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 actually think the good aides all retired. I can't say all of them, but the majority of young people today do not have the respect that we had back in my day. When I was a nursing assistant, I did what the nurse told me to do. I didn't always like her, but I did my job, plus anything extra that she asked of me.
Today's nursing assistant seem to have an attitude. I am not speaking of all of them, but many I encounter have a terrible attitude. I got so aggravated one night because the nursing assistants weren't doing their jobs. I told them when they get their RN degree then they can come do my charting, my med passes and my wound cares, until then I will NOT be helping them out when there are 6 of them and they are sitting at a table doing NOTHING.
I was an aide for 3 months while in nursing school. The CNA's that had been working there forever were their own private clique and the nurses also. It was the WORST experience of my entire life. I was sick and in tears each day before my shift. I am not exaggerating when I say, that in the 3 months I was there, not one nurse ever helped out. On my last night it was myself and two other CNA's for a facility of 72 patients! (the other CNA's called in)Impossible? YES. I was still feeding
at 8:30 p.m., had not done any of my other p.m. duties and found a patient in a bed that not one nurse knew anything about or where she came from!!!!!! When, for the 100th time I begged for help one of nurses looked up at me from the nurses station (they were sitting in circle chatting) and said, pointing to her head,"We are the ones with the white hats, we don't do scut work! I left there at 1:30am, 2 1/2
passed my shift. On my way home I had to pull in the parking lot of Wal*Mart to vomit. I never went back. I vowed to NEVER be "that kind of nurse", and I am proud to say I am not. There are lazy CNA's and lazy nurses-but nursing is one profession that just should not tolerate an attitude of " could give a sh*t !:no:"
Specializes in Through school I was exposed to all area.
I work with cna's who are good and complain and some that are terrible and complain. I totally understand what you are saying. I am a new nurse and I work with cna's who have been doing this for years (6,17,27 ) and they act like it just kills them. I work aat a nursing home with 6 halls with 33 patients and depending on the night, you have four nurses which means you have to split halls. We have cna's who have to split and they literally get mad at us talking about we don't understand how hard it is for them. I told them, it's had for us two. My first three weeks there it was only three nurses, so that puts you at 45 -47 patients (luckily it's the 10p-6a shift) but anyway they will complain then and would have more of them then us as nurses. Every night I hear the complaints so I help out where I can and I treat them with respect and I don't make them feel they can't ask me to help out or like I'm not understanding to their situation. But, we are all in it together, no matter how hard it gets, we still have to take care of the patients and do our job. So, how can you complain about a job that you know you have to deal with problems, come to work with this negative attitude, but yet, you don't want to find another job. Why are you still here, find something else to do. They try to find time in their schedule to take short naps, look at the TV on their hall and talk. What is up with dealing with peoples lives and wellbeing that we take so lightly?
Have you ever worked as a CNA? Perhaps they have too much to do. They aren't superhuman. I work my tail off, and it is never enough.
I know this was directed at someone else, but I'm going to answer. Yes. As an LPN on the day shift I rotated between passing meds and doing an assigment (patient care). Not only did I do the CNA's job on my assignment, but I also had to do treatments if a resident had any (ie. trach care, dsg). So I have real appreciation for how hard a job it is.
Therefore when I moved to the night shift and was co-charge, I tried to make the job as easy as possible for my CNA's. But for a few that wasn't enough. These few have worked days and know nights is a lot easier as a CNA. This is the schedule for nights:
11-2 Sit at the desk, maybe answer a light or two.
2am Rounds with the nurse helping to turn, clean, etc.
2:30-5 Sit at the desk maybe answer a light or two
5-7 Do AM ADLs on 2-3 residents.
Meanwhile the nurses pass meds almost up to the time that rounds are due. We do have some down time from 2:30-3:30, but after that it is busy again. In the 5-7 timeframe, we pass meds, try to answer lights and help with bedpans because the aides are busy.
I am honestly tired of trying to please the few CNAs that are always complaining and trying to get out of working. They make the job not only harder for me, but also for the other CNAs that are trying to pick up the slack.
Honestly, my favorite nights are the ones where we are very busy, but everyone works together to get the job done.
