I am so sick of hearing attitudes from aides. I'm sick of it up to my chin. I can't hear it anymore. I think if an aide gives me attitude tomorrow I am going to flip out. I don't know what to do. They don't want to clean patients, turn patients, take vitals, get water, do a blood sugar, do I/Os, help patients to the bathroom, answer call lights, or anything! I shouldn't have to remind them to do their job... Oh but when I do because it isn't done all I get is attitude. All day with my 6 patients I did my job and I did their job. When I page them over head they don't answer. So i have to stop what I'm doing to put the pt on the bedpan, take them off, get water, ect ect.. I don't mind helping out.. I help out more than most nurses!!! But yet they still give me crap. Most of these aides have been working here for years.. Instead of setting a good example for the younger aides they are teaching them how to have an attitude..
I'm going to my director tomorrow. I can't put up with it anymore.. Either something has to change or I'm leaving. I love my job.. But I hate dealing with this everyday... Every nurse is sick of it.
They aren't even giving baths!! It is absolutely absurd. We've had this problem for a while.. The DON will talk to them and they'll act better for maybe 2 weeks, then it is back to the same ol' attitude.
Are there not any good CNAs anymore? Where are they?
I work in a nursing home at times, and I do page the CNAs to answer call lights. While I do not feel that I am above the task, you must bear in mind that LPNs in nursing home have 30 to 40 residents that they have to pass medications to, do g-tube feeding, wound care and chart on; not to mention any acute happenings. I never even get to each lunch when I work. So, sorry if CNAs are insulted, but that is why you are there, TO WORK.
Out of curiosity what would you do if all your CNA's were actually busy with pt's and the lights are going off?
As a former CNA I have had the chance to work some wonders of cna's on our floor. I have to say to Tiger, give them a break! It is really hard work for our cnas to have finally found the South African homepage soccer results and to be rudely asked if the cbg's were done. Do you know how difficult it is to get up from your 2.5 hour nap in the breakroom to do vitals at 4 am? And what about having to stop snooping in the ER log onine just to assist you with that code? Not to mention when that guy FINALLY writes back on your myspace account and now you want me to help you with a bedbath.
Let's give 'em a break, please, it's a long, long 12 hour night shift and the internet connection was pretty slow tonight.
:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle Thanks for the laugh.
Out of curiosity what would you do if all your CNA's were actually busy with pt's and the lights are going off?
If a CNA were busy and the light was going off I would answer it to see what the patient needed. If it is something that is not too time consuming like, pass me my remote control, get me some water or pull me up in the bed, I would do it; I would even assist an ambulatory patient to the toilet. If it is a patient who says " hone I need a diaper change because I done messed all over myself" I was asked them to give me a few minutes and I will call the CNA to assist them. I would then come and find you and let you know that when you are finished with what you are doing Ms. or Mr. XYZ needed to be changed. If you needed me to take over a minor task while you assisted pt XYZ then I would do that. But if you decided that you wanted to be difficult because I came to find you for pt XYZ and you are mad because you were about to shower pt LMNOP, then I would assist you in prioritizing your work:).
If a CNA were busy and the light was going off I would answer it to see what the patient needed. If it is something that is not too time consuming like, pass me my remote control, get me some water or pull me up in the bed, I would do it; I would even assist an ambulatory patient to the toilet. If it is a patient who says " hone I need a diaper change because I done messed all over myself" I was asked them to give me a few minutes and I will call the CNA to assist them. I would then come and find you and let you know that when you are finished with what you are doing Ms. or Mr. XYZ needed to be changed. If you needed me to take over a minor task while you assisted pt XYZ then I would do that. But if you decided that you wanted to be difficult because I came to find you for pt XYZ and you are mad because you were about to shower pt LMNOP, then I would assist you in prioritizing your work:).
