Lost the 'CHARGE' in "Charge Nurse"

[Furwillfly]

I need some nursing management advice please. I have worked at my facility for 5 years now. For the last two years now, the Administrator and DNS have worked the floor quite often as we are very rural and short staffed. I genuinely like the two very much. Problem....they have their favorite CNA'S. I don't mind this unless it gets in the way of how the facility functions, which it has and I'm being the good little nurse and keeping my mouth shut. I use to open my mouth but it has gotten me NOWHERE. My other CNA'S are very hurt and frustrated by this.

I'm the charge nurse when my bosses think it nessacary to call me that. Other than that I'm just a glorified floor nurse. These two CNA'S get away with things like calling off for the most innane reasons, like ones husband and daughter had to go to town that day and they only have one vehicle, comes in early and leaves early without telling me, has told me I'm a brown noser. Has told the other CNA'S that nothing is my business. she has the other CNA'S come tell me stuff regarding the residents cause she chooses not to talk to me. I changed the dining room around to make it more feasable to feed residents properly, she changed it back. My boss told me I should ve asked my 'team leader', which she is, by my bosses choice. One time my boss changed the dining room to make it more feasible, on my days off and about a year later, and I said to her, "Did you ask your team leader and your charge nurse?" I laughed, but meant every word:confused:. Team leader does the schedule for the CNA'S. She also changes it anytime during the month to suit her needs. She has out and out not done something I've asked her to do for a resident.

The other girl calls in all the time, works another shift so don't have much dealing with her. except her calling in sick and then being out on the town within an hour of calling in. She does this repeatedly. I tell my other boss and nothing happens.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

I've lost the charge in charge nurse. I dont know how to get it back. I feel undermined and disrespected. I am angry at myself for allowing it to go on, but I need my job. My CNA'S turn to me to change things, but I can't. I have tried outside of turning in my notice. So, I reward the CNA'S that are respectful, hard workers and don't call in al the time. I love my job and co-workers and don't want to leave. we do have an attendance policy but it doesnt get followed anymore. Any ideas?? Thank you!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

they may be trying to keep staff but this style of management generally ends up in keeping only the bad apples as the good ones get disgusted and leave. Have you talked to HR about the policies not being followed? When you do talk to the bosses tell them what you said here - "I feel----". That is not accusatory. Ask them how to respond when the other workers complain. You may end up having to decide to live with it or go elsewhere.

[Sterling-RN]

Hi...I have been in similar situations with my own facility. The only thing you can really do is document everything. If your CNA is refusing to listen to you when you ask her to do something that is within her scope, then I would write her up for insubordination. It may not make an impact right away, but it will need to be dealt with by whoever is in charge of disciplinary issues there.

The first thing that will probably come up is that you are picking on her. Write it down whenever you need to write anyone up so you have a reference if you are called on to defend your decision to write her up.

You may even need to remind your boss that it is your job to handle issues that occur under your watch. It's your license, ya know. And they might not want to lose another nurse unless they really like working the floor themselves. =)

Not being sarcastic for the sake of it. But the fact of the matter is, you can be very diplomatic and professional to get your point across. You are a valuable asset to them whether they want to believe that or not.