New LPN vs. Older CNA's

agldragonRN · Jan 31, 2009

some cnas always "test" the new nurse to see how much stuff they can get away with. i am also the youngest on my floor and i am still a new nurse.

yes be nice, respect, and help (when you can) your subordinates but never allow yourself to be a floor mat. you will regret it. for example, i have a nurse on my floor that's been there for almost 3 years, and some cnas still don't listen to her and argue with her when the nurse tells them to do something. i, on the other hand been there less than a year and for the most part they do what i tell them to do without a problem. i am nice to my subordinates but when things need to get done i am assertive and firm with them.

yes they "tested" me and even had some arguments with them but i stood my ground. i respect them and they respect me.

last week, i almost cried because our cnas(6 of them) gave me and my partner on the other wing a 50 dollar gift card each. i asked them what it was for and jokingly said "what did i do?" or "am i dying?" "what's the occasion". they said no special occasion but they just wanted to thank us for being fair to them and being a team player. :redbeathe:redpinkhe i love my cnas.

i don't know if me being a male nurse has something to do with it that they don't argue or fight with me but it is definitely an advantge on my floor because most of my residents are female elderly and they pretty much love me and give me special attention and sometimes they won't take medicines from the other nurse but they will if i give it to them.

moral of the story: be nice, respectful, firm, assertive, and cute (j/k ).

cheers,

angel

carbaminohemoglobin · Jan 31, 2009

Thank you, Angel. :) I will try to tough out the negative and remain positive with my CNA's/CMT's. The hatefulness wants me to buckle down and be a total ice ***** though.. If you know what I mean.

agldragonRN · Jan 31, 2009

thank you, angel. :) i will try to tough out the negative and remain positive with my cna's/cmt's. the hatefulness wants me to buckle down and be a total ice ***** though.. if you know what i mean.

no problem. and congratulations on passing the nclex. i hope your floor turn for the better.

JoAnnS · Feb 1, 2009

Hello all.
I am a very young (19), very new LPN. Just passed my NCLEX, but have been working as a GPN since Xmas.
I work in LTC as a Charge Nurse. And there are a few aides and CMTs that HATE me; are out to get me. I really don't know why! I try to be as nice as possible. I am practically allowing myself to be a door mat! I help out whenever I can even though I am still learning how to do my own job! I completely appreciate my aides and CMT's! I say 'please' and 'thank you', never bossy, etc.
Just last night, a CNA let me know that a CMT was talking crap about me. Telling everyone I am lazy and that I said I became a nurse so I wouldn't have to wipe butt. Not true. I have never said anything of the sort. I wipe butts, I am not above it. I'm not gonna lie and say it's a pleasant experience, but it needs to be done, so it gets done. And about being lazy... It really drives me crazy because I'm busting my butt! I sweat, I don't take lunches, I just about pee my pants three times a shift, I always stay late to finish up.
I just don't know what to do. Another nurse suggested I write this CMT up for insubordination. I don't really want to do that, because I didn't actually HEAR her say these things... A new nurse friend said not to worry about it.. She thought it was because I was so young, yet accomplished and some people were jealous. That may be true, but it still stings.

HI:

Sorry for your troubles.

Let me just say one thing, and I'm sure some of you won't agree, but its true.

There are some facilities or on some floors that "PUT UP" with certain CNA'S behavior's because they are good aides and/or have been working there for a long time. I just started as a new nurse this Nov, while training on the day shift, I have come in contact with a woman older than myself, who is bossy, pushy and gets involved in my conversation while I am talking to someone else. She snapped at me and I gave it right back to her. She shut up after that. And I really don't talk to her because I don't have time for rude, nasty, show off, self-praising people.

