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 Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

We had a student EN like that. She was ALWAYS late for morning shifts.

Well, she wasn't paid for her clinical, but as one CNC pointed out to her:

1) she is only wasting her own money by missing out on learning opportunities

2) they made her make the time up, which she wasn't happy about (to say the least).

What about, instead of suspending her with or w/out pay, you ask her to swop to afternoon shifts for a while instead? Also have a confidential chat to her, lateness usually means there is some sort of unresolved stress going on.

I suppose your actions depend on the facilities' policies & how aggressively you want to deal with this situation.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Hospice,IV Therapy.

Sounds like a PCA I used to work with. When she showed up she worked hard but too many times she didn't show up or if the weather was bad she would call an hour after her shift started to say that she was stuck in a ditch. She ended up getting fired.

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Specializes in ED/ICU/TELEMETRY/LTC.

You are doing a disservice to the residents and to her coworkers. I know everyone is probably tired of my saying this but all policy all the time.

Follow the policy at your facility. Even if it's not optimal, it's fair if you use it.

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Specializes in n/a.

i'm a cna and it actually is considered abandonment in my state (missouri). not showing up without calling is no worse than leaving early without notifying anyone. we have a point system, once you get so many points, you're gone. is there not some sort of attendance policy that she signed upon employment that you could reacquaint her with? perhaps print it out again, and have her sign it another time. also make the suggestion that if one alarm isn't working, get a backup alarm like a cell phone or a battery powered one. not that it matters... "my alarm didn't go off"??? really? is anyone actually buying this? lol

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Specializes in wound care.

some time u gotta learn the hard way, being fired a few times might be the only way for her to grow up

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Unfortunately, being able to show up for work is a job requirement. Continuing to give her consequences and chances is enabling her behaviour. Find someone reliable and who will actually work at the job. Everyone wins!

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
CNA's are NOT licensed personnel. They are CERTIFIED.

I do most sincerely apologize. Let me rephrase- she is in possession of professional credentialling which may be revoked by the credentialling agency- the BON. While licensure does carry greater professional responsibility, contextually, either credential is the means of livlihood.

Depending on state law, "neglect" is most likely what will apply (though another term/phrase may be used), as the employee is assigned care-duties with the expectation that they will be assuming those duties within a schedule. Theoretically, one could be charged with "abandonment" w/o assuming direct responsibility for patients, if one was assigned, did not call in, and (for whatever reason) other staff were not able to fully meet the needs of patients-resulting in harm.

No, the Free World is not coming to an end, but as in so many arenas- stupidity will increase to fill the void it is allowed. It is inherently progressive, infectious and expansive.

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Specializes in intermediate care/medical/tele.

I'm not sure if they could be part of the problem, maybe your co-worker is just a deep sleeper. My younger brother had trouble waking up for school because he is a deep sleeper. You literally have to slap him to get him to wake (which i do not do but was encouraged to by my brother...). My parents got him a vibrating alarm clock and it solved the problem. It shakes the bed and he wakes up. http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/8f1a/

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Specializes in TCU, Post-surgical, Infection Prevention.
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.

a little too "dog ate my homework" for me...:uhoh3: meanwhile in the real world, there is a stellar cna that your organization has overlooked because they are coddling this person who doesn't want to work.

sounds like preferential treatment to me... :down:

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

Kids.

Sometimes the only way they learn is to get fired. An RN in my class recently had to learn that way.

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

Instead of firing her, you need to find out what is making her late... Family? Problems ? Often more then a clock is involved... If you like her, try reaching out and coaching her, maybe she needs help and is afraid to say... Blaming the clock. Abusive husband? Don't have a car? Sick kids, or family?

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
Instead of firing her, you need to find out what is making her late... Family? Problems ? Often more then a clock is involved... If you like her, try reaching out and coaching her, maybe she needs help and is afraid to say... Blaming the clock. Abusive husband? Don't have a car? Sick kids, or family?

Call me mean, but I think a healthcare facility has more important issues to tackle than to get to the bottom of why one of their employees isn't able to do what she was hired to do. Personal accountability/responsibility? Where did it go?

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