA.
In the hospital, I make it a point to grill my RNs - Accuchecks and VS schedules don't always make it into the system exactly as they need 'em, and passing the word along becomes especially important when you start dealing with isolation pts.
Katie82, RN
642 Posts
Nurses and CNAs should be a team. I used to always give my team CNAs a mini-report in the morning and we would confer regularly throughout the shift. Nurses make assessments throughout the shift and delegate accordingly. It was always important to me, however, to make sure we functioned as a team. I had no problem doing things for my team if they were busy elsewhere. It's when a nurse gets a "not my job" attitude, that communication breaks down. My team also was aware of all the duties I had, so they didn't fly off the handle if I couldn't drop everything and help them. Teamwork and communication are learned skills. I was often intimidated by experienced CNAs when I was a new grad. But as you gain confidence, you learn to work more effectively in a team setting.