Med Room RN-CNA

[klance]

There is a nurse I work with on night shift. When a certain CNA (whose also a nursing student) works, this nurse tells her to do things outside of the scope of practice for CNAs in my state. Also, it is company policy that CNAs not step foot into the medication room for the CNAs sake and for the RNs sake. However, several nights the RN has told the CNA that she should feel welcomed into the med room and that she can go in there anytime. For instance, we keep a spare container of bleach wipes under the sink in the room. The CNA needed some and instead of the RN getting it, the RN told the CNA to feel free to go into the med room anytime. Well, to cover myself, I got them for her since the fridge was defrosting and medications were on the counter. I don't want anything to go missing and be blamed for such things. There has been other occurrences with the same nurse such as giving a seasoned CNA keys to the med cart so they could get Tylenol, etc.

I've tried speaking with this RN about it but she brushes it off like no big deal. The RN has been licensed for going on 25 years where as I have been for nearly two. So I'm a "baby nurse" (the specific RNs words not mine).

Should I go to the D.O.N about this?

[Guest219794]

Absolutely.

As soon as stuff goes missing, and you are blamed for it, as you have expressed concern.

Otherwise, how do you see this playing out?

Nurses violate policies frequently. 2 days ago, I could not take a blood sugar because I had not not done a glucometer check in a year. I had used it many times, and checked identical glucometers in other institutions multiple times, and could probably teach my dog to use that glucometer. Another nurse scanned her badge while I did the check. Then, somebody else actually ran the check under my name. Would you report me? My manager has probably done similar, but would be obligated to reprimand me. I would say "Golly, I don't know what I was thinking, it won't happen again." (for at least a year when I forget to officially do a quality control.)

Reporting a veteran nurse for allowing a CNA she trusts into the med room for wipes, and a CNA for diverting Tylenol? How is your work atmosphere going to be after that? Think the team will be bending over backwards to help you?

[OpinionatedCNA, CNA]

If I were you I would make your concerns known to the DON, but nothing will probably change because what I believe the main reason they keep everything locked up is because the less people use those "expensive" wipes the less they have to replace them. They pull the same crap at the nursing home I work at.

Need A&D? Locked in the med room. Need new SOCKS because a pt's current ones are black on the bottom? Locked in the med room. Need wipes because a confused resident just took a **** on the floor and housekeeping is gone for the night? Locked in the med room. Most of the nurses just give me the keys when I ask for something because they don't want to be bothered with it, it's super annoying for them and myself because management decided to lock up basic housekeeping items.