How would you handle this, VERY lazy CNA!

[pink2blue1]

I really hate to come here and vent about a CNA because I know in most cases on the floor I work on, they work very hard. Also I was a CNA for 4 years before getting my nursing license so I know what it's like.

We have a fairly new (to our facility) CNA. She has been a CNA for a long time. She was great the first few weeks, and then we noticed none of the patients getting bathed. She has lied to my face several times about bathing patients. I have had days where I have changed all my beds and done my baths myself. With 5 patients. I have felt like I have not had a CNA at all when she works. I am literally doing everything, bathroom trips, bed baths, feeds, bed pans, changing diapers...but only when she works. I have come into rooms on sever different occasions, different days, to find her sitting in the chair in the patients room, watching football and rooting on the patients team, chatting, whatever.

Yesterday was the deal breaker for me. I entered a patients room and something smelled bad. At first I thought the patient had vomited, but could find no evidence. Her bed was cleaned and her hair had been combed, so I figured she had her bath. When I went to give her lovenox injection and pulled back the covers to expose her tummy, a HORRIBLE smell came out. It was not a BM, it was her lady partsl area! I KNEW she had not been washed. I gave the injection, called the CNA and asked her to please bathe mrs so and so next as the Dr was coming to cast her arm. At this time she said "When is he coming" I just said Soon. I finished hanging blood on another patient, getting the cast cart from ER and then went back to do some chart checks. She went into the room, so after a few minutes I followed. She was SITTING on the chair in the patient room, talking to her. She said "Oh I am just getting vitals and then I am going to bathe her. (She was getting vitals SITTING with the machine across the room) Ok, whatever. I go back to do my chart checks and she came out 5 mins later, looked at me and said "She smells just like baby powder now, I washed her all up" Ok fine. The daughter of this patient entered the room, so I followed to tell her the Dr was coming soon to do the cast. Then I smelled that same smell. The daughter mentioned it to me too. I lifted back the covers, to find NO baby powder present and the same foul odor. I specifically told the CNA to do peri care! So I decided to do the job myself. I could NOT even find the bath basin! She had definitely NOT washed her.

What I cleaned out of this poor patients peri area was disgusting. The daughter watched me the whole time, she saw what I did and what I cleaned out. She also had a foley so I did foley care. I was SO MAD I couldn't even confront the CNA. I told Charge and she told me to tell the manager. I feel bad, but at the same time, she is there to do a job too and not that I am beyond washing a peri area, but I knew I had a Dr coming to put a cast on at the end of the shift and I was trying to get chart checks done!

Would you say something to the manager or just go on doing what you are doing and bathing patients and let her get away with this lazy behavior? Ugh!!

[Jo Dirt]

Is the CNA on drugs? She can't last long doing that kind of a job. You'd better believe I'd report her and how!

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

patient neglect.. she needs to be turned in. how dare she treat these paients like they were not even human. these patients are at our mercy to be treated with resect and they get treated subhuman.. this poor woman was somebody's baby once and lived , worked , ectra.. how very sad.. turn her in and get her out of there.. she needs to be turned into the board for pt neglect... grrrrr

[RNmom08]

I wouldn't just "let her get away with it".

Unfortunately, until the situation is resolved - whether she gets her act together or is fired - I would continue to follow up on all of her cares. (Honestly, I don't know that I would even trust that she is getting correct vital signs.) You are the person accountable to make sure that the patient is getting quality care. This becomes an infection control issue as well. (Cath care)

I would definitely go through the correct channels in making sure this gets resolved. Look at it this way, you are not the only nurse that this CNA works with. Other nurses are having to deal with this CNA as well. If you were the patient who's not able to take care of yourself, would you want this CNA caring for you? Please, please continue to look after your patients and follow up and not only when you know a physician is on their way.

Thank you for being a nurse that cares! Go to the manager and keep looking out for those who cannot advocate for daily cares themselves! Good luck with this situation! (And remember to document what you know about her lack of care on patients! This will help...)

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I agree with motorcycle mama. If she lies to you about something you can easily check on, I'd worry about what other untruths she has told. She obviously can't be trusted.

[GQRN]

That sounds terrible. I've dealt with a lot of lazy CNAs too. I'm a type of nurse that doesn't like "*****" at all. If I work with someone that is "lazy", I tell them. But I tell them in a way to get them going, not in a way to put them down.

It is hard to take care of 5 pts. and render all-around care. But that is your responsibility as a nurse. You should never depend no a CNA.

The best way to deal with all kinds of CNA's is to work with them as a team. Take them with you when you need to go give medications or assessment. You were going to spend 3 minutes in there givings meds and all, why not make it 5 minutes and work with your CNA and satisfy yourself that all care has been provided.

There are a lot of lazy nurses too. But I'm not going to get into that. I'm sure you all know what I mean.

[allantiques4me]

We are not babysitters!!!If she cant handle her responsibilities,she needs to go home!!Write her up for starters!!I am so glad I dont have to deal with these horrible types of people where I work!! Been there, done that!!Good luck!She needs to be reprimended and possibly fired.!!

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

A Unit manager once told me that if I wanted anything to be done with a co-worker to put all of their wrongdoings on paper. Absolutely nothing will be done without a paper trail. And if any other nurses feel the same way you do they have to do the same thing. Why keep her if she won't work?

[tobimikal]

I would just like to say that I am not a nurse, I am a CNA and theres no way that even I would not do anything about her. Although I have no authoritative power over other aides I absolutely have no problem making aides like this lifes a living hell. Unfortunatley, many times administration does not like to upset the aides because it is so hard to find a full crew that actually shows up for their shifts. This aides behavior is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!! A classic case of Resident abuse and this should not be tolerated. These people deserve to be shown some respect and dignity. It reminds me of this girl that once told me that her CNA instructor made them all put on briefs over their scrubs that were dipped in water and strapped them up in a hoyer for 2 hours to show them some humility. That is great and if you ask me should be a standard practice in CNA classed nationwide.

[rtmason]

No brainer.... inform the manager. It's all about patient care. Period. If the patient suffers, the whole healthcare team is in trouble. What "great" things will the patient have to say about how they were treated under YOUR care? Will the hospital receive good ratings? There is absolutely no room in any healthcare/clinical setting for a negligent, lazy, and lying team mate. Be they doctor, nurse, tech or aide.

If you think about the care of your patients, this is truly a no brainer, IMHO.

[rtmason]

BTW, I think you're a great nurse. Keep caring for those patients.:nuke:

[Batman24]

I would report her. It's terrible that this poor woman's genital care was neglected. And it's very unprofessional and inappropriate for her to lie to you about it. I'm glad the patient has you looking out for her. Next time the daughter might report that her mother smells and I would really beat her to the punch. The CNA needs to be addressed at once.