Yesterday while I at work, I had a very strange incidet happen. I was in a patients room about to give her a.m. meds, and we noticed that her water pitcher was empty, so I sat her pills down on her bedside table and was about to go fill her water pitcher when the CNA walked in, at this point the patient asked her will you get me some water please. The CNA said "Yes, but she(me) could have gotten it for you too, we work together around here." I told the CNA that I was about to get it, and she said "Well go ahead, they (patients) try to disinguish between who's what, but we work together around here". I did fill the water pitcher, but I think that situaion could have been handled better. I am a very young nurse and I see this type of attitude aimed towards me a lot from older nurses and cna's. I know I need to work on being more assertive ,but it seems so hard to do at times being a shy person, by being afraid to speak up at times. So suggestions are
When I worked at the nursing home I overheard one of the janitors and a CNA complaining about the nurses (they were doing the Rodney Dangerfield routine). The janitor said something about, they get held in higher regard just because they have a piece of paper that says they're a nurse.
It ran all over me. I was a fairly new nurse at the time and the rigors of late night studying and clinicals were still fresh in my mind. I stepped in that room and said that they need to take into account how hard it was for those nurses to get that piece of paper. The aide and janitor laughed and acted like they knew what I meant but I don't think they did.
Seems to be human nature for people to assume that when other people have something they don't it is because their lives are easier or they were lucky.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I remember as a new aide, I started working nights at a nursing home. I really thought that it would be as we were told in CNA school...that if anyone needs help, to call the nurse. I was not used to maneovering heavy, spastic and contracted patients. I called the nurse about 5 times, and at first, she assisted me, then, she told me that she was busy. Naively, I thought she was mean, but, years later, that stayed on my mind, and when I became a nurse myself, then, I understood. You just can't respond to everything. I took that with me when I deal with the RNs. There are some things that they can do that I just can't because of my scope of practice. I either have to take the initiative myself, or at the very least, do MY job so that if I have to turn something over to them, that they can focus on what they can do. I get along with them well because I don't bug them unless the situation is truely out of my hands and scope of practice.
You will definitely have to get more assertive in this profession or you will be doing everybody's job and not finishing your own. I concur with the other post, never leave meds on the bedside and leave out of the room it could cause you your nursing license, unless the patient has an order, "may leave by bedside".
Specializes in Med-Surg,BH,Geriatric,Cardiac/Tele.
This is for Nurse 101
that is the reason why CNAs act like they do. nurse like yourself. We as nurses are supposed to be a TEAM if you spoke to me like that "no lip about it" you would certainly be taking care of your pts all by yourself You are the one that needs to wake up and smell the coffee!!! I was once a CNA and had a snotty nurse tell me "it was beneath her to get the pt something to eat" Well guess what she pulled that team of 7 pts on a cardiac unit all by herself after that little remark. I reported her and was moved to another team and no other CNA wanted to work with her. She never again was rude or snotty to another CNA. So please be considerate of your CNA, they are your eyes and ears and your right hand And stop whining about how "no one helps you do your job
Specializes in ortho(med surg) and OB, mostly L&D.
im sure you heard by now...don't leave the pills on the table with the client alond, im sure you have learned from that by now. anyways...as a nursing student i worked as a cna over the summer in between semesters. the cna's and the older nurses both felt i was incapable as a new person and either made fun of me or lectured me about every little thing i did. don't let people tear you down. i would approach people about their attitudes because it's going to make you hate your job. i would ask them why they do that to you and tell them you are still learning for god's sake...and tell the cna that yes you do need to work together but her pardon me..bitchy attitude is getting in the way...say it nicer than that...guess im a little bitter in past experiences lol..if it gets really bad go to your nurse manager and tell her you are being singled out. there is nothing wrong with that...good luck
Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.
I always do little tasks for patients (like filling water pitchers) if I have the time or if the patient asks me. I am a young nurse too but rarely have trouble with CNAs taking advantage of me. There are several tactics to use. First, treat your CNA with respect--they likely have more experience than you or are older than you. Second, maintain professionalism at all times so that your CNA will trust your leadership. Third, always offer to help out and offer multiple times during the day. Be willing to help your CNA even if it isn't your patient. Fourth, develop a warm relationship with your CNA.
I can't tell you how many times a CNA has saved me from making a misguided decision. If they are on your side they will save you from a heap of trouble.
However, I have had experiences with CNAs (although rare) who try to pull a fast one. One kept saying to me throughout the shift, "If we work together..." I found out what "work together" meant really fast. I helped her do everything and she helped me do nothing. Watch out for the bad apples but most CNAs are more than worth their weight in gold.
