Maybe I am not cut out for hospital nursing, I dont know. I cant seem to handle lazy aides well. Again I was assigned to the other side' on my unit, night shift, 2 rn's with one aide, 12 pts (6 patients each rn). If there is not a good aide, you drown at some point, usually later in the shift.
This float aide we had last night did his vitals, sat down in the hall with a portable computer for an hour or hour and a half. I got an admit, he balked at doing a sling weight (she is asleep, that can wait for days') (me: no it cant). Then he took over an hour break, when it is posted that they can take 2 15 min breaks and one 1/2 meal break. But that is the standard.
The night charges dont care. They dont give support. They just dont want trouble'. I told the aide upon his return of the above policy on our floor.
Then he started 0400 vitals, didnt answer call lights. I was trying to chart. I asked him to answer a call light. He did not, finally I went to answer it. I asked him why he didnt answer it, he said I could have answered it instead of coming to tell him to answer it. I told him I was charting, and that he was on the floor. He said he was in an iso room'. It seemed to me he took 15 minutes of so in that iso room to get VS, and was just waiting for ME to answer the call light. He got loud when I asked him this (about not answering) and argumentative. Then he went to the charge nurse to complain about me.
The chrage nurse said he's generally been a good guy'... I wrote my nurse mgr stating I am frustrated dealing with certain aides who seem to want to do only the minimum. I called insick for tonight. I am thinking of requesting not to be put back in this section especially if there is a marginal aide.
I left this morning with not enough time to do notes, ect. I just was so upset and wanted to get out of there.
I had an amazing aide who didn't bat an eye to do something out of his assignment. Plus he helped me resscue a crashing patient by being at the bedside until she stabilized. I am in his debt. I wish all my aides are as caring and attentive as he.
Hollyberry678...this is going to sound pretty harsh but...
After browsing through the other threads you have started it becomes apparent that this is an issue that has been going on since you first started nursing. Not only with aides but with RTs, Drs, Nurse Managers and other nurses. There are at least half a dozen threads started by you all based on the "not happy with co-workers/team members" theme.
I don't know what the root of the problem is but maybe its time to investigate that rather then focusing on individual instances.
I have to say I agree with not putting up with lazy co-workers but if it's an issue with every co-worker maybe the focus needs to be on you?
but on the other point it sounded like he was being lazy and just didn't "click" with you. I've worked with aide's who just were plain LAZY. It's very stressful but if they were actually busy then answer the lights.. I hate when I'm in a room taking care of a patient and I hear a call light go off for 10 minutes with no one answering. Does the patients need to use the bathroom, are they in pain? Leaving them calling you for that long is iresponsible nursing. I wouldn't want to be that patient.. I understand you need to chart but the patient's care and comfort comes before the damn paperwork.
I have to say that I don't handle lazy co-workers well. Leaving a patient with expired IV tubing 3 days past the day it was due to be changed. Last night, it was a brand new bag of versed on a line that was one day past the date it should have been changed. So I called her out on it, I know she was annoyed but I didn't care. She says to me "Just leave it, I'll get it in the morning." I said "Forget it, I'll have to change it anyways when the patient needs a new bag a versed."...thats one of my pet peeves. Oh and if you have one patient, wash up your patient. My patient last night, who really did not need to be singled, had dirty sheets. I managed to bathe him, change his sheets and admit a new patient from an outside hospital and still got out right on time. It's really not that hard and it really doesn't take that long. Lazy people. I'm sick of co-workers who come in to work to do just the bare minimum.
I'm a new nurse (a few months in) on ICU/CVICU and I have zero experience with delegation because we have no tech's at all on our unit. Judging by some of the responses in this thread, that might not be a bad thing.
If an aide thinks making a bed is more important than cleaning and positioning a pt, then that aide needs some education (which, really, they should have already had!).
I'm sorry, but that would make me question that aide's ability to give good care too.
Had a fellow aide who was doing vitals on about 15 pts. One pt, mid-way through had a pt w/ a bp through the roof and complaining of headache. The aide was so focused on getting the vitals done asap that she did not stop to report this to the RN and continued on her merry way to complete all vitals first. Then she did not point this high bp to the nurse. She just handed the clip board to the nurse and toodled off thinking her task was done.
When the nurse finally came across the pt's sheet and saw this, she was livid.
Did she trust that aide's judgment after that?
Heck no.
And when the nurse tried to re-educate the aide, she got a lot of eye-ball rolling.
What the hell are instructors teaching CNA students? Why aren't the CNAs utilizing their education?
I know that if they had had MY instructor, they would have been nailed to the wall for that. (Good lord, that woman didn't fool around!!)
My point is, the aide is given the privilege of trust with the pts. If they violate that, trust is going to be revoked... especially if you have already given that aide good teaching instruction.
I'm sorry, but if the nurse has the right to delegate, then the nurse the right to un-delegate.
I'd rather come across as a "b" and protect the pt than allow an aide w/ no sense take care of the pt.
