FED UP CNAS!!!!

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2009

I guess LTC Facilities believe in only santizing during the day shift. My cousin worked at this one LTC Facility that had 2 shifts for housekeeping 5am-1pm and 1pm-9pm. Laundry was from 3am-11am, 10am-6pm & 4pm-12am. They never had laundry or housekeeping issues. Laundry and housekeeping were contracted people so they had their own everything. Dietary was gone by 9PM but they would send snacks for the residents before leaving. This was a very clean place and the turnover rate wasn't high. It's hard to get in because vacancies are few and far between. This facility was owned by an individual so the staff ratios were different. A RN/LVN on day shift couldn't have nore more than 15 patients to care for. The CNAs couldn't have anymore than 5-6 patients on day shift. Evening shift the RN/LVN couldn't have more than 22 patients, and NOC shift 30 patients max. The CNA's on PM shift couldn't have more than 10 pts, and NOC shift no more than 15 patients max. They had one person come in for Txs for the whole unit. A CNA would come in for for hours Days & Evenings shifts to do vital signs and pass out water, and that's all they did. If they finished before their shift was over, then they would help with call lights. This place was a great place to work for. It was pricey to put your family member, but from what was told to me, everyone seemed happy, the family, the residents, and the staff. Their pay was about $2.00 above what the other LTC Facilities were charging, but do you see a difference pay makes? Ratios, and yet this individual owner still managed to make money. Are there any other places out there like this? I'm unsure of the name of the facility since my cousin lives out of state, but she loved it there. Now she's in the hospital setting, which she says loves too because she wants to work in Oncology after nursing school.

MotivatedOne · Aug 14, 2009

I have to agree, why does the CNA have TO DO EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY. What is housekeeping for? All they would do was go in there and mop up the floor half @$$3d in the patient room. They barely clean the toilets for them. Housekeeping SHOULD make the bed after they disinfect the room after a patient discharges. Housekeeping expects the CNAs to clean up poop from the floor before they will go in mop. They want the CNAs to move everything around for them before they clean. CNA's are Nurses Assistants, they assist the nurse not the housekeeper!

Fortunately, since I work in a hospital, Housekeeping does all of that. Although, we clean up vomit when a pt vomits on the floor or in the bed, we're sent to the room before the Nurse is. But when a pt is discharged, housekeeping cleans and disinfects the room, makes the bed and stocks the room with a bedpan, wash basin, towels, a gown and washcloths.

pca_85 · Sep 7, 2009

Ok, I must add something I remember from a few years ago that disturbs me. When you are doing post mortem care and I'm helping you, sitting the person up and moving their mouth and limbs like a puppet is so ignorant. It shows that you are a cruel and small minded person with no appreciation for the preservation of a patients dignity or for the value of human life. You're a piece of crap and I hope that sweet, elderly lady haunts you.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2009

Now that's disgusting! How can someone be that cruel to someone even if they're dead. I would bet they wouldn't be doing that to their family member and they would be sick to their stomach if they saw that an aide did that. The hearing is the last to go so what if that person heard everything that was being done. What a way to go. I agree, I hope that lady haunts them forever.

rustyspoon · Sep 7, 2009

Ok, I must add something I remember from a few years ago that disturbs me. When you are doing post mortem care and I'm helping you, sitting the person up and moving their mouth and limbs like a puppet is so ignorant. It shows that you are a cruel and small minded person with no appreciation for the preservation of a patients dignity or for the value of human life. You're a piece of crap and I hope that sweet, elderly lady haunts you.

I don't have the words to express how much this disgusts me. Truly, this is revolting and unforgivable. I am so sorry you had to work with someone like that.

pca_85 · Sep 7, 2009

I don't have the words to express how much this disgusts me. Truly, this is revolting and unforgivable. I am so sorry you had to work with someone like that.

So I'm not over-reacting and this is very horrible, right?

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Sep 7, 2009

Not overreacting at all. That's disturbing.

rustyspoon · Sep 8, 2009

So I'm not over-reacting and this is very horrible, right?

Nooo...you're not overreacting. If I may ask, was this person was fired for this, or at the very least reprimanded?

pca_85 · Sep 8, 2009

Nooo...you're not overreacting. If I may ask, was this person was fired for this, or at the very least reprimanded?

