Major venting about some CNA's

[michelle95]

First, let me say that I am not venting against all CNA's or even most...I've been one myself. I know how hard they work. I applaude the good ones.

My problem is the majority of the ones at where I work. They talk back, they leave people in messes...it's really making me mad. Just this morning, I told a CNA that was going to get my blood sugars at 5:30, to wait until at least 6:00 because I didn't feel comfortable giving insulin at 7:00 on a 5:30 accucheck. I had originally told her 6:30, but, after she explained to me that she couldn't at that time, I told her I would compromise and make it 6:00. (Sometimes our patients don't get their breakfast trays until almost 8:00 and 11-7 is responsible for the insulin at 7:00) She flat out refused. She told me that the boss said it was ok. I told her, she's not here right now, is she? You're working on MY license, not her's.

She told me no and went and got them at quarter of 6 in defiance.

I told the 'boss' when she came in, but, this is the same boss that let another CNA get away with telling me to 'shut the hell up', as well as, telling a patient to shut up. (Which is why the CNA told me to shut up...I was getting on to her for doing that)

I am so SICK of not being backed up when I tell a CNA to do something. I know I am just a little 'ole LPN at this time, but, I still expect the CNA's to do what I tell them.

I try to be fair. Like I said, I was a CNA, I know how hard the work can be....but, I didn't talk to my nurses any old way I feel, much less, tell them no when they told me to do something.

If the big bosses won't do anything, what am I to do? Go over their heads?

This is my last night tonight. I've done decided that the next place I work, I am not going to be so nice. I've got an interview tomorrow and I am going to explain to the administrator that I DEMAND back up. If I tell someone to do it, and, they snap off, I EXPECT there to be repercussions.

I hate to be so down and dirty, but, I had an spiritual experience a couple of weeks ago that made me see that every patient I come in contact with, is someone's loved one. I don't expect to see them laying in pee or dried food for hours. That is soooo undignified. If I don't take up for them, who will?

Any advice? Should I go to the ombudsman if the bosses won't do anything about these CNA's with an attitude?

I hope any CNA's that read this don't take offense. If you do your job honorable, I am not talking about you.

[l.rae]

Originally posted by nurs2b

hehe.. Its not that hard when the nurse comes up to me and says "Can you go ahead and get that CBG, I know its early but I am going downstairs for awhile"... So I am not assuming anything :)

l am not speaking of this specific situation, but in general. Regardless of the nurse being right or wrong, you are protecting yourself and the patient by letting a higher authority resolve this after the fact.....just my oppinion.....LR

[Flo1216]

Mario...I think she means they are eating at inappropriate times, like not on their scheduled breaks but when they are supposed to be taking care of pts.

[Flo1216]

"another good reason for only allowing nurses to do such tasks...."

Oh, brother.

[hapeewendy]

hmmm I'm going to post what I'm sure will ruffle some feathers , but so what , feathers are meant to be ruffled on occasion.

Just as people post and share the opinion that RN's as a profession need to better their image and stop being bullied and victimized the same can be applied here....

its not about bashing CNA's or any other member of the health care team . Its about practicing your best within your scope of practice. For example , our unit has RN's and RPN's and the RPN's do not have to do many of the tasks that the college of nurses has decided is within their scope of practice to do ...so why do they not want to do the work to keep their skills fresh ? because there is a registered nurse there to do those tasks of course. Some RPN's amaze me , they do what is in their scope of practice, always try to gain knowledge and work as a team , others cannot be bothered, show up to work, wash a couple patients and figure their day is done by 2pm.

its a frustration thing, in any area of work when you see people who are not pulling their weight its frustrating and vent worthy!

whether it be a lazyass RN who passes the buck constantly or an RPN who documents "RN INFORMED" for every single intervention - informing the RN is not the only intervention practical nurses are capable of for the record.

I've been equally disgusted by the action or lack thereof of some RN's as well as RPN's

so its not a prejudice against a certain group of people ,well maybe it is , maybe its a prejudice against people who refuse to do the work that they were hired to do.

I can understand the frustration of everyone, including CNA's who get dumped on by nurses who figure the CNA is there to do every task....

and the flipside where its like a registered nurse is asking for a favour when she asks a CNA or an RPN to attend to a patient calling on the call bell because she is busy trying to get IV access on someone who is circling the drain quickly or on the phone taking a novel of drs orders , most of which to be done stat..

so in this game we call health care there is more than enough frustration to go around for everyone

the key thing to remember is that no matter how much we pi$$ and moan , there are patients who need us to get our act together to improve their lives!!

[Flo1216]

Actually, I don't see why you would be ruffling feathers. You are right on the money. Some people have a bad experience with a certain member of a health care team and then suddenly it turns into a virtual boxing match. The CNA in question is a bad worker..it doesn't make all CNAS bad workers. Same goes for RNS, LPNS, etc. I am sure we know RNS who we would trust with our lives and others that we wouldn't let wipe our ass. It's all about the individual, their personality and their work ethic.