I can definitely feel your frustration. I worked in a government hospital right out of nursing school and what a mistake. We had one aide who all the patients would complain about but our boss refused to ever do anything about her. Even though they can be actually fired if they don't do their job and have been with the agency for a long time no one in management would ever step up to the plate and actually do it. I was like you trying to always be nice but I have learned the hard way that sometimes you just need to be firm. The fact that I had to work with some people like this made me actually leave that facility and they still are constantly looking for nurses. I would never even consider working in a nursing home unless I was desperate because of the above bad experience. I think that they should have a bonus plan for CNA's so that those who do their job without having to be constantly told by the RN are rewarded for their hard work.
Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Surgical, Renal, Oncology.
I don't distinguish my work from their work. I know that in the end it is my butt. I am SO not that nurse that refuses to clean patients and assist with ADLS.. You are telling me not to let them run all over me?.. but also that it is up to me to get it all done? Patient care takes team work. They had a job description when they were hired. They have tasks that they are supposed to complete. And you are right.. It is MY license. That is why it sucks so bad... I wish that there were no assistants.. Give me 4 patients and I'll do total care. But when I have 6-7 patients I can't give total care. Not with my patients as sick as they are.
I wish that I didn't have to rely on people who didn't give a crap about my patients to assist with their care. If you hate being a CNA... FIND A NEW JOB. (that is not directed towards you Lewis, just in general)
Tiger
If it's total patient care(no cna's/pct's) and 1 to 2 patients you want, try transferring to a unit. The patients are higher acuity but I feel there's better "team" work on a unit.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I have some wonderful techs and then there are the few that when I come to work if they are on my unit, I shudder....One is actually downright mean!!!! refuses to do certain things, I am almost afraid of her....she has been reported more than once, but management does nothing....I understand your feelings completely...I will keep writing her up, tho untill someone listens...
The thing is, it is a TEAM effort. You are here, getting paid....Therefore, do your job. I am blessed where I work. It is a small unit, 13 beds. We have 3 RNs during the day, 2 at night and 1 CNA at all times. We, the RNs, are in charge of doing our own vital signs. We do ask the CNAs to do a set of signs on patients once in a while and which case they have no problem with it. We all work as a team. If we have complete cares, we do them together. If the CNA is busy and a call light goes off, the RN goes to assess the patients need. The RNs and CNAs all work together. It really is a beautiful thing!!
We do have a couple RNs that delegate things to the CNAs that they can do themselves. The RN will be sitting there looking at something online (nonwork related) and ask the CNA to get a set of vitals, when the CNA has 13 patients and she only has 4 or 5. That is absolutely rediculous. We need to work together! Its not just the CNAs job to walk someone to the bathroom!!
:banghead:We all hate attitudes, I know! But, if we all come to the realization that we are all here, trying to provide the best care possible for our patients, then our jobs will be easier and the patients will be safer. I am very sorry to all RNs and CNAs that have to go through hell at work. We don't have easy jobs, its just to bad that some people make the day harder then it has to be. :typing
Specializes in Geriatrics, Adminstration and Pediatric.
I started off as a CNA, and now have been a nurse for 8 years. If you saw my appearance you too would say I don't look a day over 16 as all my pts, co-workers and the people I come across in the public do. I am also 5foot 110 pounds, So getting CNA's to listen to me was the greatest challenge with count less crying nights and jobs from one nursing home to another. I had threats of getting jumped and numerous CNA's in my face right there in the hall trying to get me to back down. I was promoted to Director of Staffing and had a lot of time working with the CNA's as I checked them off on yearly and quarterly skills. CNA's need, I believe anyways, Appreciation, knowing that a nurse will give them a hand but will not do their job, knowing you want them there to give good care but they can be sent home just as quick for negligence, attitude, etc., and they need education. I found more staff members willing to help when they were explained reasoning for simple tasks. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of burned out CNA's that don't care, but once they have no followers they quit.:)don't give up on your CNA's, nurses should find a way to help them realise, more work but in the end the reason why you are there, "RESIDENTS/PATIENTS" are happier and your staff is smiling..and no I don't live in la la land. I have done it over and over. For the residents.