I am also one that loves my aides, the ones that are hard workers anyway. I asked one to do post-mortum care and she said, Oh, are you going to stay and help me? I said, SURE, as a matter of fact I will do it all. Then you can go out and comfort the family, call the funeral home, fill out the paperwork, pull the huber needle, waste the narcotic, do the return to pharmacy slips AND oh by the way, I have a med pass on my other patient, why don't you take care of that too? I am the nicest person in the world, unless I feel like my patients aren't being taken care of properly, than I am a tirant. She no longer works with me, but the aide that replaced her said that she has never worked with RN's who help as much as the staff at my place helps the aides. So, what does that tell you? Just be assertive. If you ask her to do something and she tries that again, and she will, say, "That is right, we do work together around here. So, while I finish my medication rounds, this kind aide will be refilling your water picture. Isn't that just so sweet of her? "
that is the reason why CNAs act like they do. nurse like yourself. We as nurses are supposed to be a TEAM if you spoke to me like that "no lip about it" you would certainly be taking care of your pts all by yourself You are the one that needs to wake up and smell the coffee!!! I was once a CNA and had a snotty nurse tell me "it was beneath her to get the pt something to eat" Well guess what she pulled that team of 7 pts on a cardiac unit all by herself after that little remark. I reported her and was moved to another team and no other CNA wanted to work with her. She never again was rude or snotty to another CNA. So please be considerate of your CNA, they are your eyes and ears and your right hand And stop whining about how "no one helps you do your job
Have a nice day !!
Please read the entire post before you respond... The "no lip about it" would be in response to what the CNA told the OP. I never have and never will tell someone that it is beneath me to get them something to eat. That is a totally different situation to what the OP is experiencing and why she posted for advice. Whining? So when did a simple comment become a whine? Not to be rude but please look up the word whine... (again I am really not trying to be rude or disrespectful). It's just that people start to flame or be rude to others after reading only one post. CNA's are a valuable member of our team but they also have to learn that we as RN's will help, that they also have a job description. As I said in my original post I will never leave a room to call a CNA to get a water pitcher, but if another patient needs my immediate attention on my way out the door I will page the CNA to get it for me and with all the kindness in the world.
I smelled the coffee since the second week I was on the floor as a brand new nurse (2 years ago) when CNA's never took me seriously!
Well guess what she pulled that team of 7 pts on a cardiac unit all by herself after that little remark.
BTW, this says as much about your character as the nurse who was nasty to you. You see, it isn't about YOU. It is about the patient. You took her laziness personally and got (rightfully, I believe) upset with HER. However, the way you handled it was ALL WRONG. I worked on a cardiac unit and was the assist. manager on another. I saw so many times the patient suffer because of unit dynamics and someone having a bad day. So, my question to you is this...What kind of care did those 7 patients get while she was too good to feed them and you were busy in the corner pouting? AND, would you do it differently now that you have had time to cool your temper? If so, good, you learned from a horrible mistake. If not, please take a moment to think if it were your mother in that bed asking for something to eat. Then step back and watch the nurse and aide have a power struggle. THEN, no care for the rest of the night. How would you feel, as a patient or as a patient's family?
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You see, it isn't about YOU. It is about the patient. You took her laziness personally and got (rightfully, I believe) upset with HER. However, the way you handled it was ALL WRONG. I worked on a cardiac unit and was the assist. manager on another. I saw so many times the patient suffer because of unit dynamics and someone having a bad day. So, my question to you is this...What kind of care did those 7 patients get while she was too good to feed them and you were busy in the corner pouting? AND, would you do it differently now that you have had time to cool your temper? If so, good, you learned from a horrible mistake. If not, please take a moment to think if it were your mother in that bed asking for something to eat. Then step back and watch the nurse and aide have a power struggle. THEN, no care for the rest of the night. How would you feel, as a patient or as a patient's family?
Jo Dirt
3,270 Posts
When I worked at the nursing home I overheard one of the janitors and a CNA complaining about the nurses (they were doing the Rodney Dangerfield routine). The janitor said something about, they get held in higher regard just because they have a piece of paper that says they're a nurse.
It ran all over me. I was a fairly new nurse at the time and the rigors of late night studying and clinicals were still fresh in my mind. I stepped in that room and said that they need to take into account how hard it was for those nurses to get that piece of paper. The aide and janitor laughed and acted like they knew what I meant but I don't think they did.
Seems to be human nature for people to assume that when other people have something they don't it is because their lives are easier or they were lucky.