Fantastic CNA. but...

Nurses General Nursing

Published

we have a great cna where i work. she works hard, always does a good job, and i can rely on her when she's there. that being said a couple times now, her alarm didn't go off and she's been 2+ hours late for work which in turn throws more on my other aides and makes for a hectic morning. i know she's a young girl (early twenties) but what can we do? she's been suspended for 3 days once and obviously that didn't work. other then firing her, what other options are there? any good "consequence" for her behavior without losing her?! she really is a great aide/hard worker and we know they are hard to find.

Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Weeelll... as a CNA she is licensed under the BON. Not being on your assigned post, w/o notification is neglect or abandonment.

I've had times when the power went out, and I was running late, but it was literally "a couple of times"- I was also working 55-60 hours/week at the facility, so it wasn't like I wasn't around and accountable more often than not.

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Specializes in LTC.

Yeah, managment is allowing that. If she worked where I did, she'd be gone.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
Weeelll... as a CNA she is licensed under the BON. Not being on your assigned post, w/o notification is neglect or abandonment.

I've had times when the power went out, and I was running late, but it was literally "a couple of times"- I was also working 55-60 hours/week at the facility, so it wasn't like I wasn't around and accountable more often than not.

CNA's are NOT licensed personnel. They are CERTIFIED.

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Specializes in LDRP.
Weeelll... as a CNA she is licensed under the BON. Not being on your assigned post, w/o notification is neglect or abandonment.

I've had times when the power went out, and I was running late, but it was literally "a couple of times"- I was also working 55-60 hours/week at the facility, so it wasn't like I wasn't around and accountable more often than not.

correct me if i am wrong, but i dont know that it would be neglect or abandonment unless she had already accepted the assignment and then left without making proper arrangements for someone else to take on her assignment.

what shes doing is just unprofessional-- ill admit there have been a few times when i have been late for work for not setting my alarm correctly, traffic, or just plain waking up on the wrong side of the bed and taking too long to get ready. but i know it is wrong, i was reprimanded for it, and i definitely dont make a habit of it. if its happening habitually, maybe someone should sit down with her 1:1 like another poster said and let her know that termination is a possibility. if that doesnt scare her enough and it continues, then she obviously doesnt care if she keeps her job or not and should be let go. there are plenty of good CNAs out there that come to work on time.

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.
CNA's are NOT licensed personnel. They are CERTIFIED.

And doubly in most states CNA's are Certified by and registered with the State Department of Health which is run by the state Medical Board. NOT the Board of Nursing.

It's funny and sad how many people think CNA's are licensed. What do they think that C stands for?

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Specializes in ICU.

An ultimatum. Tell her how you value the work she does do when she is there, but if she does this again, she will be fired.

She can't say you didn't warn her, and if she doesn't respect you or the staff enough to heed the warning, then she really wasn't that great in the first place.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Oh yes one more thing. Someone in their early 20s is not a "young girl"! It's insulting to all the extremely responsible people in their early 20s to use that as an excuse.

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Ask her to stay behind to complete her shift. If that doesn't work, then let her go. I know that there is no perfect employee but showing up especially in the nursing field is very essential. There are about 310.5 million people in America, I'm sure you'll find somebody as good as her, and somebody who shows up for work.

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Jeez. Call out the National Guard - a CNA was late twice. Pandemonium has obviously ensued.

If she has already been disciplined, what's the biggie? Is this a "what should I do next time" post? Follow your facility's policy for tardiness and let it go. You're not this kid's mother and you shouldn't have to try to change her behavior.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
we have a great cna where i work. she works hard, always does a good job, and i can rely on her when she's there. that being said a couple times now, her alarm didn't go off and she's been 2+ hours late for work which in turn throws more on my other aides and makes for a hectic morning. i know she's a young girl (early twenties) but what can we do? she's been suspended for 3 days once and obviously that didn't work. other then firing her, what other options are there? any good "consequence" for her behavior without losing her?! she really is a great aide/hard worker and we know they are hard to find.

if she's chronically late for work, then she's not a fantastic cna.

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Specializes in ER.

I suggest getting her to work an extra weekend shift every time she's late. Soon she'll be covering all the weekends for her coworkers that have to cover for her.

If I land at work late for whatever reason, and the person I relieve is coming back the next shift, I tell them to come in late and I'll cover for them. This approach has helped during storm days when you start out with good intentions, and your car thinks it's a good day for a snooze.

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someone with authority, needs to have a sit-down with her and clearly define work expectations.

spell out the consequences if a, b, or c happens again.

perhaps suggesting cutting her hours to part time?

while i agree there are many responsible people in their early 20's, there still remain (too) many who haven't attained that level of maturity yet.

not making excuses, because i personally believe this cna needs a firm wake-up call.

what does the nm think?

leslie

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