do you feel like the CNA's run the floor?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2006

I have 5 weeks of clinicals until graduation. Since my externship last summer, I have been working as an aid on a cardiology step-down unit. I fear the attitudes I will get from the CNAs when I graduate and start taking a team of my own. I have watched them and been amused at their devious behaviour both in "initiating" me (i.e. seeing how much of their work they can get me to do) and less amused in their habit of blackballing the nursing staff. Some of them will sit down and tell you why they don't work for particular nurses. On our unit, it is very obvious and the aids have a hospital-wide reputation of being difficult. While they feel they can justify their behavior, I don't think patient care should ever be compromised. We have certain aids who disappear for long periods of time and who hide in a back corner reading and let someone else do all the work. Personally, if my patients are taken care of, I don't mind picking up the slack from the attitudes because I like to keep moving. However, I am not responsible for safe med passes and noting orders and the whole patient picture. I am working as an aid. I'm sure when I start doing RN duties at the same hospital, I will have too much other stuff to do to pick up the slack. It will be a big adjustment for everyone when I have to prioritize and others have to do their own jobs!

I strongly recommend that you do not take a position on this cardiology stepdown unit as an RN. These aides are grooming you to be their pawn. How absolutely bold of them to reveal all their little secrets to you. That should tell you something about the kind of power they think they have over the rest of the staff. I guarantee that you won't be treated any differently as an RN. The minute RN goes after your name, you will have crossed to the enemy's side and you will no longer be one of their group. They will be mericiless with you. They will be a supervision nightmare for you. Unless you feel you are ready to take the bull by the horns and get tough with them and get them in line (which doesn't sound like anyone has done yet, so you would be all alone in your efforts), they will run you out of the place if you refuse to play along with their little games. At the first circumstance where you are faced with a dilemma that challenges your license you will pursue the right course of action, but it will tear you apart since these people have developed an emotional bond with you. Either take an RN position on another unit or find work in another hospital as an RN. I'm not kidding. You, as a new grad, don't need the pressure of a bunch of aides with "attitude" giving you grief every day along with all the other new things you are going to have to learn as a new grad RN. If no one else is addressing the problem with them, you are not going to be the one who will come in to save the unit. You do not have enough experience or training to do it. Another thing you should think about it this. If the management of this hospital is allowing this to happen among their CNAs what other management faux pauxs are also going on. You want to work at a place where managers are making sure employees are working together and not squaring off against each other in little territorial wars. Someone(s) is(are) not doing their management job correctly at this place. Get out. There is probably also problems among the other staff as well.

Schoolnursetrish39 · Mar 18, 2006

All the jobs I have had with CNA and techs and etc. I have always worked with hardworking professsional people they did theri jobs very well and under bad circumstances at times..

This new job I have in correctional nursing is that I am an RN but there are more LPNs and they have major attitude. They found out I am an RN and some of them are competive for that reason...

My Correctional facility allows LPNs to do IVS and charge .. I don't know if that is legal or not.,..

I protect my license they can theirs... I don't understand why it matters what are title is we are all in healthcare but people are petty.. I hope in my case it gets better. Because I am new to correctional nursing they think I am stupid. I am not... just learning the ropes in a new area,.. its not like hospital work... Hang in there or find somewhere better to work...

One day the LPN I work with got behind I offered to help her was turned down and then later she made a big show of wanting me to do some things because she couldn't get to them.. I had asked earlier... As another poster said Teamwork is important.... and to try to respect other peoples feelings you can never go wrong...

Good Luck to you...

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 18, 2006

I most cases, if you need vitals to determine whether to give a med, I would recommend the nurse do that herself.

I agree, i'd never want to give a med based on someone else's results.

Angeleyez1 · Mar 18, 2006

I am a nurse tech and start lpn school in august. I see this back and forth all the time. It all depends on the person. Most cna's, nuse techs, cnt's that come into the health care field think that it will be an easy job, you know, give a few baths and take v/s every so often. Then, they start working and realize the kind of job it really is. So, they decide to be lazy and just do enough to get by per their job description. On the other hand, you do have quite a few excellent techs that know their job and do it well. I do my job very well and thats because I love my patients and understand where they are coming from. I do the "cna" bs work but also do stuff like foleys, blood draws, prep for surgery, help with iv's, help with charting progress notes, help with education, walking my patients, ect... I watch my nurses and help with what I can. I am usually done with everything, like baths,beds, and charting by 10:30a.m. So, when I have nothing to do, I go to every nurse, even ones that aren't mine, and help them with SOMETHING. A nurses job is very difficult. For all the nurses reading this, I really appreciate the job you guys do. And, you work just as hard as we do. I can't wait to finish school next year! Healthcare is a job that requires teamwork and COMMUNICATION. If there is a problem, then go to that tech and talk. If it continues, take it to the next level and talk with the charge nurse.

chadash · Mar 18, 2006

I am a nurse tech and start lpn school in august. I see this back and forth all the time. It all depends on the person. Most cna's, nuse techs, cnt's that come into the health care field think that it will be an easy job, you know, give a few baths and take v/s every so often. Then, they start working and realize the kind of job it really is. So, they decide to be lazy and just do enough to get by per their job description. On the other hand, you do have quite a few excellent techs that know their job and do it well. I do my job very well and thats because I love my patients and understand where they are coming from. I do the "cna" bs work but also do stuff like foleys, blood draws, prep for surgery, help with iv's, help with charting progress notes, help with education, walking my patients, ect... I watch my nurses and help with what I can. I am usually done with everything, like baths,beds, and charting by 10:30a.m. So, when I have nothing to do, I go to every nurse, even ones that aren't mine, and help them with SOMETHING. A nurses job is very difficult. For all the nurses reading this, I really appreciate the job you guys do. And, you work just as hard as we do. I can't wait to finish school next year! Healthcare is a job that requires teamwork and COMMUNICATION. If there is a problem, then go to that tech and talk. If it continues, take it to the next level and talk with the charge nurse.

