Tell the CNA to clock out and go home

Specialties Geriatric

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Things are changing now at my "Anything goes" LTC. We are now being told that we are not to put up with any CNA insubordination anymore. We were told that if a CNA refuses to do what we tell them to do, that we are to tell them to clock out and go home. How do you think this plan will work out on the 3-11 and 11-7 shifts when we are already short of CNA staff to begin with?

To me it sounds like they are putting the nurses in an untenable position. Why is management making you do their job? It seems like a set-up that will create an adversarial environment between nurses and CNAs, when they should be problem-solving and finding ways to make the units go smoothly.

You guys are all front line staff and the management should be doing whatever they can to promote a healthy team environment. If that can't happen it is on them to look at their staffing and hiring practices, and additionally address discipline problems and find ways to create a positive working culture. Making the nurses do their dirty work is just wrong.

Not to mention the fact that if you send a CNA home, now your unit is working short. No one wins with that. Except management -- one less paycheck to worry about; they've got a unit that is drowning and understaffed, but now they can just blame the nurse for sending the CNA home.

I wouldn't want to be in your shoes.

I was told by my DON when I reported an incident to her that dealt with a CNA, that I had the "right to send her home right then." The CNAs were VERY cliquish, so I can only imagine how I, the newbie at the facility, would be treated from all CNAs after that. How are we supposed to work as a team if we are continuously reminding the CNAs that we have the power to send them home. Its a fine line to walk. Yes, we are technically their superiors, but I would also like to get through my shift without payback from CNAs everyday. Instead of stressing to us nurses that we have this "power", how about they stress to the CNAs that attitudes will not be accepted?

okay i am just going to say this, CNAS work very hard. i know from experience in my teenage years before i became a NP. I think you need to reflect on yourself and see how your delegating your tasks. If you see a CNA is overwhelmed or very busy dont keep adding tasks. i have worked with many lazy nurses and have seen them treat their CNAS like crap. Sometimes its not what you say its how you say it. When you delegate something give repect. to get repect you must give repect. And help out somtimes dont be one of those nurses who just sits around doesnt answer call lights or do anything thats " CNA " related. You need to get to the bottom of what the situation. Obviously you are not treating your CNAS with repect or they wouldnt be so insubordinate. Im not saying their arent a few bad eggs out there. Sure there are but after this post and comments. im just sayng. I dont think you would be sending CNAS home if you took the time to treat them with respect and say what is the problem? what can i do to make your assignment easier. also always offer to help it goes a long way. .

okay i am just going to say this CNAS work very hard. i know from experience in my teenage years before i became a NP. I think you need to reflect on yourself and see how your delegating your tasks. If you see a CNA is overwhelmed or very busy dont keep adding tasks. i have worked with many lazy nurses and have seen them treat their CNAS like crap. Sometimes its not what you say its how you say it. When you delegate something give repect. to get repect you must give repect. And help out somtimes dont be one of those nurses who just sits around doesnt answer call lights or do anything thats " CNA " related. You need to get to the bottom of what the situation. Obviously you are not treating your CNAS with repect or they wouldnt be so insubordinate. Im not saying their arent a few bad eggs out there. Sure there are but after this post and comments. im just sayng. I dont think you would be sending CNAS home if you took the time to treat them with respect and say what is the problem? what can i do to make your assignment easier. also always offer to help it goes a long way. .[/quote']

I remember when I was a CNA being talked to like crap from nurses. So I have been there too.

You are making assumptions that every poster disrespects the CNAs, which I hardly believe is the case. And did you even read all the posts? Most of us were saying we dont feel comfortable sending a CNA home. That if there is a LEGIT attitude problem, it should be handled by the supervisors, not the floor nurses who are trying to work with the CNAs as a TEAM.

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