How would you answer this interview question?

NursingStudent5548 · May 19, 2009

I would have said something along the lines...to the CNA!!

Unless this is an emergency...your patients come first!! All personal calls while on the clock need to be handled through the main line, like everyone else!! Consider this a verbal warning, next time will be a write up!!

Our facility did have a policy though if the DON/Charge Nurse was informed ahead of time of expected calls the call could be taken off on break!!

NC Girl BSN · May 19, 2009

First I would pause and count to 3 in my head to gather my thoughts and then in a calm but stern voice I would say:

________(her name). I am pretty sure you are aware of the personal phone call policy and I think it is disrespectful to myself and the residents that you choose to ignore me while I am talking to you. I need for you to end the phone call and attend to the patients needs. If this is a problem, then I will need to call the manager or Director and let them know that we cannot find a resolution to this problem. I would then wait about 2 seconds to see if she responds. If she didn't. I would call the charge nurse or DON. Make her aware of the problem and write her up.

((This is what I would say in the interview.)) I have never come across a CNA that was this disrespectful so its kinda hard to imagine being in this situation.

SunnyAndrsn · May 19, 2009

First I would pause and count to 3 in my head to gather my thoughts and then in a calm but stern voice I would say:
________(her name). I am pretty sure you are aware of the personal phone call policy and I think it is disrespectful to myself and the residents that you choose to ignore me while I am talking to you. I need for you to end the phone call and attend to the patients needs. If this is a problem, then I will need to call the manager or Director and let them know that we cannot find a resolution to this problem. I would then wait about 2 seconds to see if she responds. If she didn't. I would call the charge nurse or DON. Make her aware of the problem and write her up.
((This is what I would say in the interview.)) I have never come across a CNA that was this disrespectful so its kinda hard to imagine being in this situation.

This is a very good response, I will have to try this one. We have a CNA who is very, very, hyper and moody (possibly un-dx bipolar). She's a complete and total PITA to manage, honestly herding squirrels would be easier than keeping this chick on task. Among other issues, we have all caught her on her cell phone. I've pointedly asked her "Are you on a break? If you are, please take this outside or to the break room." She's actually ignored me, which I told her I didn't appreciate. She launched into a long story about blah, blah, blah why the call was so important (it wasn't) and I told her I didn't want to see that phone during the rest of the shift and to get back to work. Very frustrating to have to hunt her down when she's on that thing!! Management is aware, it continues to be a problem.

NC Girl BSN · May 19, 2009

Sunny,

I think you handled that appropriately. I would write her U know what up every occurance and call the DON and tell them that something has to be done. Especially if your running around doing some of her work!

rngolfer53 · May 19, 2009

As calmly as you can manage, say something along the lines of "Pt X needs this done asap. Please see to it right away, and let me know when it's done. Do you have any questions?"

I wouldn't go further than that, as there's no information in the question about what the policy is for phone use, whether the CNA in question is normally good, bad or indifferent, etc.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 19, 2009

Ha! Ha! Ha! This happened with the CNAs at one nursing home where I used to work. This is what I used to do. . .stand next to the CNA and stare at them until they hung up and then told reminded them about the policy of not taking personal phone calls on the job or I would have to write them up next time. It an assertiveness technique. If they yelled back at me I wrote them up for insubordination and the DON fired them for that if they didn't shape up. I have also removed the extension phones from the hallway walls in one facility that I worked so the CNAs couldn't use them.

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 19, 2009

Ha! Ha! Ha! This happened with the CNAs at one nursing home where I used to work. This is what I used to do. . .stand next to the CNA and stare at them until they hung up and then told reminded them about the policy of not taking personal phone calls on the job or I would have to write them up next time. It an assertiveness technique. If they yelled back at me I wrote them up for insubordination and the DON fired them for that if they didn't shape up. I have also removed the extension phones from the hallway walls in one facility that I worked so the CNAs couldn't use them.

O_O

I like it. :chuckle

Michigan · May 19, 2009

LOL...herding squirrels, I love it and will use it.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 19, 2009

:chuckle The CNAs get more miffed because they think you are standing there listening to their phone conversation (which you could care less about. You are thinking about why they are still on the phone because you have this, this, and this to do). Twisted thinking on the part of people who make up and follow their own rules. Go figure.

MoopleRN · May 19, 2009

Any CNA on my watch knows better than to even have their cell phone on the floor let alone use it. That would've been my answer. And if they don't comply/get busted, they get written up. Period. No please get off the phone or please end your call and go do whatever... I don't have the authority to confiscate that cell phone but I do have the authority to enforce policy and if that means removing them from the floor/calling the house manager, so be it. There are a lot of things I can tolerate but not this. No way. No how. No verbal warning.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2009

Has anyone here been asked this type of question at an interview before?