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Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

During my last clinical there were two CNA's that for some reason liked to cause trouble. If you needed assistance or asked for anything....the fight was on! When I am a nurse (graduate May '06) how exactly do you handle this?

YOU talk to the CNA first. If the behavior continues then you go up the chain of command. Trust me, if someone is behaving negatively, it doesn't go unnoticed.

Quite often (where I work anyway) whenever anyone is given a task to do, they complain. Yes, we know they know what their job is, but sometimes something has to be added, and that's when all the BS comes in.

I got so tired of hearing one particular CNA's mouth when I'd ask her to do something, that I'd do it myself. Who got behind? I did. She had her breaks. Probably laughing as she went.

I don't do it anymore. I tell her what needs to be done, how soon it needs to be done, and if she tries to give lip, I say "shhhhhhhhh", shake my head, and tell her I don't have time to listen, otherwise I could do it myself. Hey- it works.

I reported to my supervisor what was going on and nothing was done. I don't know why some ppl can get away with smart mouths, bad work ethics, etc and others don't, it just happens. I'm old enough to know that it eventually catches up with them though.

Good Luck.

Specializes in ER.

Ok...I can't resist....You use therapeutic communication of course!

You look at them with that cheesy expression, like they have in all the videos you watch at school, cock your head to one side, clear your face of all expression so you look like a stepford-nurse, and say "You seem upset......":rotfl:

Seriously, now.... being a nurse and a student working with CNA's are two entirely different arenas, in my opinion. As a student, you simply don't ask for assistance from aids who are not interested in helping.

As a nurse, you whip out your people skills, and have a talk with the CNA to see if there is some way to resolve the problem. I am sure that those who have actually worked as nurses could provide you with better strategies for accomplishing this tricky maneuver, so I won't even try.

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Sadly this isn't really just CNA's! Oh brother you will get this with everyone with any credentials or not!

I go with the above poster. Talk to the CNA and explain your side in a professional manner...if this doesn't change things then up the chain you go!

I had probelms with some CNA's in the past and RN/LPN's too...most often I could simply say "hey, I don't make the rules...but according to the State and this facility I sure as heck get to enforce them!". That usually summed up that I would go to whatever means necessary to end that particular issue...normally that was enough!

That and LOL, I would kindly say..."oh don't make me pull out that RN card now?!?!" That usually let them know I was going to go nurse on them quickly...which with the folks I worked with was NOT something they liked very much...I would get all rule book and explain it ad nauseum so much that they would give up...so they tended to avoid that! LOL!!!! That was the more humerous way of me warning them they were treading on thin ice with me....(I have always been very team oriented and friendly and got along wonderfully with my staff...so if I said that, they knew I was getting upset and this wasn't wanted by anyone!).

i'll just say they might be taking advantage of you that you are now a student, since they won't otherwise get away with it.

it amazes me how they don't realize that you'll graduate in a few months and would be above them in the chain of command. i had to go through the whole thing.

if this has been going on for a while. you are not the only person who thinks they have issues. i am sure your supervisor is already aware of it.

all in all you DON'T have to apologize for doing your job. that's all iv'e got to say.

good luck

Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

Thank you all. I had not in all of our clinicals run into anyone that acted this way. I mean I am working my butt off, doing complete care on four pts, then going to help anyone else that needed it, including the these CNA's. This is one incident.....

We were all in the same room...I was at bed 2, they were at bed 1. I was cleaning up this pt, & they had just finished getting their pt up to chair. I asked if when they got water for bed 1, would they care to get a little water for bed 2....dead silence, then I heard one say...if I get time I will, & if I don't I won't!....laughter...then does she not know where to get the water....laughter again.....then maybe I will maybe I won't, she can get it herself. Then one stuck their head on my side of the curtain, & said....no I won't get it....bed 2 can't have water she is on thickened diet only....don't you know you can't give her water??? laughter again.

I lost my temper, asked them both to step out in the hall...I told them if they had something to say, say it to my face, or keep their mouth shut. I did not need them to tell me how to care for a pt, nor was I asking for their advice. I also told them for future reference that water could be thickened, & walked off. I was not sure if I handled it right or not....cause it all went to pot from there. Would the next step be writing them up...then to floor supervisor if this does not work? Thanks for reading through this & your advice.

i would report to the floor supervisor, your conversation w/the 2 cna's. the supervisor needs to know all confrontational interactions between her staff and the outside. being a student, you're considered non-staff. once the supervisor knows what transpired, you'll be guided accordingly. and of course, let your instructor know what happened. much luck to you.

leslie

Specializes in Nursing assistant.

well, as a CNA, I am glad to help any nurse who ask. But I know CNAs who take this attitude, especially with students. I don't think there is much you can do to change someones attitude. If you befriend the aids, and show them respect, it helps. But some of them just have that attitude, and at their pay scale, they figure, what is the worst that can happen. Fire me, make my day.

Seek out NAs who share your values. Some are incredibly interested in patient welfare, and team effort. Look for someone who is interested in learning new skills. NAs like that need alot of encouragement, and if there is some reinforcement from nursing staff, it can really change the culture of your workplace. Good luck!

well, as a CNA, I would be glad to help any nurse who asked. But I knew CNAs who would take this attitude, especially with students. I don't think there is much you can do to change someones attitude. If you befriend the aids, and show them respect, it helps. But some of them just have that attitude, and at their pay scale, they figure, what is the worst that can happen. Fire me, make my day.

Seek out NAs who share your values. Some are incredibly interested in patient welfare, and team effort. Look for someone who is interested in learning new skills. NAs like that need alot of encouragement, and if there is some reinforcement from nursing staff, it can really change the culture of your workplace. Good luck!

hi chadash.

although i can appreciate your perspective on how to approach certain cna's, those that have an attitude problem, aeb laughing at others which is plain old disrespect, has to be nipped in the bud asap. there are other ways to voice one's discontent that are acceptable and civil. when working, it is imperative that all staff treat ea other with respect & civility. that goes for nurses, nsg assts, housekeeping, kitchen, everyone. i hope the nsg staff appreciates the gem they have in you.:balloons:

leslie

Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
well, as a CNA, I am glad to help any nurse who ask. But I know CNAs who take this attitude, especially with students. I don't think there is much you can do to change someones attitude. If you befriend the aids, and show them respect, it helps. But some of them just have that attitude, and at their pay scale, they figure, what is the worst that can happen. Fire me, make my day.

Seek out NAs who share your values. Some are incredibly interested in patient welfare, and team effort. Look for someone who is interested in learning new skills. NAs like that need alot of encouragement, and if there is some reinforcement from nursing staff, it can really change the culture of your workplace. Good luck!

Thanks, and all of the CNA's I had worked with up to this point had been very helpful & nice. I helped them, & they helped me....I like to work as a team, & enjoy getting along with everybody. I just wanted to make sure to do things along chain of command so to speak....and not overstep any boundaries. Thanks!

Specializes in Nursing assistant.
Thanks, and all of the CNA's I had worked with up to this point had been very helpful & nice. I helped them, & they helped me....I like to work as a team, & enjoy getting along with everybody. I just wanted to make sure to do things along chain of command so to speak....and not overstep any boundaries. Thanks!

Oops! I reread your original post, and I guess you were asking more how to handle this as a nurse in the future. I agree with the posters you said you need to nip it in the bud!

Just last week, an OR support tech gave me lip about bringing supplies to my room. I just called his supervisor and asked her to get the supplies because the tech didn't want to. I've had no lip since.

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