Maybe I am not cut out for hospital nursing, I dont know. I cant seem to handle lazy aides well. Again I was assigned to the other side' on my unit, night shift, 2 rn's with one aide, 12 pts (6 patients each rn). If there is not a good aide, you drown at some point, usually later in the shift.
This float aide we had last night did his vitals, sat down in the hall with a portable computer for an hour or hour and a half. I got an admit, he balked at doing a sling weight (she is asleep, that can wait for days') (me: no it cant). Then he took over an hour break, when it is posted that they can take 2 15 min breaks and one 1/2 meal break. But that is the standard.
Don't go answering the call lights for them if they are doing nothing. If you keep that up they will expect it.
The night charges dont care. They dont give support. They just dont want trouble'. I told the aide upon his return of the above policy on our floor.
Then he started 0400 vitals, didnt answer call lights. I was trying to chart. I asked him to answer a call light. He did not, finally I went to answer it. I asked him why he didnt answer it, he said I could have answered it instead of coming to tell him to answer it. I told him I was charting, and that he was on the floor. He said he was in an iso room'. It seemed to me he took 15 minutes of so in that iso room to get VS, and was just waiting for ME to answer the call light. He got loud when I asked him this (about not answering) and argumentative. Then he went to the charge nurse to complain about me.
The chrage nurse said he's generally been a good guy'... I wrote my nurse mgr stating I am frustrated dealing with certain aides who seem to want to do only the minimum. I called insick for tonight. I am thinking of requesting not to be put back in this section especially if there is a marginal aide.
I left this morning with not enough time to do notes, ect. I just was so upset and wanted to get out of there.
I dont know what to do. Please advise.
I don't handle them well either. The one thing that irks me is the fact that the nurse aides on nights seem to have nothing to do after their bed checks are done. They sit behind the nurses station, next to me and TALK TO ME. I have a ton of charting to do, have to make sure all my tx's have been done, have to start making a report for the next shift, run down the hall if someone needs a pain med, give the hospice residents their q 2 hour morphine, all the while the aides are sitting around drinking coffee and gossiping.
I have had some wonderful aides and some just awful ones. Depends on how they feel about the nurses too. There is one aide that works the day shift that I trained as a CNA and I am ashamed of how she acts. I didn't teach her to rat on the nurses and get people in trouble. I guess the teaching part just goes so far and then if the aide picks up bad habits, there is no reflection on me, but sure makes me feel bad.
Of course his behavior is unacceptable..however..I would try to find the root of it. i am currently a tech, in ER, and in nursing school. I often find myself resenting the RNs only cuz I want to be one and know that I am as smart as they are. I feel inferior. HOwever, I realize this and know where its coming from. Therefore, I have found that the nurses I respond the best to, are the ones who speak to me respectfully, like, "john, are you busy" and that give me a chance to say, "yes i am right now, but i can get to you later," They have respected my work load and do not ask me to do something else when they see I am working. But the ones who just assume I am at their beck and call, and demand help right now, no matter what, those are the problems.
So, be aware how you are asking the aide. And, if that is not it. Start taking specific notes, of infractions, and dates and times, and compile them to be presented to the manager. If someone is not a team player, or worse, dangerous, they should be reomoved from the floor. I would start gentle at first with a one on one private investigation to determine if its a persoanal issue towards you alone. Always be aware that the problem could be YOU, not him. I rarely think its necessary to throw the "im the RN" in the face of someone who is assisgned to helping you...that would do NOTHING but **** him off more. I know it would me....though...you are right, you ARE the RN and deserve respect. He somehow needs to be gently reminded of that, without allienating him.
WOW, that is just wrong. I am not a nurse. I am a nursing student. I have however worked in a nursing home as a CNA. That type of behavior is unacceptable. Is he a new aide? Is this his first aide job? Well, it's true he may be a good guy in front of the nurse mgr, but he may not be a good aide or good worker. How old is he? That was a good thing that you told him about the policy, even though I'm sure he already knew it.
I don't know how hospital nurses do it, Ihad the same thing happen when I worked there. In LTC, this is unacceptable although there are many nurses that except this behavior, then c/o that they can't get there work done in time. There has to be teamwork for any kind of a nursing unit to servive! In this instance, it sounds like you as a nurse do not have the backing from your management. If this is the case, you might do well to consider other alternatives. Something that I have found is that the nurses that consistently do 'CNA work' get walked on by the CNA's. What I have to remind nurses is that while they are doing this work, their work suffers. All you have to do in these situations is to watch, are the CNA's consistently leaving on time? How much longer are the nurses having to stay over to completer their work??? Yes, I do expect that in a down time, the nurse can help with the water pitcher, or feed, or toilet someone needing standby assist, this should not be the rule, afterall, while the nurse can do the CNA's job, the CNA cannot do the nurses.
One suggestion for you, do you routinely give report to you CNA at shift start? This gives you the chance to state your expectations as well as let the CNA know what kind of a night they might be in for. For me, this has usually increased cooperation. Best of luck to you!
