Flip side of the CNA coin or HELP!

[rebel_red]

Hey ya'll:cool:

I need some advice. For over a decade I worked in LTC's and retirement communities as Activities Director, Social Service Designee and Programs Director. I hold a Bachelor's in Social Work. (I thought some background might be useful.)

At the age of 39 I decided that it wasn't enough and looked for a new career were I could put my current abilities to use, and develop new skills. Voila! Nursing.

I accepted a position as a CNA (still training) in a local facility. I wanted to make sure I was capable of giving direct care, and develop a high level of proficiency, for the patients, myself and the day when/if I would be supervising others as an LPN/RN. (I am going to train for LPN first, as we have limited (1) nursing program in my area.)

I have great supervisors who take the time to explain procedures, answer all my questions about meds, psychosocial issues and any other area of knowledge that pops up. They will also get in and get dirty with code browns, toileting, etc.

My issue is my coworkers. I work the 11-7 shift. We have a patient load that varies from 12-20 dependent upon how many aides are present.

My first rounds with 12 residents usually take me about an hour and a half. First I do my vitals and make sure all are dry, clean and comfortable. Than I take up our housekeeping tasks. (ice water passed, trash removed from the room, clean trash bags, straightening the room if need be, and trust me sometimes those rooms look like a hurricane passed through.) And of course throughout this I answer call lights. If the resident's haven't been properly seen to on 3-11 first rounds can take me two and a half to three hours.

Also we usually don't get our shift assignments until after our nurses give each other report, so say about 11:30. In the interim if the call lights go off, I answer them, only myself and one other CNA will do this. (The others have verbalized they aren't doing someone else's work.)

During the downtime between rounds (12, 3 and 5am) most of the aides sleep. I can't do this. (for the obvious ethical reasons) I understand most of them have other jobs, or young families. In their defense (!) they do get up for call lights.

Also the aides gossip alot about each other. I hate this and ignore it. There is one who has been a CNA for 14 years who denigrates everyone. She only speaks to make others appear bad and herself good. She had the temerity to write our schedule the other night when the report was taking time. (Granted it was a good schedule!) Needless to say she and I are like oil and water. She has belittled me 2x in front of residents. I have addressed this with my supervisor.

My problem is this: The supervisors (an LPN and an RN) are pleased with the work. My co-workers are madder than hornets. They believe I am doing all this to make them look bad. How do I handle this? So far I have ignored them. Yet I am getting tired of the gossip that finds its way back to me, the offhanded comments, etc. (example: They were ridiculing me for making a resident cream of wheat at 2:30 am and sitting and chatting with her while she ate, they perceive her as difficult. Fortunately I only had 10 residents that night and was able to take time with this one.)

I am really sick and tired of the gossip, the backstabbing and the just get in and get done attitude, when we really do have the luxury to take time with the residents in this particular facility.

Thanks for all your help.

Tres

Almost forgot:imbar I posted this after reading cargal's thread on management skills. Great thread.

[Mkue]

Unfortunately some of those CNA's you described also complain that the nurses "do nothing". Upon seeing this some CNA's decide that they want to become a nurse so they can make more money and sit around all day (ha). B/c of the fact that many are single moms they discover that they can get "fin. aid" to pay for their schooling. Their motivation is usually money and not that they actually want to be a good nurse.

During clinicals they think patient care is below them b/c they are now nursing students and not aids. Some of them you can find running around doing everything except caring for their Resident.

It's sad. Then there are those few CNA's who actually have a calling for the nursing profession. Those are very few.

It is a vicious cycle. CNA's do have very hard jobs and I've seen some very hard workers in some facilities. Rebel_Red I think you will make a great nurse !

[Agnus]

It is the crab effect. If a crab tries to climb out of a bucket the others pull it back.

Do your good work. Help you fellow CNA. However, if they reject your help and they may under the cercumstance, then you can with hold it. Always be as friendly as you can. But you do not have to have more contact with them than necessary.

Your trying to make them look bad :roll :roll. Isn't that an interesting twist on what they do. Didn't you just say the only reason the one ever talks is to tear someone down, in order to build herself up?

The difference is you are tearing no one down. You are not talking but doing, which is much louder and more convincing than talk.

They would prefer that you were just like them because if the status quo is not sleeping and laziness then thier cushy jobs are in jepodary. If "everyone is doing it " then they have a defence and feel safe. If you demonstrate that good work and good patient care are not unreasonable expectations then they get scared that they might actually have to do some work or get fired.

Remember those who treat you like this will never amount to more than human pooper schoopers. (this is no disrespect intended to good CNAs) because that is how they see themselves. Know that you will move on and they will be a very small part of your past.