LPN from the underworld

Published

We had a nurse from you know where last night it was TERRIBLE. She had no CLUE what was going on and wanted us to do EVERYTHING for her. She was SO lazy it was ridiculous. A few examples: we were working our patooties off and doing bedchecks when she has the audacity to come find us and tell us that mrs. so and so needs pulled up in bed. She weighs like 80 pounds and the nurse was already in the room so why couldnt she do it? It took her more time to track us down and give us orders to do it then it would have taken her to put her at the head of the bed. Then later, (one of us was answering a ton of call lights, the other was giving showers) she had given a liquid med and wanted us to come wipe his face off b/c he had some around his mouth. That is just lazy. Last example :When I was hired, the DON told me that she wants me done and out by 7 am, no exceptions. Around 6:30 Am when we were getting people up, (several by hoyer lifts and we both have to be present), doing trash, laundry, still answering lights etc., she come to us and asks : Girls, can you do my vitals for me? OMG give me a break, have you ever heard of time management, ma'am? And I think we are working with her again tonight, *great*.:banghead:

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Specializes in CNA, SPN, LPN.

I for one would want her to address me by something more

appropriate than Girl(s). If she called you by something like

maybe your first name she might see better results.:bow:

Nina

Student-CNA

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Actually, I didn't even think about that. :chuckle

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:

When I was hired, the DON told me that she wants me done and out by 7 am, no exceptions. Around 6:30 Am when we were getting people up, (several by hoyer lifts and we both have to be present), doing trash, laundry, still answering lights etc., she come to us and asks : Girls, can you do my vitals for me? /quote]

Just answer truthfully: "I'd love to do your vitals for you but the DON has told me that she wants me done and out by 7 a.m. no exceptions. It will take me every minute of time till then to finish what I need to get done."

Would saying that cause a problem?

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I'm really not sure if it would cause a problem.... And after having worked with her a second night, I don't really think that she is lazy. I think maybe she is either on a BIG power trip or is just having some type of delegation issues. She doesn't seem snotty or blatantly rude though, I am just starting to wonder if she is genuinely convinced that she as an LPN is above doing certain things. I mean, she asks us to do silly things too that most nurses would do themselves, such as throw things in the trash or bring her the ice cart. I think I am just going to grit my teeth and just *do it*. We do not have to work with her that often and it is a good lesson for me to learn. Now I know how it feels to be asked to do stupid things, and I certainly will not do that to people when I become a nurse.:chuckle

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Specializes in Plastic surgery and Med/surg.
I'm really not sure if it would cause a problem.... And after having worked with her a second night, I don't really think that she is lazy. I think maybe she is either on a BIG power trip or is just having some type of delegation issues. She doesn't seem snotty or blatantly rude though, I am just starting to wonder if she is genuinely convinced that she as an LPN is above doing certain things. I mean, she asks us to do silly things too that most nurses would do themselves, such as throw things in the trash or bring her the ice cart. I think I am just going to grit my teeth and just *do it*. We do not have to work with her that often and it is a good lesson for me to learn. Now I know how it feels to be asked to do stupid things, and I certainly will not do that to people when I become a nurse.:chuckle

You guys are our backbones. You should not be taken advantage of. If it was me, since I was a tech not too long ago, if it continues, I would have to make a complaint. I know you only work with this person every now and then, but resentment can build and build until you just explode!! Just because she may have had more schooling does not mean that she is above doing patient care. My first semester of nursing school was wiping butts and giving bed baths. It angers me to hear about other nurses treating our life lines like that. If we didn't have dedicated cna's, techs, unit secretaries we would be up you know what creek without a paddle. I applaud you that you will not turn into a nurse like the one you describe. Good luck to you.

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I'm just not sure where to draw the line with her, to be honest. I know that we are the nurse assistants and we are required to certain things, I just dont know exactly when to say " This is something you can do for yourself" or "I have other priorities right now." I have only worked there a week and I guess right now I dont want to make any waves, but I am going to try to be more assertive vs. being more passive agressive.

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i understand some nurses can be a pain in the rump. but i really dont think it was not a big deal for her to tell you if you could pull someone up in the bed. i mean before you left the room or when you was doing your rounds you should of made sure they were already pulled up in the bed. also with you being new you should know that the nurses is going to be on you like white on rice. so you should make sure you are running circles around them. i also had this problem when i started at my job. don't get me wrong i know what you are talking about with dealing with nurses when your new. as for her telling you someone needed their face wiped she could of did that. that was uncalled for her to notice it and not do anything about it. also when she asked if you could do the vitals for her. i would of told her well at this moment i don't have time. nurses are equiped to doing vitals as well. she also asked you a question which showed you that she could of done it as well. now if its in your scope to take vitals then do so. but if the nurses only do vitals and she is asking you for a favor let her do it. believe me once you get the hang of things it will get easier. i hated my job when i 1st started. now its been a month and i'm starting to love it. it will get better. and you will find the line to draw with her with the time comes. you will know when your being taking advantage of.:D

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Specializes in LTC.

If you are honestly busy and don't have time tell her that. A good CNA knows their limits and if someone is pushing you past them you have to learn how to say no. I've told nurses "No" on more than one occassion. I try to do it nicely, but if there's something I can't do, I can't do it.

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"i mean before you left the room or when you was doing your rounds you should of made sure they were already pulled up in the bed."

actually we were doing rounds and hadn't even made it to that room yet. of course i would have pulled her up when i got there, but if the nurse was in the room and noticed it before i got there, shouldn't she have been the one to do it? she walked across the building to have us do it. good grief.

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I work with a few nurses that act like the nurse you work with.:angryfire

Last night at the hospital I caught one of the RN's walking out of a patient's room seconds after the call light went on. Hmmm....I wonder who pushed that call button??? Turned out that the patient in that room wanted the urine in the bedside commode emptied. I guess the RN didn't want to get her hands dirty touching the commode moments after the patient used it.:barf01:

And then there are the RN's who will walk from one end of the unit to another to tell me that a particular patient wants a cup of juice. Gee, I guess she didn't notice passing the kitchen while trying to find me.

But this one takes the cake...a patient requested a bed pan and the young recent grad nurse told the patient "just pee in your diaper". HUH?? I guess bedpan usage wasn't part of her nursing cirruculm.

Oh well...I guess there will always be some nurses that don't want to get their hands dirty. I've noticed this in many of the younger nurses. They're not arrogant or anything like that. They just seem to think that basic nursing care is not part of their job.

Oh! I must tell you about the time a doctor came into the office/supply room looking for non-skid slippers for his patient. That doctor was actually going to go back to the patient's room and put the slippers on the patient! Now isn't that amazing???:up:

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"i mean before you left the room or when you was doing your rounds you should of made sure they were already pulled up in the bed."

actually we were doing rounds and hadn't even made it to that room yet. of course i would have pulled her up when i got there, but if the nurse was in the room and noticed it before i got there, shouldn't she have been the one to do it? she walked across the building to have us do it. good grief.

the nurse should have done it. she expended more energy and time just telling you to do it. some people feel a real need to point out how important they think they are.

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