Lazy and disrespectful Nursing Assistants

Nurses Relations

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This is a vent post!

I just can't hold it in any longer and had to vent somewhere so I figured maybe some of you can understand or offer suggestions.

I work night shift on a medical transition unit and am often in the charge nurse role. We have 38 patients on the unit and are staffed with 1 charge( with 6 pt assignment), and 2 LPNs who 16 patients each. In addition to this we have 3 nursing assistants working with us.

I am often super swamped all night and rarely get a break. I barely manage to finish all my paperwork, Meds, assessments, etc but the NAs always manage to have nice long extended breaks plus sit at the computer on Facebook or watching videos for hours on end. But yet if a wandering pt comes out I am still the one who has to redirect them back to their room, they won't get off their butts unless I tell them too. Shouldn't they be able to do their jobs without being told all night? Then in addition to this they have been running to management complaining that they have too many people to change and Want nursing to come along with them. At the moment changing people is the ONLY thing they do and us nurses are struggling to get our other work done as it is.

Then to top it off yesterday we had a sick call and I ha to change on me of the NAs assignments around and she was YELLING at me about it right at the desk. Sooo disrespectful and unprofessional .

I'm beyond fed up!! I feel like they are creating more work and stress for me than the patients!!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

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1' to do is have IT disable the internet. then disable the video capability. then have a nice civil discussion on what they WILL be doing, you might want to invite your NM for that one.

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Specializes in Endoscopy, OR, ICU, HIV, Bariatrics.

This is e perfect place to vent! In a way, I'm glad I'm in the ICU where we have no nursing assistants to delegate to, yet, I'm also often jealous. Performing basic tasks that are repetitive like vital signs, bed baths, linen changes, etc are time consuming.

As a previous CNA, pull the person you're having issues with aside and discuss the problem in a nice manner. While this sometimes helps, if it doesn't, notify your nurse manager or educator. They can often do wonders by switching around things. For instance, we were having issues of all the assistants going on break at e same time, leaving us swamped. That is no longer happening. Good luck!

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This is e perfect place to vent! In a way, I'm glad I'm in the ICU where we have no nursing assistants to delegate to, yet, I'm also often jealous. Performing basic tasks that are repetitive like vital signs, bed baths, linen changes, etc are time consuming.

As a previous CNA, pull the person you're having issues with aside and discuss the problem in a nice manner. While this sometimes helps, if it doesn't, notify your nurse manager or educator. They can often do wonders by switching around things. For instance, we were having issues of all the assistants going on break at e same time, leaving us swamped. That is no longer happening. Good luck!

The problem is that it isn't just one person. It seems to be the majority of them and I'm not the only nurse noticing it.

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

I think sometimes it is the culture of the workplace coupled with supervision. Our floor in general is pretty easygoing, but people know how much they can get away with and with whom. I used to be an aide so I was very self-conscious about delegating to people. Now all that's gone, LOL. Now I nag, and I don't feel bad about it. We have enough to do without running to get warm blankets and fresh cups of water for everyone, and if I see someone sitting at the desk texting, guess who is going to be asked to do it?

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Specializes in Endoscopy, OR, ICU, HIV, Bariatrics.

I would say your best bet is to speak to a nursing manager about the issue...and continue up the ladder if necessary. Good luck!

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I would say your best bet is to speak to a nursing manager about the issue...and continue up the ladder if necessary. Good luck!

Well you see that's part of the problem. I have been on this unit for a year and a half an the first year was fine. 6 months ago we got a new manager and educator that I think are contributing to the problem. Nursing assistants are constantly running to the educator and complaining that "nurses arent helping them change people". But yet meanwhile we are working out butts off all night while they sit on the computer for hours at a time and take long breaks. But the educator is validating their complaints and saying things like " back when I was a nurse this was the nurses job and we didn't have NAs and nurses shouldn't be treating NAs like slaves" and says these things to the nurses at staff meetings with the NAs there.

Oh and did I mention that our nurses on nights have between 16-18 patients and they have 9-12 on days.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

It's very hard to change the culture single-handedly. The current aides may never change no matter what actions are taken.

Some simple steps could be to get management on board to enforce cell phone/computer rules. If none exist, they need to be formulated. Initiating formal write-ups would also be a logical next steps i.e., "CNA x was observed texting on telephone x 20 minutes while x call bells went unanswered."

The only way that anything will change is if everyone involved is willing to enforce standards consistently. You won't do it alone. If you're the lone voice in the wilderness trying to change the culture, you'll become the laughingstock of the aides and you'll get even less cooperation.

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Specializes in Endoscopy, OR, ICU, HIV, Bariatrics.

Sounds horrible...and time to look for a new position elsewhere where your voice is heard. Sorry to hear dear!

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Sounds just like my LTC. Some of the CNA's are lazy and disrespectful too. They don't care about anyone but themselves. I don't have the answer. Who has time to constantly tell the CNA's what to do all shift? I mean how can you make people who simply don't care about their patients to care about them? The management at my LTC said that if you get a CNA who is "insubordinate" you are to tell that CNA to clock out and go home.

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Maybe you need to go up the food chain. This educator is the pits! who is her boss, or boss's boss? Just getting a new job may be the answer, but good luck with that.

Well you see that's part of the problem. I have been on this unit for a year and a half an the first year was fine. 6 months ago we got a new manager and educator that I think are contributing to the problem. Nursing assistants are constantly running to the educator and complaining that "nurses arent helping them change people". But yet meanwhile we are working out butts off all night while they sit on the computer for hours at a time and take long breaks. But the educator is validating their complaints and saying things like " back when I was a nurse this was the nurses job and we didn't have NAs and nurses shouldn't be treating NAs like slaves" and says these things to the nurses at staff meetings with the NAs there.

Oh and did I mention that our nurses on nights have between 16-18 patients and they have 9-12 on days.

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Uggg why did my thread get moved here?

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