Setting the tone from both sides of the bed!!! First to the last poster! CNA work is nursing work. In fact it is first semester nursing! As a leader you have to know the job of the person working with you or under you!Also aids are very important to the RN while we are not nurses many situations would go uncorrected if the aide did not bring it to the RN's attention! Now I am a nursing student and an aid(which should be mandatory). As a student nurse I had to learn quickly that you set the tone when working with support staff. You do this by being the hardest worker on the team. You enlist the help of others when needed, and Delegate with a quick explination! "Im not sitting on my can at the station im tied up with patient x can you please handle this for me" After a short time most people want to be on your team! Almost everyone wants to be part of a good team! I also operate the same way as an aide. I am the hardest worker on the team period! I am requested by every floor in my hospital. I consider myself the eyes and ears of the R.N. I happen to be working with for the day. If i see something going wrong with one of my PT. I let the nurse know. I wll also call a nurse out for being lazy!!! I had a new Rn who was never an aide walk out of a pt's room and and call down the hall for me while i was tending to another pt. She Said and I quote " go put 345 on the bed pan" Befor i could explode on her one of the other nurses on the floor grabed her by the arm and drug her back into the room! I was later told she went up one side of her and down the other. "you dont mess with that aide he makes our life easy and will save you but!" So befor we go writing anyone up we need to relize we are responsible for the team we work on be a leader set the tone through hard work and you will be respected and people will want to work with you and for you! Earn respect dont demand respect!!!
I wll also call a nurse out for being lazy!!! I had a new Rn who was never an aide walk out of a pt's room and and call down the hall for me while i was tending to another pt. She Said and I quote " go put 345 on the bed pan" Befor i could explode on her one of the other nurses on the floor grabed her by the arm and drug her back into the room! I was later told she went up one side of her and down the other.
Just curious, but imagine the nurse is busy tending to another pt. and you called down the hall to let her know that one of her other pts needed a pain pill. What kind of response would you expect?
Setting the tone from both sides of the bed!!! First to the last poster! CNA work is nursing work. In fact it is first semester nursing! As a leader you have to know the job of the person working with you or under you!Also aids are very important to the RN while we are not nurses many situations would go uncorrected if the aide did not bring it to the RN's attention! Now I am a nursing student and an aid(which should be mandatory). As a student nurse I had to learn quickly that you set the tone when working with support staff. You do this by being the hardest worker on the team. You enlist the help of others when needed, and Delegate with a quick explination! "Im not sitting on my can at the station im tied up with patient x can you please handle this for me" After a short time most people want to be on your team! Almost everyone wants to be part of a good team! I also operate the same way as an aide. I am the hardest worker on the team period! I am requested by every floor in my hospital. I consider myself the eyes and ears of the R.N. I happen to be working with for the day. If i see something going wrong with one of my PT. I let the nurse know. I wll also call a nurse out for being lazy!!! I had a new Rn who was never an aide walk out of a pt's room and and call down the hall for me while i was tending to another pt. She Said and I quote " go put 345 on the bed pan" Befor i could explode on her one of the other nurses on the floor grabed her by the arm and drug her back into the room! I was later told she went up one side of her and down the other. "you dont mess with that aide he makes our life easy and will save you but!" So befor we go writing anyone up we need to relize we are responsible for the team we work on be a leader set the tone through hard work and you will be respected and people will want to work with you and for you! Earn respect dont demand respect!!!
Ok it sounds like you are very hostile. If you read my tread I spoke of and truly believe in teamwork. Because that is exactly what it takes. I have personnally been 'accosted' by surveyors that would NOT allow me to toilet a resident because I had not finished with my med pass. This is something that many CNA's get so mad about and want to question why a nurse can't do it! Well, that is why not to mentions infection control issues!
Please understand, a CNA like you is often a rarity. And a new nurse is just that, a new nurse. You too will be one. Don't be surprised when you actually take on the load that a nurse does, that you may understand better. And today most nurses did start as CNA's and do know what you do. My point here was not to infer that every CNA is lazy or that they don't understand (it was through working with the BEST group of CNA's in the world that taught me how to be a good nurse) but my point simply is, this nurse sounded overwhelmed and overworked and as I have been in the situation where I have had to prep someone for open heart surgery, got 2 back from angioplasty and someone with blood infusing and oh yes the confused post open heart patient that kept trying to get out of bed and setting off the cardiac monitors all the while q 15 minute vitals for at least 3 of them and then go to the nurses station to find the 2 PCT's sitting on the counter talking about what they did the noc prior! It's a tough situation.
I know that there is a big gap where some nurses use or talk down to CNA's but the best nurses know that a good CNA/PCT is there right hand. And a CNA that gives good information to the nurses is not only valued but as you said, even stood up for by the nurse. It is sad that there is such a disconnect. I'm sorry that you have had this issue. I hope you remember when you do get your license what it felt like to be a CNA and continue to be such a good teamplayer. Best of luck to you, all the success!
romie
387 Posts
I had an amazing aide who didn't bat an eye to do something out of his assignment. Plus he helped me resscue a crashing patient by being at the bedside until she stabilized. I am in his debt. I wish all my aides are as caring and attentive as he.