While working on my evening shift, I got a CNA float from another floor, while giving report, she sat there snickering and huffing and puffing. Then later on she came over to tell me something and started walking away while still talking to me. I didn't hear the whole thing and asked her to come back. She says "forget it, I'll wait for the other nurse" as she is taking away someone's portable oxygen tank. SO I walk to the room she is talking about, take the person's Pulse Ox, and see the need for oxygen. I go get one. This CNA had no right to take away the tank without bringing in another one. I could have written her up for that. So as I turn the corner to the nurse's station, this CNA is talking about me and says something like: "F**king dummy or no F**King brains"

SO I confront her and ask her if she is talking to me? No answer.

I will NOT allow anyone to talk down to me, I don't care if it is my supervisor or the DON. I hear all the time how there is a Nurse shortage. Why would any facility allow such nonsense to go on in their facility. The training should be top notch. There should be a Nurse Educator in every facility. One that follows the new nurse around for at least 4-6 months until that new person is comfortable and there is no doubt that the residents safety will not be affected. Shame on the facility that puts up with the nonsense person just because they need good workers. I'd give them all a warning and if it still happened again.... just fire them!!!!!!

SO Don't let anyone push you around. Yes they are jealous you are young and a higher rank than them. Don't let nasty people get in the way of your life and most importantly, the life of the residents in which you care for. Everyone always forgets the whole reason why they are there... to care for the residents. And if all this crap is going on in the hallways and at the nurses station, then it is the facilities responsibility to discipline the workers or get rid of them. If I was a family member and heard any of that nonsense, I would go as far as court and JACKO.

Remember all those video's you had to watch at school, does your facility really mimic those video's.. yeah.. not really.

You do your job they way you are supposed to and care for your residents. I wish you the best in your career

amjowens · Feb 1, 2009

I'm a new grad LPN, and recently got a job as a GN. I'm essentially working as a tech at the facility, but also being trained to be a nurse for the open LPN position. I'm in an RN program, and I shared the situation with my clinical instructor. While my opinion is that of being "nice" and willing to do any and all work, that is, helping the aides and being part of the "team", my instructor has a different opinion. I thought it was a good idea to work as an aide first, just to get to know patients and staff better, and show I'm willing to do that work. My instructor said while that's nice, really it will be difficult to transition to role of "nurse" and someone they will listen to after working alongside them.

I'm now thinking about this and seeing it...though not in role yet, I'm seeing the style of the aides as very territorial, thinking they "know" better than nurses because they "know" the patients better, and pretty much have disdain for anyone with authority.

So far, I'm being neutral, and just getting along, but keeping my eyes and ears open. The thing is, with human nature-and there are a ton of examples-respect is really important. And, though I risk sounding like a snob, those who don't have education tend to group up and dislike those who don't "get their hands dirty", thinking that those with a degree don't really know anything, but are "smart" and got a degree, but sit and do nothing. They get mad because they don't get the pay or "respect", but do "ALL" the work...and not to say every aide is like this, but overall, especially with the older aides, I think there's this tendency to have some bitterness for the nurses.

My take, we live in America. I worked hard, for sure, and still do, going through the hoops to become a nurse. Heck, I'm still in school, and will be for some time. If they want to go to school, they are more than welcome to, I'm sure not the one holding them back...I'm going to work really hard to maintain a good relationship with the aides when I start my role as LPN, but overall, I first have to do my job first, and expect every person to do their job well too. It's professional, for the good of the patients, and I don't need to be liked. I only need my patients to be cared for. I'm not going to go out of my way to be liked, though. I'm a nice enough person overall, I'm confident in that. I'm just going to be myself, and not "try", because that's definitely not a recipe for respect.

carbaminohemoglobin · Feb 1, 2009

Thank you both for your replies. And I agree with both of you. A lot of aides complain that nurses are rude and unfair with them, but maybe this is why... Maybe the rude and unfair nurses were snubbed as new nurses when they were trying to be friendly..

My main priority is the safety and well being of the patients. I do know that. And I just need to repeat that mantra in my head over and over when I get stressed out with staff.

