New LPN troubled with CNA's

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new LPN. I have had my license for 8 months now. I have worked at my current facility (LTC) for 7 months. But I recently changed shifts. I now work weekend opt. I love the hours and being able to be at home all week with my kids, but the CNA's that work my unit, well, basically are horrible. They have worked this shift for (most of them, there are 4) at least 2 years. They are good aids for the most part. They only work 16 hour shifts Sat. and Sun., which in my opinion is too many hours for any CNA to work. Being a CNA is hard work, I know, I was one before I became a nurse. I have a lot of respect for CNA's, but only for those who have respect for their charge nurses, which they do not. They truly feel they run that unit and anything the charge nurses ask them to do, they take great offense too. Unfortunately about 2 weeks ago, I had a horrible experience with a patient who climbed out of bed and fell face first and hit the floor. This patient suffered some pretty serious injuries. I felt horrible, had to endure a lot of paperwork and sit in on many meetings with my supervisors, luckily the patient is fine, and is back with us. But now I am even more cautious and aware of what is going on on my unit. And the past few weekends I have noticed that some patients were not put into pajamas for bed, personal alarms not on, mats not down for those in low beds, and this is the kicker, a certain resident, 2 weekends in a row I found had no O2 on, which is to be on at all times. When I approached the CNA's about this, they became very defensive. Although, we talked, I thought it went well, and that was that. I came in that night, (I work 12 hour shifts) and they weren't speaking to me or the other nurse, they behind our backs, called the ADON in for a meeting at 10pm, I had no idea that they did this. So, during our "meeting" these 4 CNA's were yelling at the top of their lungs at the two nurses and the ADON. A truly pathetic display of immaturity and disrespect. These are the things that you are not taught in nursing school. The DON has now called a meeting with the two nurses involved, the 4 CNA's and the ADON. They say it's the nurses chance, and theirs, to let these CNA's know who is in charge. I'm not sure that this meeting is going to go well. I have a truly bad feeling about it. I have never had any trouble like this before with CNA's. I normally have no problem with them. I'm told it's just a "power struggle", but there should be NO power struggle, I'm the charge nurse.....period. Any suggestions on this problem would be greatly appreciated.

CNA's probably feel like they do more dirty work than the nurse AND the nurse is still making more money. I think its the money. I don't personally think that CNA's get paid what they should for the jobs they do, i used to be one and am now going to nursing school.

Well, I know personally one thing that drives me nuts is when a nurse pulls up in her new SUV or BMW and then sits at the station complaining about her money problems and how poor she is. That kind of thing really doesn't create much sympathy among CNAs who are making less than half what she is. I wouldn't call it jealousy so much. Its kind of like when you hear pro athletes complain about being under paid, but on a smaller scale. Just an observation from my standpoint.

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Tim, you didn't upset me. I agree with you, that you can't generalize. I know there are CNAs who take pride in their work. I like to think I was one of them. I'm such a new nurse, my name badge still says CNA even though I've been training as a GPN for several days now. And I want to take pride in my work as a nurse. It's scary because I still have so much to learn.

Personally, I'm glad there are different levels of opportunity in health care. What would it be like if we all had to have BSNs to do anything at all?

I got a little paranoid the other evening. I feared some of the CNAs might be saying amongst themselves, "Why can't she help us like she used to? All she does is stand at her medcart." Well, I'm standing there a while because I'm a new nurse and it's taking me a while to think this through, and I want to do it right! I really would like to help them, but then I wouldn't get my work done. But I think they really understand that my job may not look hard, but is time-consuming, like theirs (not to mention problems that may come up, that the nurse is responsible for dealing with). Many people at work (nurses, CNAs, and residents) have been very supportive of my becoming a nurse. I don't want to disappoint them.

I'm glad I didn't upset you. I'm sure you're a great nurse. I don't expect nurses to do our work for us or do the same things we do. I know they have different roles. But I just can't stand when nurses think we're their personal slaves.

One nurse sits not stands by her cart, but sits in a chair sorting her meds. If she needs something, no matter if I'm in a room or not, she won't get up and look for me, she'll just yell in her shrill, obnoxious voice, "TIM! TIIIIIIIIMMMM! CAN YOU PUSH SO AND SO UP IN THEIR CHAIR?" "CAN YOU PUT SO AND SO TO BED NEXT? HE'S REALLY LOUD!" Or she'll come in while we're trying to get our people in bed and want us to help her roll this person or that person. Then at the end of the night can't understand why we're running behind.

Anyway, had to get that off my chest. I've had a bad day today.

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I am a new LPN. I have had my license for 8 months now. I have worked at my current facility (LTC) for 7 months. But I recently changed shifts. I now work weekend opt. I love the hours and being able to be at home all week with my kids, but the CNA's that work my unit, well, basically are horrible. They have worked this shift for (most of them, there are 4) at least 2 years. They are good aids for the most part. They only work 16 hour shifts Sat. and Sun., which in my opinion is too many hours for any CNA to work. Being a CNA is hard work, I know, I was one before I became a nurse. I have a lot of respect for CNA's, but only for those who have respect for their charge nurses, which they do not. They truly feel they run that unit and anything the charge nurses ask them to do, they take great offense too. Unfortunately about 2 weeks ago, I had a horrible experience with a patient who climbed out of bed and fell face first and hit the floor. This patient suffered some pretty serious injuries. I felt horrible, had to endure a lot of paperwork and sit in on many meetings with my supervisors, luckily the patient is fine, and is back with us. But now I am even more cautious and aware of what is going on on my unit. And the past few weekends I have noticed that some patients were not put into pajamas for bed, personal alarms not on, mats not down for those in low beds, and this is the kicker, a certain resident, 2 weekends in a row I found had no O2 on, which is to be on at all times. When I approached the CNA's about this, they became very defensive. Although, we talked, I thought it went well, and that was that. I came in that night, (I work 12 hour shifts) and they weren't speaking to me or the other nurse, they behind our backs, called the ADON in for a meeting at 10pm, I had no idea that they did this. So, during our "meeting" these 4 CNA's were yelling at the top of their lungs at the two nurses and the ADON. A truly pathetic display of immaturity and disrespect. These are the things that you are not taught in nursing school. The DON has now called a meeting with the two nurses involved, the 4 CNA's and the ADON. They say it's the nurses chance, and theirs, to let these CNA's know who is in charge. I'm not sure that this meeting is going to go well. I have a truly bad feeling about it. I have never had any trouble like this before with CNA's. I normally have no problem with them. I'm told it's just a "power struggle", but there should be NO power struggle, I'm the charge nurse.....period. Any suggestions on this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Hello, I worked at a ltc facility for many years in Louisiana. It can be very frustrating when you have cna's like that. I hated going to work for the reason that every day we were faced with arguements from the cna's first thing in the morning. I watched cna's roam off the unit then lie and say they were right here and never left. I saw some just walk around and do nothing while I was changing soiled linens,feeding and putting patients back to bed.The main thing is that you have to have your supervisors behind you. If you dont then it is never going to change. Remember there are also some great cna's who work very hard and sometimes twice as hard because of the slackers. Good luck.

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