While I understand you stated that you are responsible for 30-40 residents (and I can't even imagine being responsible for that many), I can only see your plan working if your facility is adequately staffed with CNA's. How many pt's do your CNA's have typically?
sounds like a bunch of rubbish. if the DON isnt doing anything assertive about it, like they only "act" good for 2 wks, complain every day. go home and do a write up about things throughout the day. i know that will be a lot of extra work for you, but thats the only way that things will be documented and you will feel better about making complaints with backup. if there is someone over the DON, go to her/him. we are supposed to follow rank, but if she isnt doing a good enough job, you need to nip that crap in the bud. just think of the new cna's that will be trained by your current ones!!!! will lead to an entire viscous cycle that will suck for you and the pt.
gl, be a *****!! sounds like thats what needs to happen.
While I understand you stated that you are responsible for 30-40 residents (and I can't even imagine being responsible for that many), I can only see your plan working if your facility is adequately staffed with CNA's. How many pt's do your CNA's have
typically?
The CNAs typically have 8 patients on days 10 on evenings and 12 on nights. Our CNAs have it good and many are still lazy. I find that they work better when they are short staffed and don't have so much time to sit around gossiping.
I am not lazy nurse and I just became and RN 4/12/08 after working as a LPN for 12 years. Many times when I went to hospitals as an LPN I would have to work on the floor as a tech. In addition I was a CNA 3 years before I became a LPN. I know laziness when I see it; and I am not going to do the CNAs work while they lolly gag around pretending to be busy. If I have to do their job then I don't need them and I will just send them home. I WILL do it myself...but I be d*** if they are going to stay at work getting paid for it.
The CNAs typically have 8 patients on days 10 on evenings and 12 on nights. Our CNAs have it good and many are still lazy. I find that they work better when they are short staffed and don't have so much time to sit around gossiping.
I am not lazy nurse and I just became and RN 4/12/08 after working as a LPN for 12 years. Many times when I went to hospitals as an LPN I would have to work on the floor as a tech. In addition I was a CNA 3 years before I became a LPN. I know laziness when I see it; and I am not going to do the CNAs work while they lolly gag around pretending to be busy. If I have to do their job then I don't need them and I will just send them home. I WILL do it myself...but I be d*** if they are going to stay at work getting paid for it.
8-12pt's ain't bad. I too was a PCT in a hospital setting (I know, a little different than LTC), but I can not imagine paging someone to answer the call light. I'm always afraid, what if a pt falls, or hurts themselves and I could have prevented it (even if they weren't my pt), simply by answering the call light and walking them to the bathroom. As a CNA/PCT I would get frustrated and burnt out very, very quickly if you actually called me every time a pt needed something, and I was busy.
I truly believe that most PCT's are overworked and underpaid, and that as RN's we should do our part to make their job easier. The majority of them are excellent workers that truly care about pt's, but they are only human--they can only do so much at once. They need teamwork, and they need help from nurses to get work done. Remember, they are doing your job, if they weren't there (or worse, if they quit), who'll get stuck doing the dirty work? You will.
While I do agree with a lot that you have said ChristineN (especially the part about CNA/PCTs being overworked and underpaid). I must disagree that the CNAs are doing "my job." They are doing THEIR job, as that is what they were hired to do. They are "nurses assistants" and they are paid to assist the nurse. I am sure they were given a copy of a job description and signed it agreeing to the terms and conditions of their employment. If it was something that they did not want to do, then by all means please DO NOT accept the position. As for answering call lights I think that it is everyone's responsibility to "answer" a call light. Depending on the need of the patient, I may do it or I may delegate it to the CNA, as the nurse I have that option.
And while I also agree that there are MANY good CNAs/TECH there are also MANY MORE lazy and trifling ones. Many are resentful at the nurses authority to delegate the menial tasks. And they think that we think we are above cleaning poop, when in fact it is not that I am above cleaning poop, it is just that they have more time:rolleyes:.
