Some of you are probably already familiar with the culture on my unit, where CNAs are permitted to perform abysmally with no consequences (this has been the culture for years). Float pool nurses and nurses from other floors have refused to float to our unit because of it. Good RNs have left the unit because of it.
Not very long ago, the aides made it clear that they expect RNs to *take turns* with the "toilet Q2s" and the "turn Q2s".
Well, now they're complaining that some RNs delegate all routine vitals to them, and we're going to reevaluate our VS protocol as a unit, and they're requesting that RNs help with passing and picking up meal trays.
It's one thing to help out with this stuff when I have time, and I totally don't mind, but this is getting ridiculous. It's not like I sit on my behind picking my nose while the aides scurry around. I have missed many a dinner break and have had to stay late to finish charting on many an occasion, yet the aides *always* get their breaks and get out on time.
They take a half an hour to give CNA to CNA report, while call lights go unanswered that entire time. What if the person is having chest pain? What if they are bleeding from their groin site?
I even recently overheard one CNA saying to another "We don't do VS. That's part of the RN's assessment."
Then, last night, while I was busy in a room with patient care, my wireless started ringing in the middle of what I was doing, so I looked at it before silencing it (instead of throwing it out the window, which is what I really wanted to do), and it was a text that read "Please help pass trays".
Is this normal? Am I crazy to think this is absurd?
