My Dilemma: confronted by a CNA rudely. Should I write her up?

[cdlcln]

Hi! First post here.:) I'm an noc lvn for almost 2 years now at a nursing home There's 3 sections in our facility: medicare, split/ middle, non-skilled. Last Friday, I noticed a new cna getting up a pt of another cna, and going in and out of the rooms of the other pts the older cna are supposedly handling. The previous night, I was told by the other staff that these cnas made a switch to take care of a certain pt without letting me know. I dont really have a problem with that but as the charge nurse of these pts, I feel that it's not too much to ask to be notified of any switching of pt care.

Now, going back to Friday, 30 mins before our shift ends, I called the newly hired cna and asked him jokingly if the older cna is giving 50% of her salary with her (will never say this again:no:) since he's been in out of the older cna's pt rooms. Then I ask why he was the 1 who had that this certain pt up? He said they made a switch with the get ups. He then said he was just asked by this older cna to help her with some pts and that it's fine with him since he's done with his work. I said, if it's ok with him, it's fine with me too and that if he ever feels like he's being taken advantage of, he can say so. Not to get misinterpreted, I lightheartedly add, I'm not being bad here, its just my pregnancy hormones acting up, w/c I ended w/ a smile. 2 minutes later, the older cna was in front of me, looking pale and shaking and telling me that the new cna got this pt up because they made a switch and so on and so forth. I said. Yes, I was told about this already.

She then said we help each other out at the other station and she would never take advantage of any1. I just nodded bec. I felt that she had a right to feel hurt abt my "being taken advantage" statement to the new cna (personally, since the male cna is a new hire at our facility, I just want to let him know that he has a voice to and if he felt like being taken aadvantage of, by "any" staff, he can let somebody know). The older cna continued on expressing her sentiments while pretending to be doing something at the nurses' station (all these time, I remained calm and quiet) and just as she passed me to leave the station, she said angrily "if you've been holding a grudge against me, let me know". At that moment I said let's talk about this some more. She kept walking away from me, with her hand up (you know, the "talk to my hand" kind of gesture) and said no, we're done talking. I tried to call her again very calmly and said that that's being disrespectful (she's older than me and I respect her greatly but any1 should be given the chance to be heard and her ignoring my request to talk some more is rude IMHO). She again said we're done talking. Now she's getting further and further away from me, out tone is much more louder now, her voice loud and angry, mine loud but calm saying " we're not done yet because you never heard my side and we talking this way is very unprofessional" .

She then staarted walking towards me again and in a very threatening way (I actuall though she would hurt me):imbar said "what do else do you want to happen, huh?" I was surprised I remained calm (I'm 6 months pregnant and dont want to be stressed out) and tried to explained to her I have to know pt care switching and that we should all try to help each other, both station, esp her being assigned to the middle section. I told her I have yet to see her answer the call light of the medicare pts, wherein the cnas in the medicare section (having the heavier load and all) can still answer her pt's call light. (I've been hearing a lot of complaints abt her already) She, expectedly, got more upset and said if I'm busy with the other section and said if that's what you think, so be it". Then she left me.

Sorry, it's too long. I dont want to ever write up some1 but I felt that our DON should know abt this incident for this is going to create a hostile working environment for us. I mean, I'm a very quiet type of nurse who doesnt want confrontations like this but I'm not going to let any1 step on my toes either esp. if I didnt attack you personally and just doing what I know is my responsibilty as a charge nurse. MY DON said she'll talk to her and that I did the right thing telling her. She wanted me to write her up for insubordination. Honestly, I am more bothered by her way of confronting me more than her not recognizing my being a charge nurse. I'm afraid if I write her up for, I might also include verbal harrassment. If you were in my position, what would you do? Any advice/comments would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[AngelaLPN08]

Humm...That is a lousy way to act, to be treated that coarsley is not acceptable! In the facility i worked at as a CNA we had "coaching sheets" where you were not being written up howerver if something you did was not appropriate you could be coached by the DON on a diffrent way to do it. After a "coach" you would then be written up. I would def. make something be said because it was more than inappropriate!

Good job keeping calm not only for your little baby! But it is not easy to keep your cool when somebody is acting in that manor.

Best of luck!

Angela

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Is your DON or nurse manager supportive of floor nurses who discipline CNAs? This is the main question I have, because write-ups don't seem to do any bit of good if management won't back you up on them. I have observed that some facilities will bend over backward to keep warm bodies, even if the body is a rough CNA who has no respect for the charge nurse or coworkers.

[Jules A, MSN]

At that moment I said let's talk about this some more. She kept walking away from me, with her hand up (you know, the "talk to my hand" kind of gesture) and said no, we're done talking. I tried to call her again very calmly and said that that's being disrespectful (she's older than me and I respect her greatly but any1 should be given the chance to be heard and her ignoring my request to talk some more is rude IMHO). She again said we're done talking. Now she's getting further and further away from me, out tone is much more louder now, her voice loud and angry, mine loud but calm saying " we're not done yet because you never heard my side and we talking this way is very unprofessional" .

What a shame it had to get blown out of proportion but once it has gotten to this point when someone is so upset and feels the need to walk away I would leave it alone for a while. She obviously wasn't going to talk calmly and nothing positive would be accomplished, imo. It is very possible that since she was so upset she felt that walking away was the only respectful thing to do rather than say something unprofessional. I don't know, just a guess.

I'm normally not in favor of writing up a tech and so far have only done it in one case where I felt it was necessary documentation for someone unsafe who would eventually need to be terminated. Many of my techs aren't as professional as I would like but they do their job, it is a hard one, and dependable techs are not easy to find. Most times if there is an issue it can be discussed with a positive outcome later after everyone has had time to cool down and reflect. You did the right thing by notifying your supervisor, imo, but I would leave it at that.

Just my two cents of course. Hang in there.

[cdlcln]

Thanks for all your replies. I really don't want to write up any1 but I'm known in our facility to be the timid kind. I just don't want any1 thinking they could just step all over me that way (I really feel that staff member had overreacted). As Jules A have pointed out, I do realize that maybe she's too upset to have a sit down with me BUT why approached/ confront me in the first place if she's too upset to talk abt it in a professional way. You can't just yell at someone for acting within her duties (I just ask if they switch pts, is that so bad?), leave the person after you said ur piece and expect her to keep quiet and patiently wait, until WHo knows when, for you to calm down and be ready to hear the other person's side. Just my personal feeling abt this.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Well, I think the problem here is that you went to one of her peers about her before asking her what the problem was.

She certainly behaved badly, but if you write her up you will look very unprofessional because your own behavior precipitated hers. She was absolutely wrong, but your hands are not clean enough to use this as an issue, IMHO.

Let this one ride, and don't ever approach one employee about another, no matter how well-intentioned.

:)