mine vs. our

[terrajai]

I work at a nursing facility as an RCA training to be a CNA. I have been there two years now, and frequently I hear the words "Oh, I cant take care of (so and so) because he is not my resident." It really upsets me.

For me personally, all of the residents are my residents. I'm sure you have your own group of people to take care of during the shift, but the other residents are just as important and need as much love and care as the ones you care for during the shift. It upsets me that people would just only care for "their" residents rather than helping someone in need.

Am I alone on this? Feedback would be appreciated....:redbeathe

[SaraO'Hara]

No, you're not alone. A lot of people where I work will leave a call bell ringing for 20 minutes because the assigned CNA is at lunch... even if they have nothing else to do!

I answer lights when I have time. My residents are my first priority, but if they're squared away, I help others out.

[Atheos]

I don't mind helping other residents as we are there to help them all. However, at the end of my shift if 'my' residents aren't cared for because I spent time with all the residents it will be 'my' responsibility.

While we are supposed to be a team and facilities want us to work together we are ultimately hired and being payed to care for an assignment. Always remember that there is a big difference between helping a resident in need and doing someone's work for them. It is a fine line but the longer you are a CNA the better you will be at not stepping over that line.

[BradleyRN]

When i was a charge nurse in LTC, i required the aides to tag up with another aide when they were going to lunch and tell me who it was. That way there would be no issue as to who would be responsible. Of course i didnt know any other units with that system, but it certainly left no room for confusion. However, the entire facility had a slogan "they are everybody's patients". Letting a call light ring for 20 minutes is ridiculous! The nurse can answer call lights as well, and in my opinion, is to blame for such a situation occurring.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

If you want to see the BM hit the fan say, "So and so is not my resident or that is not my job." I understand if someone is busy helping another resident, but if someone is standing at the nurse's station and a resident needs help, they better be on their way to helping them. I understand that a housekeeper can not toilet a resident, but they can push a wheelchair. On the same note a nurse can mop a spill if needed.

Sorry but this is a sore spot for me and I have been working with the CNAs about this exact thing for sometime now. They are slowly seeing things my way.

[RNperdiem, RN]

The "our" residents works out when all members of the staff can be relied upon to pull their weight.

The system breaks down if even one member is a slacker who will try to shift their work to others and not give the help to others in return.

In a good work environment, there is teamwork.

[terrajai]

i am glad im not the only one who feels this way. I know I am as guilty of catering to some residents more than others, but lately I have to stop myself and put myself in the resident's shoes....what if I was them? would I want people ignoring me because I wasn't their favorite, or wasn't on their hall? I wouldn't personally. And that's how they must feel. Obviously if I am taking care of something else I cant help everyone, but when one does need help and Im around, I dont care what hall Im on...their our residents, it is their home, and I will take care of them. :redbeathe