New CNA trying to develope a routine/issues with other CNA's

[hajile]

I became certified as a CNA in April 2011 by enrolling in a CNA program at a nursing school (the course costed me $1600). My brother has been a CNA for more than 5 years and he encouraged me to become a CNA. I am now employed in my first CNA job at a nursing home. For the most part, I enjoy helping my residents with their activities of daily living. My problem is with certain of the staff. Most of the other CNA's and nurses are patient with me and provide me with good feedback on my developing CNA skills. But two of the CNA's seem like they have it out for me with no good reason. One of these CNA's I worked with for the very first time today. He started the shift by telling me how things go when working a hall with him (we begin getting residents up for inner at exactly 4:30; not before, not after, etc etc). Okay good, I thought. I like things to be orderly and on schedule. Well an hour after dinner, he comes up to me and says: "I believe I told you at the beginning that we are to cream up ALL the residents butts and make sure that they're all clean and changed before dinner. Well I checked Wanitta after dinner and you did not cream her butt and she was dirty and needed a clean depend. Oh, and I'm pretty sure you didn't change Burta's depend because she was wet too." I responded that I had indeed cleaned and changed Wanitta, that I had not creamed her butt (he never told me in advance that I had to cream every residents butt), and that when I checked Burta before inner, she was clean and dry. He responded by saying that I should just say "yes sir" to him ad not argue. He also said hat he cares a lot about his residents and that if I could not provide them he care they need, I should leave now.

I just don't know where all this is coming from. This CNA barely knows me; what is he trying to prove? Both of these problem CNA's are very uncommunicative. They run around doing heir own thing keeping me mostly out of the loop. Then they turn around and accuse me of purposly neglecting my residents. They do their rounds without communication to me who they have checked and who still needs checked. Today one of these CNA's went behind me right after I checked ad hanged a resident and rechecked the resident. She discovered that the fitted sheet had a small wet spot on it ( possibly from the wet wipes that we use) and decided to change the residents entire depend again, plus the fitted sheet.

What is some good advice for me as a new CNA? Should I expect to work with these kind of people in this industry? Am i over reacting? Are they lying about me neglecting the residents?

Thanks

[rainbowskin]

You will always come across CNA's/people like this in any job. You sound like someone who cares and wants to do a good job, I suggest talking one on one with the CNA who you have issues with, and explain to them that you want to do the best job and take care of the resident and ask how they feel you could work better with them to provide care. It's all about working it out with the care team, if they are unable to communicate reasonably and work it out with you I'd go to a supervisor and explain the situation.

[tomc5555]

Sorry, I can't get beyond some of the language.

Applying barrier cream is a correct term.

Please don't say creaming their butt, it is disrespectful to the resident.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

Who has time to go checking up on people and changing sheets with a drop of water on them? Sheesh. I would just say that you're doing the best you can and if he really wants you to "improve" for the sake of the residents then he needs to mind his own business and tend to his own residents, because having someone up your butt is not going to help you.

[FLCNA]

Hello Hajile!!

I agree with Rainbowskin.

And it sounds like this guy is on a power trip.

I have been on my job a little over a month and thankfully my co-workers aren't like him. He sounds like he name should be Mr. Power Trip.

I am also going to agree with Fuzzywuzzy, too. I don't know of anyone with the time to check a depends or change sheets for a drop of water.

You hang in there you sound like you are doing a great job!!! Stand your ground, too. Mr. Power Trip is not your boss.

[Awesomeness86]

Ahh, you sound like me when I started! I took so much crap from other CNA's and whoever else was crabby. I usually try to stay calm and positive but as my favorite song goes "how much more can you take before you break?" To make a long story short, I just express how I feel in the most professional way. That male aide should not be so rude to you and he's not even a manager or a nurse! Also, how does he know all these residents are soiled b/c of you? Shouldn't he also be putting people to bed or charting or something? The nerve of people

[interceptinglight, CNA]

In every facility, you're likely to find people who just aren't very happy with their job and when there's a new employee they try extra hard to make sure the new person won't be happy either. You'll also find egomaniacs like Mr. 'Yes-Sir' who spend inordinate numbers of man-hours trying to find fault with you. Personally I don't understand anyone wanting to be that way as I'd rather create allies among my co-workers than enemies. Fortunately these people are NOT like the majority of people you are going to work with. I don't think you're over-reacting, I think you are being very conscientious. You're going to be a great CNA, I can tell. We all have to go through this same crap in the beginning, it's like an initiation or something! Just keep doing your best as it sounds like you're doing and ignore those fools, soon they'll lose interest in trying to get to you because there'll be another new employee to harass. :icon_roll

[susanlwins]

That is horrible. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with that for your first job. Bottom line, the other CNA, no matter what kind of power trip they are on, are not your supervisor. They are your coworkers. You don't answer to them for the job that you do. Your supervisors are the nurses taking care of the patients. I am confused why the floor is not split up into "sections" with each CNA taking their own group of people? If you have a group of residents you are responsible for, and another CNA is coming around checking up on you, you have every right to tell them to stop. You tell them that your RN/LPN is your supervisor, that you have communicated with them regarding the care of the patients, and if they have a problem with anything they can direct it to your supervisor, not you. Granted, this approach will not win you any awards with your CNA coworkers, but they seem like not the most friendly bunch anyways, so who cares. Either they will perpetually keep trying to boss you around and get under your skin, or they will eventually leave you alone. They will probably never be friendly with you. If you have a good, supportive HR department, and this continues, bring it up with your HR person. Mention the words "hostile work environment" and "lawyer", even (lol). If the CNA's are running the place like that, my best advice is put on your game face and walk through every shift with your eye on the prize - the prize? Getting through 3-4 months of their crap so you have some experience under your belt, and then get out of there and into a better situation as quickly as possible. There are plenty of skilled nursing facilities out there who are looking for good experienced CNA's, and now you know, during the interview, to be sure to ask THEM about how they take care of their employees, how they interpret the chain of command, and how they foster teamwork and respect among coworkers. If they look at you blankly and have to look up teamwork in a dictionary, the interview stops right there!! I have been a CNA for 2 years. I now work at a hospital with excellent coworkers, but I have seen my share of crappy ones. Most of the ones I have had issues with were just plain lazy and didn't care who knew it. I haven't had the pleasure of dealing with the CNA who thought they ruled the place, but I can imagine the stress level. You WILL get through it, you WILL find a way to deal with that person and you WILL be able to find a job elsewhere that is better, where the coworkers are helpful and accepting. Another piece of advice, bust your butt for your RN's and LPN's, not your coworkers. Make sure they get to know you, your work ethic, and your good communication skills regarding the patients. Because one day, one or more of those nurses will find a better job somewhere else, and if they like you, they will put in a good word for you, their favorite CNA, and you can join them in the land of milk and honey!!

[northernguy]

This aide told you to say yes SIR to him? Thats not normal behavior, unless he was joking, it sounds like this person may have actual mental issues. I would just try to ignore him, he is a nurse aide, same as you, he isnt your boss, and if he wants to be your boss, tell him to go get his RN license and apply for a nursing position where you work.

This is what sucks about working in LTC. You run into people who constantly try to make mountains out of mole hills.