[Q.]

And let it be known that the original poster never meant to bash ALL CNAs (as she stated in her first post) but that she was going off about THIS particular CNA.

[Flo1216]

By the way, CNAS ARE taught that if you do an accucheck and you get tissue fluid, to recheck it.(though I cannot speak for Mario) It's a finger stick, for crying out loud. RNS are trained to do them the exact same way as CNAS are.

[nurse wisdom]

Well some people have no manners do they?

I'm sorry some people can t find a better way to communicate than Shut up. It sounds very frustrating.

Whenever someone loses it like this (happens to me all the time- must be my hairstyle) let the person know how you feel about the interaction and how can you handle it in the future

Vent and find some way to let it go. Dont let one or two or even 10 CNA's wreck your idea of CNAs.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Originally posted by Flo1216

"another good reason for only allowing nurses to do such tasks...."

Oh, brother.

For every cna that you swear is trained to report any abnormal value and will reliably do so I will show you one that won't=or worse,one that takes several fingersticks at once and mixes up the results that she reports to the nurse ....If I am the nurse administering insulin based on sliding scale coverage you had better believe that I am obtaining the fingerstick myself......I have well thought out reasons for my opinions-based on things I have seen happen in acute and long term settings....The above response to my post just illustrates the attitudes that the originator of this thread is probably talking about...And-she did not "demand" that the cna's do anything---read the post again-she demanded support from her supervisor....as she should...When did "telling"someone whom is working UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION become politically in-correct? Do you understand that while you may be responsible for the adl's of 12 to 16 residents that the nurse is responsible for you and the other cna's-insuring that you do your jobs all while doing her own-that's why you are waving goodbye to the nurse as you leave on time at shift change-and the nurse is still at the desk...."Oh brother"? Oh,please...grow up...and knock that chip off of your shoulder-before you run off half cocked and harm someone in your care..."Oh brother"-sounds like a post meant to start a flame.....

[rebelwaclause, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by Susy K

I think alot of you are assuming alot here; assuming she had an attitude?! Ok, nothing excuses an attitude, but if the nurse asked for a blood sugar at a certain time, even WITH the attitude, then act upon the attitude, DON'T risk the patient's safety by blatantly doing something against what you were told to do. I think you all lost the big picture here. The big picture is that FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PATIENT, her blood sugar should have been checked at 0600, not 0545 or any other time determined by an unlicensed personnel. Take up the issue of attitude (IF there was any) with the individual or the manager; certainly DON'T take out your anger on the patients by refusing to do cares when deemed appropriate by a licensed nurse.

So...if a physician told you in a bossy manner to give the patient a pain med NOW, would you refuse to give it NOW because he didn't ask you nice, and leave the patient in pain and give the pain med when YOU felt like it? Come on. Grow up. Give the pain med and address the physician attitude separately.

Take the blood sugar at the requested time, and LATER discussed how it was asked of you. For pete's sake. It all ain't about you, people. It's about the patient, remember?

That CNA was wrong.

^5. Yep. Uh-huh. Some CNA's get on my LAST friggin' nerves with the "ask me nicely" BS. I do ask nicely, and some still decide WTF they want to do, and when they want to do it. Fortunately, union is available when management won't mediate attitudinal complaints among staff.

[EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN]

Before I started nursing school, I took a CNA class, and it was only 2 weeks! They really didn't teach us a whole lot besides how to bathe people. At the LTC facility I worked at CNA's were not allowed to do accuchecks. I think it's fine for CNA's to do accuchecks, but I've heard that in some places CNA's are allowed to pass meds! This is frightening... giving someone medication is a huge responsibility.

[Sleepyeyes]

Originally posted by Furball

Pts truly are individuals.

edited

You do what's best for the pt. If you only follow guidelines you will be mediocre at best maybe even dangerous at times. Use your freaking brain. Or at least LISTEN to the person who has the education under his/her cap to make these decisions.

Sometimes (most times?) RN's just don't have the time to explain every little thing.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Underlying all the disrespect is the assumption that not only has the CNA more knowledge, more information, and better judgment than the nurse, and that the CNA has the right to know the rationale behind every request.

Well, it ain't happenin' -- it just ain't happenin'....

I'm happy to share info and teaching with CNA's or students, but not in a situation like this, where the reason that I'm asking is because I don't have time to do it myself. Goes to follow that if I had time to explain, I'd prolly have time to do it without help.

The CNA's who tell me that they don't have time to do something I've asked, but then get their 1/2 hour break, both 15-minute breaks, and then leave on time, while I'm still stuck running around for another hour or hour and a half, and then whine that I don't help them???!! that bugs me, that truly bugs me.