Managing CNA's

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. How are your CNA's

    • 1
      My CNA's are easily managed. They love coming to work. They take the initiative.
    • 1
      My CNA's are easily managed. They work hard. They take initiative, but I find work not done.
    • 1
      My CNA's are manageable. I have to follow up on pt care sometimes, and give reminders, but we get along
    • 1
      My CNAs need constant reminding. Work is left unfinished, will help eachother but only if told to. They perform the minimum.
    • 0
      My CNA's are not manageable. They are disrespectful. They do not want to work or help eachother.

4 members have participated

I am a new LVN. Well just about to hit my 1 year mark. I am the Charge Nurse for NOC shift. I am a hard worker and love nursing and love working with the patients. I never knew there would be so much paper work, and I didn't think managing CNA's would be so hard. I am the only management on the floor at night, and I think being new. The CNA's are trying me. They are hard workers, but if I ask them anything or out of routine they get upset. They come to work with an attitude, and sit most of the night on the phone. Our facility is well known for having very little treatments or pressure sores. But in the last 2 weeks, there has been an outbreak. I ask the CNA's to reposition the residents, and I always get the cocky answer oh I did. My v/s are never done, call lights are being unanswered, I found a resident soaked in pee. If we are encouraging fluids it is not being done. I cannot do it all. I have 46 patients on the floor and I have 10 on charting, plus weekly summaries, plus at least one event a night. I feel so depressed because I feel like I cannot say anything to the CNA's without them getting an attitude. They said from 130-330 we sit and watch the call lights. Its just ridiculous. If I am suppose to turn my face and look the other way I chose the wrong career and I am disheartened. I cannot not say anything. I always think the pt could be me and I want my nurse to take care of me. I have one CNA that is so outstanding and when correction is given who is the CNA that gets the most upset and works even harder. My best CNA and she isnt even the problem. Ive had complaints from 6 CNAs since I started that I am disrespectful or I ask too much. Answer the call lights, complete charting, turn the patients. Isnt that in the job description. Why should I have to say the call light has been on for 10 mins while 3 CNAs sit on their cell phones. I usually end up answering the call lights in addition to what Im doing. I am always willing to help with transfers. Repositions, toileting, dressing. I do not get it. Management seems supportive but there is a CNA shortage so it seems nothing really gets done. I want to find a job where I do not have to manage others under my license, but I really do like my facility. I have never felt sick and depressed from a job my whole life. I never felt like I was a bad worker. I was always the one that was recognized and helped out. Now I feel singled out and disliked. Any advice. I guess Im venting. :(

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The more things change (passage of time), the more they stay the same. I could count on one excellent CNA at each facility. Others did minimal work, substandard work, or, literally nothing at all. Your biggest problem is usually that the higher ups accept the behavior and/or turn it on you, as if you are expected to work miracles and not bother them with long-standing problems. Figure out how to survive, because things are most likely the same or worse at the next facility.

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I just accepted a new job that I haven't started yet. I wish I could take the CNAs from my current job with me. They might forget things here and there, and sometimes they have off days ...but in general, they are excellent. And not only are they fabulous at their jobs, but they're very fun to work with, too. I do realize how lucky I am. I've worked under opposite circumstances before.

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

This is why I love my PRN even if its not as much money on the hour as other places because we do not manage them AT ALL. They have their own boss, its her job to address complaints between the aides, receive feedback from the nurses, and she does all the warnings, talks, retraining, etc. My situation is a bit different, our facility is separate houses of 10 residents each, so the aides are left alone a lot if I am in another house. So they had to come up with a different way of managing them and its so much less stress for me because they are my co workers. I step in if there is an immediate issue that has to be addressed but that's it.

I was a CNA in the traditional LTC, and while it is completely inexcusable to leave residents soiled, its a hard job with little pay and even less respect. I was a good CNA, tried my best every shift, and still beaten down by unrealistic administration and yes, lazy nurses who couldn't be bothered to answer one call light when I had 20 nearly total care residents. I'm not saying your doing that at all but just providing another view point. It made me very bitter and I resigned the day I got my LPN license. And after 8 years, I do see it on your end of course, there are crappy co workers no matter where you go. But I have not forgotten how low on the totem pole being a CNA was and never being recognized for the hard work I put in.

I wish I had some advice for you but unfortunately I don't think this situation would change much in any LTC. I can only do LTC PRN now even as an LPN because anything more sucks out my soul.

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