While I do agree with a lot that you have said ChristineN (especially the part about CNA/PCTs being overworked and underpaid). I must disagree that the CNAs are doing "my job." They are doing THEIR job, as that is what they were hired to do. They are "nurses assistants" and they are paid to assist the nurse. I am sure they were given a copy of a job description and signed it agreeing to the terms and conditions of their employment. If it was something that they did not want to do, then by all means please DO NOT accept the position. As for answering call lights I think that it is everyone's responsibility to "answer" a call light. Depending on the need of the patient, I may do it or I may delegate it to the CNA, as the nurse I have that option.
Yes, it is "their job" but anything that is in the CNA's scope of practice is also part of the RN/LPN's scope of practice. I worked as a PCT for almost two years (both adult med-surg and Peds), and I can tell you that the majority of the nurses appreciated me and considered me a good worker (something I pride myself on). However, I was burnt out in med-surg from having 20-37 pts a shift, being expected to do ALL the pt care while the nurses had seven pts. I know, they have alot of charting, assessing, meds, etc to do, but it's not safe care nor practical to have one person responable for 20-37 pt's physical needs. I am not Wonder Woman, I simply can't do it all. Now, on the other hand, if nurses would realize this and take on more responsibility for their pt's when they are short staffed PCT's, we would all be happier. RN's wouldn't be chasing down the one PCT to try to get something done (meanwhile that PCT has a list the size of my arm of stuff that "needs done"), and the PCT wouldn't be getting burnt out. If RN's and PCTs had more teamwork I truly believe you would see less PCT turnover.
And while I also agree that there are MANY good CNAs/TECH there are also MANY MORE lazy and trifling ones. Many are resentful at the nurses authority to delegate the menial tasks. And they think that we think we are above cleaning poop, when in fact it is not that I am above cleaning poop, it is just that they have more time:rolleyes:.
I don't know if you have a poor view of CNA's or work with a lot of lazy ones, but my experience has been that they are not in general (ie. as a profession) any lazier than the nurses they surve. They are lazy nurses, but we don't use them to call all nurses lazy, so why would we call all CNA's lazy because of a few bad apples?
The very last 2 CNA's I worked with were lazy. They thought their purpose on the floor was to talk on the phone, computer, and to kitchen staff. Well, I do not do the tit for tat thing. I just did my job, wrote up what was needed, and let the HN take care of the issue. Playing politics is not my style, taking care of patients is what I do. Remember everyone has a bad day from time to time, but no one has a bad day everyday. I work by the Golden Rule, seems to serve me in the end.
You know....I personally have issues with the bad CNAs who give the rest of us a bad name....I look upon my job as it's my JOB to do my tasks in the most caring manner I can manage..even if I am overworked. If I have 19 patients of differing acuity, then not everything will be getting done. The minor stuff will have to wait, or the nurses can do it when they get into the room as well.....
That being said, I personally jump all over my call lights when they're going off...and the other ones when they have been going off for a few minutes....I know nurses do a lot more than what most CNAs see(after all, I am graduating from NS in 2 weeks!) and I don't ask them to answer lights unless I'm swamped.
I work with a wonderful group of nurses who care about every one of our patients....and who answer lights on their patients if they happen to be in the area anyway....
HOWEVER, being a CNA is hard, backbreaking work.....most patients do NOT appreciate what you do for them, and some just like to complain. I never take anything personally, just because patients are obviously sick...and need someone to displace that onto (within reason).....
OP, I'd be writing up those techs and talking to the DON to tell her she better get a new crew in there pronto....or her patient satisfaction will probably be going wayyyy down....
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I must disagree that the CNAs are doing "my job." They are doing THEIR job, as that is what they were hired to do. They are "nurses assistants" and they are paid to assist the nurse. I am sure they were given a copy of a job description and signed it agreeing to the terms and conditions of their employment. If it was something that they did not want to do, then by all means please DO NOT accept the position. As for answering call lights I think that it is everyone's responsibility to "answer" a call light. Depending on the need of the patient, I may do it or I may delegate it to the CNA, as the nurse I have that option.
ChristineN, BSN, RN
3,465 Posts
Out of curiosity what would you do if all your CNA's were actually busy with pt's and the lights are going off?