Great post! and also, you are one great worker, done with your baths and charting by 10:30! what a girl!

buildingmyfaith57 · Mar 18, 2006

i am a cna and to me not all cna's are being heard. and two it would be good if the managers would take the time out and hear both sides before giving the boot. some of the cna's are being can from left and right. some are being can by charges nurses who has major beef with the cna's and sometimes it has nothing to do with work performances it has to do with personal feelings

chadash · Mar 19, 2006

i am a cna and to me not all cna's are being heard. and two it would be good if the managers would take the time out and hear both sides before giving the boot. some of the cna's are being can from left and right. some are being can by charges nurses who has major beef with the cna's and sometimes it has nothing to do with work performances it has to do with personal feelings

There is a real problem with communication between the aides and the nurses. It can get quite catty and personal in LTC, can't it?

I don't have a clue, frankly, how we can make the environment more professional, and less "personal". I am sure you would just like to be able to do your job, with out all this fussing!

Pearlgirl · Mar 19, 2006

i strongly recommend that you do not take a position on this cardiology stepdown unit as an rn. these aides are grooming you to be their pawn. how absolutely bold of them to reveal all their little secrets to you. that should tell you something about the kind of power they think they have over the rest of the staff. i guarantee that you won't be treated any differently as an rn. the minute rn goes after your name, you will have crossed to the enemy's side and you will no longer be one of their group. they will be mericiless with you. they will be a supervision nightmare for you. unless you feel you are ready to take the bull by the horns and get tough with them and get them in line (which doesn't sound like anyone has done yet, so you would be all alone in your efforts), they will run you out of the place if you refuse to play along with their little games. at the first circumstance where you are faced with a dilemma that challenges your license you will pursue the right course of action, but it will tear you apart since these people have developed an emotional bond with you. either take an rn position on another unit or find work in another hospital as an rn. i'm not kidding. you, as a new grad, don't need the pressure of a bunch of aides with "attitude" giving you grief every day along with all the other new things you are going to have to learn as a new grad rn. if no one else is addressing the problem with them, you are not going to be the one who will come in to save the unit. you do not have enough experience or training to do it. another thing you should think about it this. if the management of this hospital is allowing this to happen among their cnas what other management faux pauxs are also going on. you want to work at a place where managers are making sure employees are working together and not squaring off against each other in little territorial wars. someone(s) is(are) not doing their management job correctly at this place. get out. there is probably also problems among the other staff as well.

:yeah: well said!

firstaiddave907 · Mar 19, 2006

that is agreat saying ther is no i in team and i agree that the nurses shouldnt do an aids job i can understand if you help an aid if they arer behind and your ahead with ur work. but the nurses should not do all of he aids work. i have my cerfitied nurses aid cerficate and i worked at a nurseing home for a while and i didnt expect a nurse to do my work for me i worked for my pay checks and i accpeted the help if i needed it.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Mar 19, 2006

It's preferable for nurses to take their own vitals.

It's definately preferable but not always possible. Giving morning meds depends on the patients 8 am BP. I trust our CNT's unexplicably. They are professionals in what they do. If any vital sign is out of realm of normal they hunt me to make sure that I know. If it is abnormal I do retake them myself manually. I trust the CNT's not necessarily the equipment!

babydolltoo, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2006

When I saw the question Re: Feeling like CNA's run the floor? I feel like that all the time!!!! For the majority. What I want to say is that I feel as if management tends to stick up with the CNA'S moreso than with the nurses. It is not that I feel like I am above them, I am not. I just get frustrated with having to do most of the work myself (especially to know that it was done correctly). We have very good nursing assistants (a few) and then we have those who are mediocre and those that are just lazy. Then the ones in the middle who could do an excellent job work when they want to. What they don't realize is that we as nurses have a lot more responsiblity than they do. They also don't realize that we as nurses can do our job and their job but there are things that they cannot do in our jobs.

I also have been placed in corrective action by my manager because of CNA'S. I have been nursing for 25 years come June 2006 and the more experience you have, etc I feel counts for nothing and that is a shame. You are young and you are already feeling what I have felt for years. Hopefully, I will be able to leave this job soon. It is getting to be too much and getting disrespected doesn't help. Nursing is just not like it was when I came out of nursing school. I love nursing, but the wrong people are managing it (business people); who have no idea what we as nurses need, etc.

Well, I wish you luck with your job and the CNA'S. I know my situation will not change, in fact, I think it will become worse; but I'm trying to keep positive.

dap7699 · Mar 19, 2006

I am currently in nursing school, and have not had enough experience in the nursing role to take that side yet. :nurse: But I DO want to add my two cents worth as a tech. On my floor, a nurse will search 5 minutes for a tech to tell them pt X needs a coke, when she could have gotten it in less than 1 minute. Three nurses can be sitting right in front of the intercom when a pt rings out, but they will not answer it (even though this is not a designated "tech only" duty. A nurse will even leave a pt's room after an urgent request for help to the bathroom, to search for a tech to do a 1 person assist. A nurse will act annoyed at a tech for using the restroom themself, because she (the nurse) is "too busy to go to the bathroom." Well I say, it's your own damn fault if you pee in your pants the next time you sneeze - I'm not going to risk it! :no:

Ok, I feel better! Honestly, though, there are several great nurses on my floor. But some of them act so thoughtless sometimes that I have to wonder?!