I am starting a new job as a PCT and want to make a good impression with the nursing staff, physicans, and patients.
I have experience in health care fields as a MA. I am used to making Dr's happy...but now I need to know how to make nurses happy. I am leaving MA for PCT so I can go to nursing school. CNA/PCT usually have more flexable hours.
I have read some negitive message board comments about how some nurse want to get rid of the CNAs in the hospital...I don't want to be hated before I get started.
When they do their job: "They are great and a welcome addition."
When they sit around and make me do all the toileting and callbell answering and have the nerve to tell me the patient's table is messy while I'm flushing a g-tube: "SHUT THE @($! UP....*derogatory term*"
The only time I have ever had conflict, was when you would get the over-the-top power tripping nurse.
I can count the number of those I've dealt with on one hand... minus a finger or two, lol.
Dealt with one (just being totally obnoxious!) by running my butt off so hard, with sweat down my face and a big grin every time I passed that wench by. Trust me, that blew her away and she left me alone after that, lol.
Anyhoo...
Nurses generally appreciate their CNAs, especially if they:
1) work and keep busy
2) anticipate and take care of things before they have to be told to
3) do a high quality and neat job
4) have patients that are satisfied
5)* behave professionally (no swearing on the floor, no whining, no drama)
6) can work independently
7) can work as a team
8) don't let their ego get in the way (can accept someone else may have a better idea than their own, for example)
9) report concerns promptly
10) shows signs of life and common sense... are always learning, adapting and improving
*Sad but true... the way some CNAs act on the floor is embarrassing. They complain about getting no respect, but if you could hear what comes out of their mouths... welp... you are treated the way you behave.
Specializes in MED/SURG STROKE UNIT, LTC SUPER., IMU.
I know when I come in how my day is going to be when I see who my aid is. If the person is a hard worker and communicates when the vital signs, input, output and mental status change then I will have a good day. If I have someone that I have to hunt down, check after to make sure they did their job or will not, even after I have told them my perameters, tell me when there is a change, I am going to have a really bad day!
It is all in how the person does their job and communicates. If you do your job and let the nurse know when there is a change and if when you are done with the immediate things and ask your nurse if they need something....you are going to do great.
I try to do the same thing with my PCTs. When I am all caught up, I ask them where they are and try to help them. TEAMWORK is ESSENTIAL in this field!
I love my aides! We call them resident care techs where I work. They are really good at getting the call lights on time. If they are tied up I will help them. I helped one resident get into her nightgown and took her to the toliet when her aide was doing a shower. She was really appriciatrive (sp) and I was happy. It makes it so much smoother when you work as a team!
A good tech is worth their weigjt in gold. I love my techs, they rock hard, excellent team players and we have a truly collaborative relationship.
A lazy or incompetent tech is worthless and just slows me down, as I have to do their work and mine. I'd rather not have a tech than have one who is going to just sit on their butt and give me attitude when I ask for help.
A CNA can make or break a nurse. I have had days where I am so buried in my job that I can't even see what's going on around me but I know at the end of the shift that everything that needs to be done for the patients in terms of their direct care will be done. I come to the end of my shift and think how grateful I am that we really pulled together as a team and kept the unit together. Teamwork is key.
CNAs have regular access to all the patient issues that nurses need to be aware of -- yes we do our assessments, but we can't always know everything and depend on the CNA to report things like whether the patient hasn't had a BM, or has diarrhea, or is more lethargic or agitated than usul, or has a new weird thing growing on their skin, or a rash, or hasn't eaten dinner or had anything to drink all shift. CNAs that know who the fall risk patients are and who always have their eye on those patients no matter what else they are doing.It is a complex and back breaking job -- most definitely not just wiping butts -- and those are the CNAs that are worth their weight in gold.
A CNA who is just phoning it in can ruin my day, I have to spend the whole shift chasing them down or reminding them what to do, answering call lights and toileting patients, tracking down patients who have wandered off, and so I can't do my job.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I love CNA's but only the ones that do their jobs, stay in their scope and don't tell me no or push back when I tell them nicely to do something. I never ask my CNA's to do something that I would never do. I also can't stand the ones that open their mouths in front of patients and say things they shouldn't. Another bone with me is knocking the RN. Some think just because we make more money we should be worked like dogs and not complain. Yes, we aren't doing bedbaths and toileting on a minute by minute basis, but I can guarantee you, that we are working just as hard.
JacknSweetpea
149 Posts
Behind every good nurse is an even better CNA !!