I'm looking for input on how you would handle a sutuation. There are 5 CNA's assigned to the unit they are also assigned halls.
The CNA assigned to the hall I was working had just left to take a lunch break. I went in to give a patient his medication and he told me he needs to use the restroom. I came out of his room and asked a CNA SITTING at the nurses station to help the patient go to the restroom. She responded with "No, I'm not going in his room, he is mean and ran me over in his W/C, he kicked me last time I was helping him." So I asked another CNA standing near the nurses station and she said "sorry I'm leaving". She was scheduled to leave at that time. Then one other CNA starts to walk by and I ask him. He also refuses. I was ready to scream.
While I understand that I am also capable of helping the patient to the restroom, I feel like if I am in the middle of med pass and there are CNA's literally sitting down that I shouldn't be the one toileting him. I always read the advice about time management on here saying "stay on task, delegate tasks that others can do, avoid interuptions while doing med pass".
I ended up calling the unit manager and a CNA ended up helping the resident but I fell like I could have handled the situation differently. By the time all of it was said and done I could have toileted him, but if I start doing anything they don't want to do they will let me do everything. I am sure of that.
Sounds like you were floated and only got vitals on your patients and then let the nurse do most of the work. Maniann09 you should really pull your weight instead of letting her do most of the patient care. I'm willing to bet, that nurse you were working with did not complete all her expexcted duties because she was doing all your work and you were letting her which is really sad. She probably had to pass some of those duties to the next shift.
When you have a weak CNA or you don't get one at all. You have to prioritize what NEEDS to be done now and what can wait. For example when I'm coming on at 2pm and a nurse passes on getting a urine sample from a straight cath, on bed 5 that was ordered at 10am. You can figure she just didn't do it or realize that she was too busy to get it, and it didn't NEED to be done, so she is passing it to you......sometimes it's the latter.
Nurses do more than pass meds ?. There are treatments, assessments, communication with the physicians, labs and patient care etc.
I think many people who have responded to this post missed two very important points.
1. I was busy passing meds and the 1st CNA I asked was SITTING around and refused.
2. The CNA is assigned to ASSIST THE NURSE! Like it or not.. It is insubordination to refuse.
As the OP I would like to thank everyone who responded to this post. I was really surprised to get new comments considering it was posted over 3 years ago ?.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
On 3/12/2018 at 12:54 AM, Tenebrae said:
"This needs to be done"
If they still refused.
"This needs to be done. If you choose not to do your job, I'm going to have to elevate this matter to management and I would really rather not"
I once had an aide having a melt down on shift who told me she was going to walk off shift before it concluded. I said honestly "hey look, I get this is distressing for you, if you choose to leave before your shift is finished I am going to have to elevate the matter to management which could result in displinary action, or even worse you loosing your job"
The aide stayed and finished her shift
Its important to keep a very neutral tone of voice and to not let your frustration show, even though you may have every reason to be hacked off
One of my best moments in leadership - I had been in the manager role for about 6 months. We had a CNA, who was known on the unit for being a bully, lazy, an overall not nice person, and nobody ever had the guts to stand up to her because she was also kind of physically intimidating. If she didn't want to do something, she flat out refused. One day I had enough, and I told her what I wanted her to do. She refused. I told her again, this is a direct order, not a suggestion. She again refused, and then said "I'm not going to do it, do you want me to leave?" She was HOPING that I would tell her to go home. Instead, I simply repeated myself, and told her no, I don't want her to leave, I want her to stay and do the job she was hired to do. So then she threw down her badge and walked off the unit. HR and I interpreted that as a voluntary resignation. She then tried to sue us for wrongful termination and sued us again because she was denied unemployment benefits. I was deposed and everything. But in the end, we won, because we did not terminate her. She voluntarily walked off the unit and quit. And it all happened right on the floor in front of a dozen witnesses, who were also deposed.
One of the scariest and best moments of my career as a nurse manager.
Dawnkeibals
30 Posts