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Discussion

Need to Vent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to vent, and it is related to the VA. I just started In November as a RN in our local state VA nursing home, a newer facility that opened within the past 4 years. The benefits are out of this world. The place is beautiful, The staff.... OMG I can't believe it. I have been a nurse for 17 years, and have mainly worked in the geriatric area. I can not believe how staff just sits around and complain and ***** how awful they have it. I am on probation yet until May, but let me tell you this....We have 20 residents on a wing, 1 nurse and 2.5 nursing assistants. last night we had 3. Yes only 20. We start at 3:00 , the girls are sitting around until like 4:30, 4:45 talking (just 2 of them) I am getting irritated and start getting the dining room ready for supper. The 1 girl says I'll do that. When? I'm thinking. Okay so supper comes, after supper 1 res. wants to go out and smoke. (Its -10 out and the cna opens the side door and pushes his w.c. outside to smoke, no heavy jacket, no monitoring. He gets cold, comes back in and is smoking in the hallway. I say What are you doing, you can't smoke in here, take his cigarette and throw it outside. The cnas are like I can't believe this. The cnas on the other unit know that he is to be supervised smoking and at the front of the building. So I say to the 2 cnas on my unit, I need to talk to you. I say, I don't know if you guys are trying to pull the wool over my eyes since I am new but I can't believe that neither one of you knew he is suppose to be taken out front and supervised while smoking? No, they didn't know and we were told he could go out tjhe side and blah blah blah. Then I say and I don't appreciate you guys sitting at the desk for 2 hours at the beginning of the shift. Well our work is done, what are we supposer to do? I say I hope it's done and these people are toileted and changed because its really unfair to them to be sitting in urine for any amount of time. The one says to me If you don't believe us, then go down and stick your finger in their diaper and see if they are wet.:angryfire I said I am not going to stoop to that level to see if you guys are doing your job. You know what your job is and I expect you to do it, and not lie to me. Well what do you want us to do? Try and have a conversation with them (residents) and have them sit and look at us like were out of our minds? Well do something I say, but you don't have to sit around for 2 hours. One of the cnas later tells me she's sorry, and says the other girl (who needs to retire) tells her she didn't like me asking if they're doing their cares. I say I have a right to ask, that's my job. the other old one ignored me and was talking under her breath about me every chance she could. Other staff tells me, thats what its like here, they sit around all the time. I can't believe it. Why? Yes we are union. Welcome to the union world.

My outlook on my job: I am a good nurse, a hardworking nurse, I help the cnas whenever I can, I like to have a good working relationship with my co workers. I don't get this sitting around, and complaining for hours. JUST DO THE FLIPPING JOB!!!

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    • Featured Replies

    You were well within your rights to talk with those CNAs. You're ultimately responsible. The one talking about you "under her breath" was still disrespecting you; she needs disciplined for that. YOU need to stop doing some of their work(i.e., getting the dining room ready) as this will only ENABLE them to continue their behavior. I know it's easier said than done. Come up with a list of other tasks for them to do when they claim their work is "done"; perhaps THEN they will perform their regular duties more thoroughly.

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    Kudos to you for sticking up for your residents. You were very brave, especially since you are so new. Yes, these CNAs (and the other ones they confide in) may give you a very hard time in the future. Just keep standing your ground and doing what your doing. It can be frustrating but if I was a resident I would love to have a nurse like you work for me!

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    Wow.

    I can feel your frustration. Being on two sides once a CNA and now a new nurse. Sometimes the CNA are bitter and they really wished that they could acheive the RN status. So, they play games and fail to realize it is a reflection of their poor CNA work ethics. When I worked as a CNA, I had great respect for my position and did it with pride. But my pet peeve was to have a nurse tell me to do something, when I felt that the nurse should have already keen into what type of CNA I am or for any matter what type of CNA they are working with.

    I say be consistent. Dont be patronizing and try not to be bothering them so much. Just let the CNA know what you expect and from there if it's not done, take it to the next step. Most of all dont let them see what annoy you. Keep setting the standard.

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    I used to work for the VA, great benefits, but you described it perfectly. Sad, must be the same all over...:uhoh21:

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    "Sad, must be the same all over...:uhoh21: "

    Why is that? Is it the VA or the union aspect (I only mention this because the OP mentioned it)?

    The job seriously sounds very nice - great benefits, decent staffing. I have no experience with the VA or unions so I'm curious....

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    I think it not only the VA, The state hospital is the same way. Bunch of miserable CNAs, and some nurses. They are stagnant in their profession and burnt out. They need to take a risk and try new things, Dont personalize! Just keep your standards high and they will follow the trend.

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    • Author

    Thanks to all who replied. I really appreciate the support. Last night went much better. Those 2 cnas were up passing waters, linens, toileting residents and actually doing their job throughout the shift. No sitting around for 2 hours or even an hour. The older one is still po'ed but oh well. I was going to apologize to them for getting so upset, but I talked with a friend who said don't you dare. As far as whether its the VA or union, I don't know exactly. I think they are both to blame. This particular VA has adequate staffing and more than enough at times.(Which leaves too much time for people to stand or sit around and gossip). Being a new facility, the standards have not been laid down by management. To get rid of the employees who are slackers takes forever because there has to be so much paperwork completed (union requirements)that no one wants to take the time or doesn't have the time to complete. Unless someone actually slaps someone which is immediate dismissal. And 3 hours of paperwork. We have some in management that are afraid to take a stand, some that turn the other cheek and very few that take a stand. I know this next statement may offend some but I feel in most instances the union protects the lazy. Instead of doing an activity with a resident or cleaning out a bedside table they can say that's not my job description.

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    The union protect people that are not ablew to take a risk. No other place will hire them and nor will they function in another place. DONT APOLOGISE. Learn and move on. You was setting a standard. They need to do their job, you are expected to and so they are too.

    Best of Luck

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