Yea soo.. I went to my DON Wednesday because a CNA with a huge attitude made me so mad. She was moaning and groaning and talking down to another PCT who was trying to help her... A family member was standing right there and looked at me like I should say something to the CNA for acting that way... I just apologized to the family member... Then I stormed in the DON's office.. The DON never took her eyes off of her computer and looked at me while I was talking to her.. Just saying yea, i know, i don't know what is up with her, I'll talk to her, not today, but I'll talk to her.... Yea so that did a lot of good.......:icon_roll
Specializes in Geriatrics, Adminstration and Pediatric.
Yea soo.. I went to my DON Wednesday because a CNA with a huge attitude made me so mad. She was moaning and groaning and talking down to another PCT who was trying to help her... A family member was standing right there and looked at me like I should say something to the CNA for acting that way... I just apologized to the family member... Then I stormed in the DON's office.. The DON never took her eyes off of her computer and looked at me while I was talking to her.. Just saying yea, i know, i don't know what is up with her, I'll talk to her, not today, but I'll talk to her.... Yea so that did a lot of good.......:icon_roll
Tiger
Honesty as a nurse the adminisration expects and assumes a nurse knows how to deal with these situations and unless a family member c/o it is rarley to my experiance handled as it should be. Take the horns and knock them back with calling them out right there and then. My mother is an RN and I would call her crying "they did this and don't care, In front of the DON...Blabla" My mom would make me feel dumb and laugh "So you let them get the best of you" Calm, professional and using education - Talking in an ugly manor in front of residents/pts. that is verbal abuse if a c/o is made, even if not being directed towards, calm, smile, kill them with KINDNESS.Don't give up this will all make you a strong nurse in the end and this is why you are a nurse. You are a fighter.:heartbeat:saint:
I am a CNA since 1989 and I have seen aids who dont do their work and I also hate that because they dont want tohelp you when you need help with someones transfer. All I can say is...why is it that you have put up with it to the point of anger and frustration? Were you tryig to "be nice." Nice gets you nowheres in life. I think the aids know you will do their job for them so they take advantage of it. They sound smart although lazy. It is you who are at fault for not properly supervising and manageing your aids. Sorry. But untill you put the blame where it belongs then you will always have this problem. Aids who take advantage of you. You are a nurse, act like a nurse. That doesnt mean you have to be nasty or insulting to the aids but it does mean you have to take the time to write someone up if you need to and also not to overend yourself into their job description so that you are doing there work for them. If you have the time to do their work for them then you have time to write someone up. I think your just afraid of your job title and responsibility that comes with it because you may not be assertive enough. This is work, not friendship and family. Certain things need to be done and are expected of each person. You should not be doing someone elses job because you will only burn out and become bitter and lash out when fed up. So now that you know its your fault, change your behavior. Dont get mad. Dont quit your job. Just do your job and know what exactly it is and isnt and expect the aids to do the same. They are getting paid to be there to assist you. Your the nurse. If they would like to be a nurse too then they can pay the money and take the time to go to school like you have done. You sound like a frustrated nice person who gets taken advantage of at work but remember one thing. No one can walk all over you unless you are lieing down. Take care. Nurses are great!! Dee
Yes. As an LPN on the day shift I rotated between passing meds and doing an assigment (patient care). Not only did I do the CNA's job on my assignment, but I also had to do treatments if a resident had any (ie. trach care, dsg). So I have real appreciation for how hard a job it is. 
KarynicaRN
138 Posts
I actually think the good aides all retired. I can't say all of them, but the majority of young people today do not have the respect that we had back in my day. When I was a nursing assistant, I did what the nurse told me to do. I didn't always like her, but I did my job, plus anything extra that she asked of me.
Today's nursing assistant seem to have an attitude. I am not speaking of all of them, but many I encounter have a terrible attitude. I got so aggravated one night because the nursing assistants weren't doing their jobs. I told them when they get their RN degree then they can come do my charting, my med passes and my wound cares, until then I will NOT be helping them out when there are 6 of them and they are sitting at a table doing NOTHING.