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Nurses General Nursing

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I had another new aide yesterday and today. I had to speak to her about leaving the floor without letting me know. I clearly write on the assignment sheet that I am to be informed when someone is leaving the floor. I tell my med cart mate if I need to step off or out for a moment or longer (toilet, lunch, whatever) and I expect the same of my aides. This one took offense, demanding why don't I ask anyone else to do it, how come I'm checking up on her, etc.

I tried to explain but she wasn't interested in my response. I asked the supervisor not to send her back any more. She's a floater so I might get lucky and not have to deal with her any more. Most of the time, she signs up to work but doesn't show, due to not being relieved on her other job. Does she bother to call? I can't figure out why they keep scheduling her. She calls to say she's late but never calls to say she just plain isn't coming. :confused: She must have the dirt on somebody.:yeah::eek:

I'm so sick of people you can't talk to or reason with or say anything to, however nicely, however legitimate.

Are you really in a position to monitor someone like that? Just because you do it doesn't mean other people want to. How would you like it if you had to report to someone any time you had to go take a pee, grab a quick snack, etc?? It's not kindergarten.

Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..
Are you really in a position to monitor someone like that? Just because you do it doesn't mean other people want to. How would you like it if you had to report to someone any time you had to go take a pee, grab a quick snack, etc?? It's not kindergarten.

It's not kindergarten,it's about patient safety,if everyone wandered off the floor at once,who's looking after the patients! We always keep each other informed of our whereabouts,even if I'm just going for a pee I let the care staff know.

Are you really in a position to monitor someone like that? Just because you do it doesn't mean other people want to. How would you like it if you had to report to someone any time you had to go take a pee, grab a quick snack, etc?? It's not kindergarten.

No, it's NOT kindergarten, it's WORK, and as a supervisor of the CNA's at work, I too expect to be notified of when they leave the floor. I also have the courtesy to let my CNA's and the other nurse know when I leave the floor for break, or whatever else I may have to do in another section.

I've been a CNA for years before I was a nurse, and I'm very aware of what their jobs are. That being said, I'M the one directly responsible for everything they do while at work, and I'M the one signing off on the fact that they did, in fact, do everything for their pt's that was expected of them. It's MY license on the line, and I let my CNA's know that, and that they can ask for help with whatever task they require help with, no matter how messy, or gross. I'm just asking the same respect from them that I give them, as I think the OP is also.

As for the CNA in question, sounds like insubordination to me, write her or him up, and stick to your guns. CNA's like that don't need to litter the floor, as there are plenty of hard working CNA's that actually like doing their jobs to take their places!

Are you really in a position to monitor someone like that? Just because you do it doesn't mean other people want to. How would you like it if you had to report to someone any time you had to go take a pee, grab a quick snack, etc?? It's not kindergarten.

I guess you are a student.

When you are the nurse in charge and have to routinely spend time hunting down your staff, when you can't trust that your staff are working and not hiding out in the lounge on their cell phones or out smoking or taking extra long breaks while your patients are crying, falling, calling, while docs are flipping out and families are freaking out, when the secretary is MIA and the phones are going nuts - then you will understand why we need to know where everyone is at all times. When there's a code, when there's some other emergency - hemorrhage, fall, evisceration, power goes out and we have to bag because backup generator fails to kick in, flashlights must be obtained immediately, or any of a hundred other

things - do you begin to see why we have to be able to rely on each other and know where every staff member is? What if too many want to go on break at the same time? Think safety and courtesy.

Whether or not we want to is not the question. This is about courtesy, about safety, about fairness and honesty.

Also, I do have to report and I do follow the rules and report, as I stated.

If it makes you feel any better, I hate having to monitor but it's part of my job description when I'm in charge. It's not about ego, believe me. It's about good patient care and lawsuit avoidance.

Right. It is not kindergarten, it is about dealing with lives of people in need of care. If the rule is that people not leave without notification so others know to watch their patients, it is a rule, no exceptions.

Write it up and keep a copy. Start the paper trail. Many times the reason this is allowed to continue is that no one takes the time to do the write-ups. After a few pieces of paper, or emails are received then go to the supervisor. While they cannot tell you what discipline is happening they can tell you that progressive discipline is in process. After that keep pushing chain of command.

It takes time and energy to protect our patients. It is not kindergarten. Different rules need to apply.:twocents:

well, i completely disagree (just my opinion!). if a cna wants to go take a pee break, then go take a pee break! i don't need to know about it. a patient isn't going to code from wearing a wet diaper for an extra 2 minutes. some of you take this whole "my license, my license, my license" thing way too far. it's like a pavlovian response! and no, i am not a student. from now on i'm going to demand that i know where my cna's are at all times. i'm going to ask them to keep time logs. i also want to know what their output is! hehe, jk, but just trying to make a point.

well, i completely disagree (just my opinion!). if a cna wants to go take a pee break, then go take a pee break! i don't need to know about it. a patient isn't going to code from wearing a wet diaper for an extra 2 minutes. some of you take this whole "my license, my license, my license" thing way too far. it's like a pavlovian response!

Most units that I've worked on have staff b/r's on the floor, so no one is leaving the floor to go pee. As for the "MY LICENSE" thing, when you lose yours because of something a subordinate has done or failed to do, you'll understand why most of us feel as we do regarding our licensure.

Most units that I've worked on have staff b/r's on the floor, so no one is leaving the floor to go pee. As for the "MY LICENSE" thing, when you lose yours because of something a subordinate has done or failed to do, you'll understand why most of us feel as we do regarding our licensure.

well, i guess i had that coming. i had no idea that pee breaks were so important to everyone!

well, i guess i had that coming. i had no idea that pee breaks were so important to everyone!

The pee break is getting blown out of proportion here. The OP said "stepping off the floor" which can be for anything from a pee break to lunch. From your responses, you seem to be just getting a laugh from serious responses explaining why nurses expect to know where their CNA's are, and I'm not going to keep on trying to justify my responses. When you're a nurse long enough, maybe you'll understand. Until then, have a great day.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In other news. . . :)

http://nursingassistants.net/2008/01/26/breaks-state-laws/

I don't think anyone's talking about a 'quick' pee break here. Leaving the floor for extended periods of time w/out telling anyone might be considered patient abandonment. It's just common courtesy to tell your coworkers or charge nurse if you have to leave the unit. Try working ER or a critical care area w/out telling people where you're going- it doesn't fly.

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