They were related to the ADON and were the current employee of the month, so they never got in trouble for that or anything else they did. I left that facility shortly after.......the deceased lady looked like my grandmother, so it hit a nerve a bit too hard. Even if she didn't it is still so wrong

Miwila · Sep 9, 2009

I am in Canada and am in my last month of school before I start work as a PSW (personal support worker-but from what I gather the job description/scope of practise is the same as a CNA) I can't believe how little you guys get paid. It's shameful. In Ontario, a PSW will make $16-$18/hr in LTC. What we do is so important...how can you put a price on taking care of a person in the most intimate of ways? You can't...but it should be more than a few dollars an hour. We are very important to the medical team. We are the first to notice problems with skin care, transfering, bowel or urinary problems, cognitive defincies, and overall health. It's a hard job but it's also rewarding...just not financially by the sounds of it if you're from the U.S. This is a profession that isn't recognized and taked as seriously as it should be.

$16-18$ an hour?? Oh Canada.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2009

An employee of the month WOULD NOT DO THAT!!!! That person should have had that title stripped away. I've worked with people who were related to the DON or DSD, and luckily, they were pleasant people to work with and were also very hard workers. But in your case, that person was just a waste of space.

Val G. · Sep 11, 2009

I'm going to be a dissenting voice here. I know the frustrations of being a nursing assistant. We have wireless phones where I work so that we can call nurses and fellow NAs for help and questions, but there are some who just won't answer their phone. I was in a room tonight with a fellow NA who did not answer a call, then my phone rang, as I knew it would, and I went and did the simple task. I have seen the NAs who want to sit with patients so that they can read a book or use the computer, while the patient goes unwashed, pulls out their IV, falls in the bathroom, or sits in urine/feces until you come in to send them to dinner and discover the situation beause you are doing your job....etc. :banghead: :angryfire . I've dealt with the nurses who roll their eyes and stomp off (quite unproffessionally) when you say you can't do something because you're busy.

Here's the thing...nursing ASSISTANTS are just that, there to ASSIST the nurses. Not do their jobs for them, but assist. If you feel like they are asking you to do too much, write down everything they ask you to do during a shift. Try talking to them (if you have a free moment), and showing them exactly what kept you from being able to help that time. Not confrontationally, but keeping in mind that they maybe had 50 things going on too and were frustrated themselves. This can help by also showing them that they are not the only ones asking for your assistance. Ask the Nurse Manager if there can be a staff meeting because you (and undoubtedly others) feel respect is not being given.

Here are some other things you could try:

1. A list -this does work. If the nurses don't appreciate it then go to the NM so they can see what the nurses aren't doing. If they are unproffessional go to the NM's boss.

2. Try to organize a Nursing Assistant commitee. Not just for your floor but the whole organization. It may not get respect overnight but if the right motivation is behind it, it will eventually, and you have to start somewhere.

3. Laugh at people who are unprofessional. When nurses stomp off, and are rude when you present your side in a calm, rational manner...laugh. Picture tham in the diapers they should be wearing as they act like petulant children. :clown:

4.If your organization is so hell bent on ignoring patient safety (which is compromised from negativity, in the workplace. I mean we're not just answering phones in an office, these are patient's lives here. Also, the word malpractice applies to lazy NA'swho leave patients on bed pans and nurses who hand off tasks they should be doing) GO HIGHER. Talk to the CEO of the hospital. (I would say nursing home but THEY SUCK. Privately owned money vacuums where you really have noone to back you up and if you go to high, the place will just close and you'll be out of a job.) The CEO should care about things like MAGNET status, and JACHO, unless they are....well, idiots:lghmky:. Ignoring complaints of employees is irresponsible and should be reported.

This may be easy for me to say but you must know that you are NOT:aln: and others should stand with you. That's why a NA commitee is valuable.

*sigh. I feel so bad for the frustrations you all have. I've had them too, and I know others I've worked with have felt the same. All of this is easy for me to say. My hospital is far from perfect but with time things do get ironed out and most of the time you feel you're voice is heard. Even if you don't think things are being done and nothing is changing, the wheels are put in motion by those brave enought to speak up. I hope something in here helps. Keep working hard, have confidence in what you do, and know that you're helping the people who need it most.