dumb CNA... who is responsible?

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I work with a very irritating CNA. She's very slow and scatterbrained and usually can't keep up with the work. None of the other CNAs can stand working with her because we get stuck picking up her slack and dealing with all the annoyances that come with working alongside her. Normally I'm pretty patient with people and don't care if they're slow, but I'm at the end of my rope with her. I guess I feel that she should know better. She's oblivious.

The nurses and supervisors all know about this. They see the looks on our faces and they've vented right along with us about some of the stupider things she's done. Working with her pretty much guarantees that the CNAs are going to have a bad night, and when the CNAs have a bad night, the nurses do too. No one seems to be doing anything about it though. One nurse even said, "Well someone is going to have to talk to her about this and that."

None of us want to do the talking. We're not her boss! Shouldn't that "someone" be the charge nurse? I feel bad talking behind her back but meanwhile it just builds up and gets worse and worse.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I pretty much figured out that no matter where you work, there's always someone like that. Your best bet is to just concentrate on getting your own stuff done, and what she does (or doesn't do) is not your concern. (Unless it's something dangerous to the patients.)

Maybe no one's said anything because they're hoping that eventually, she'll "get it" and learn to keep up.

[texastaz]

The nurse is responsible for the CNAs. Two slow hands are better than no hands. Until a replacement is found you are stuck as long as she is not/has not done anything that will jepordize the patient. It is and would be unproffessional for the nurses or staff to tell you if they are looking for a replacement, and also if they have spoken to this CNA. The nurse is responsible and you have to trust the nurse. You and other CNAs are responsible for your assigned patients - not hers unless directed by the nurse to help her. Let the nurse stress - focus on your own assignment - easier said than done when you do care but it works. Most places will team up the new person with a strong aide-still both having a full assignment of 2 aides. If that does not work after a week or two that is usualy when they start looking for a replacement. I feel for you - I have worked with some exactly as you have described and also seen several turn out to be great aides. It is a nightmare now, sorry you are going through this.

[sonomala]

Is she a slow expierenced aid or is she newly certified? If shes newly certified she could scared out of her mind, not liking the job and or just trying to survive. Maybe shes hoping she will get fired. I've seen that happen. If she came with years of exp, odds are she just hates the job but is too chicken to go out and get another one. I know it stinks for you, but trust me, things will work out one way or another. And look on the bright side, even a bad pair of hands is still a pair of hands.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

She's been a CNA for 5 years. I don't think twice about this kind of behavior from a new, frazzled CNA. I don't even think she's burnt out, just dumb. She can't even get the residents' names right half the time.

[sonomala]

Then she needs to be fired asap. Theres no excuse for that. Heres one thing that worked at my ltc, have every single cna put in a complaint about her. They'll fire her.