Managing cnas

[Christina.dawn614]

I am having the hardest time managing Cnas. I have one very reliable CNA. My second CNA has been anyone who will sign up, but 2 out of 3 people who have subbed in until we hire someone permanent claims I am too hard to work for....that I micromanage. I am confused because I help my aids, I will toilet, I will make a bed, but if I ask them to do something I stay on them until they do it. I am known as the passive nurse who will just do the cnas job if they don't do it, but I am now trying to hold my aids more accountable. It just seems when we ask any aid to do something it's like their life flashed before them. My lack of ability to manage cnas makes me wanna quit nursing. I want my cnas to be compassionate hard workers and it just seems like two very hard qualities to find in an aid. Any advice on managing Cnas please comment.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

It seems to me that you are getting pushback for holding people accountable for doing what they are being paid for. You don't say what type of facility that you are in, but I have seen many LTC facilities where the CNAs essentially run the place. They have been there longer than anyone else (because nurses don't stay), so they have cultivated relationships with management and/or ownership. If this is your situation, you probably aren't going to win. As soon as you ask an aide to do something that he/she doesn't want to do, they will just run to management. I know of one situation in which CNAs working at a LTC were directly observed taking supplies from the unit and loading them into their cars. When the RN reported it to management, she was basically told to mind her own business, that they would "never do that".

IMO you did not do yourself any favors by setting the precedent of being passive and doing the jobs of people who refused to work. That said, their lack of cooperation now is not necessarily a negative reflection on your managerial ability. Continue to hold them accountable, even proceeding with progressive discipline if the situation warrants it. Backing off will only ensure that you are working for them and not the other way around. If you are in a situation where management backs the CNAs, that is a battle that you will never win. Hopefully that isn't the case.