It's sort of a bummer with some of these aids

Nurses Relations

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Aids are a blessing to us nurses for what they do, but seriously, some of them on my unit literally run around all day, high speed like they are chasing things, only for filling up water pitchers and getting cups. 20 minutes before the next shift arrives, vitals arent put in, and they are busy filling water pitchers!!!. what am i to do with this situation. when i know im goin to get that nurse that wants to know all the vitals for each patient, and blah blah blah even when they are stable. I told the aid, hey can you get those vitals in, she responds ok, ill get them in as soon as possible, i just have to get these water pitchers filled. How can I sit them down and have them chart the vitals without actually having to grab them by the arm or hair and drag them to the computer and monitor them fill it in. I mean, the health care field is really annoying. Just vented!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, just as an aside, it is aides not aids, I thought we were talking about the disease. And I will say that the second a CNA goes into a room it is the patient who sends them off to do busy work. And I like to have vitals before I give meds. So if I notice that the aides are busy with water pitcher filling, etc. I will say to them "I will get rm so and so's vitals, thanks!" and do them as part of my assessment....

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Specializes in MPCU.

Just a count-down to the grammar Nazi's. Twelve posts, not a new record but pretty good!

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I do all of my own vital signs because they are part of my initial and ongoing assessment throughout the shift.

The techs are more than happy that I do this so they can take care of all the other tasks they need to do.

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Sqeaky wheel syndrome. Patients.residents/families/administration see and comment on fresh water. The aides are trying to keep out of hot water with them. I lke the idea of copies of vitals and hand delivered immediately. There were times when that communication allowed me to say "retake in an hour and report it to me immediately". That did a few positive things: Showed the aides that their work was noticed, appreciated, and utilized. It also conveyed a belief in their skills. If something was really off it gave me the opportunity to ask questions.

Aides are great. Sometimes it helps to ask them what is going on. You might be surprised at the answers.

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Sqeaky wheel syndrome. Patients.residents/families/administration see and comment on fresh water. The aides are trying to keep out of hot water with them. I lke the idea of copies of vitals and hand delivered immediately. There were times when that communication allowed me to say "retake in an hour and report it to me immediately". That did a few positive things: Showed the aides that their work was noticed, appreciated, and utilized. It also conveyed a belief in their skills. If something was really off it gave me the opportunity to ask questions.

Aides are great. Sometimes it helps to ask them what is going on. You might be surprised at the answers.

YES!

I wish I could "like" this post a few more times.

:up:

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Taking the vitals yourself or helping pass the water... is NOT the answer. Doing their job for them will take time away from your RN duties.

Look at the job description of the assistant... it reads "Under the direction of a registered nurse".

You have to direct them into the proper work flow. If they refuse your direction, may sure your manager is aware.

If the manager can't get them directed, they need to be written up.

Of course I will pass water, place a bedpan, take vitals... if I feel my patient needs another set.

But to take over their work, simple because they don't follow direction is not appropriate.

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Taking the vitals yourself or helping pass the water... is NOT the answer. Doing their job for them will take time away from your RN duties.

Look at the job description of the assistant... it reads "Under the direction of a registered nurse".

You have to direct them into the proper work flow. If they refuse your direction, may sure your manager is aware.

If the manager can't get them directed, they need to be written up.

Of course I will pass water, place a bedpan, take vitals... if I feel my patient needs another set.

But to take over their work, simple because they don't follow direction is not appropriate.

I wish I could "like" this more than once, too!

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I think it also depends on the setting in which you work. Acute care CNAs/techs seem to be more knowledgeable than LTC CNAs. This is something I've noticed, starting out as a tech in med/surg, then becoming a LPN in a nursing home.

In my LTC facility, it seems like at least 75% of the aides are shaky at getting manual BPs. And I'm shocked how many of them think nothing of charting a temp of 95 degrees or lower. I blame those stupid tympanic thermometers for that. I have literally tried to hide the tympanic thermometer so no one can use it, LOL.

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And because I couldn't resist:

AIDS definitely IS a bummer. But I find aides are actually pretty cool.

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Specializes in LTC.

When I give the CNAs the vitals list I will usually tell them what time they are to be completed by. If they are really busy I will get some of the vitals. If the vitals are not done by the time specified I hound them till they do. I work 2230 -0630. Usually I like the vitals by 0200.

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At the old place where I used to work, it is a lot more understaffed, so i just asked the CNA to give me a copy of the vitals. And if i have time, I just put them in for them.

At the current place that i work at, the CNAs are much more on top of things, they'll actually come and tell the nurse ASAP if their is any abnormal VS or blood sugar.

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I guess that we don't have this issue at my facility. The "aids" put each patients' vitals on individual paper charts as soon as we get them, and we report any abnormal vitals immediately. And then, (our nurses only have 2-4 patients each) the nurses get each of their patients' charts themselves and enter them into the electronic charting system or determine if another set of vitals needs to be taken. I'm also thinking that your "aids" may be doing more than just passing water the entire shift. Like another poster said, ask what's going on and you might get a different response than what you expected.

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