I'm so leaving this facility though. Last night, a night nurse (who happens to be a very good friend of mine) called me and said the DON has been talking about me too. Telling people that I was interested in more money and "Who does she think she is?" First of all, I've never even spoken to the DON about getting a raise. I've spoken to the ADON and I was just curious since a lot of places give GPN's a small raise once they get their license.. Don't I have some sort of right to privacy?!

carbaminohemoglobin · Feb 1, 2009

Thank you both for your replies. And I agree with both of you. A lot of aides complain that nurses are rude and unfair with them, but maybe this is why... Maybe the rude and unfair nurses were snubbed as new nurses when they were trying to be friendly..

My main priority is the safety and well being of the patients. I do know that. And I just need to repeat that mantra in my head over and over when I get stressed out with staff.

I'm so leaving this facility though. Last night, a night nurse (who happens to be a very good friend of mine) called me and said the DON has been talking about me too. Telling people that I was interested in more money and "Who does she think she is?" First of all, I've never even spoken to the DON about getting a raise. I've spoken to the ADON and I was just curious since a lot of places give GPN's a small raise once they get their license.. Don't I have some sort of right to privacy?!

amjowens · Feb 1, 2009

Thank you both for your replies. And I agree with both of you. A lot of aides complain that nurses are rude and unfair with them, but maybe this is why... Maybe the rude and unfair nurses were snubbed as new nurses when they were trying to be friendly..
My main priority is the safety and well being of the patients. I do know that. And I just need to repeat that mantra in my head over and over when I get stressed out with staff.
I'm so leaving this facility though. Last night, a night nurse (who happens to be a very good friend of mine) called me and said the DON has been talking about me too. Telling people that I was interested in more money and "Who does she think she is?" First of all, I've never even spoken to the DON about getting a raise. I've spoken to the ADON and I was just curious since a lot of places give GPN's a small raise once they get their license.. Don't I have some sort of right to privacy?!

You seem to be very nice and genuine. Whatever you do, don't stop being who you are!!! But, it sounds like you could benefit from actively working on developing a "professional" separate from the "personal" you. The "professional" you will be able to hear hurtful opinions but realize the whole picture behind that opinion and not be hurt, to deal with difficult people and not take it personally, and to present yourself in a neutral, yet compassionate way. Also, some environments are just horrible. If you don't have management you can trust, and even worse, if they are so small that they talk about you behind your back, you're either going to have to develop some real thick skin, or sink to their level to fit in if you want sanity. I'd put a smile on my face (and heart!), focus on my business, don't join in the gossip or (IMPORTANT) act like you care even one little bit about the talk, and use the place for experience.

Junebugfairy · Feb 2, 2009

i wanted to hop in on this conversation because i was/am a cna for 7.5 years, and i am now in ns :)

my mom is an rn. she has been a nurse for a number of years, close to 30, and i have actually worked under her as a cna.

i guess what i do not get is the lack of respect and the lack of understanding 'your' role. i knew what being a cna meant, i knew what my role was and i knew who was 'in charge'. this is life, and there is a hierarchy that we follow in nursing.

i would absolutely never dream of walking away from a nurse that was speaking to me, it is not only rude, but i have always known that the nurse is the 'boss'. she is the one who makes certain decisions, and i am to listen and follow orders. in cna school we were taught this, and imo it is just plain common sense.

i am not saying that anyone is 'better' than anyone else on a personal level, but nurses are professional superior to cna's, in both skills and college education. i see nothing wrong with admitting this, it is the way life is.

carbaminohemoglobin · Feb 3, 2009

Thank you for your input, Cari. I totally agree.

rigidchop · Feb 4, 2009

when i first got my license, i started in a LTC facitilty (the same one i work in now) and i had a few CNA's that wanted to push my buttons and try and bully me. i stood my ground, and eventually they came around. the other CNA's were awsome towards me. i didn't feel like i knew anything, they helped me with some of the simpler things that a seasoned CNA would have seen done. they were always saying how good a nurse they thought i was, and they still do. i'm glad to have people like this around me. the bullies are now long gone, but the ones who really care are still there and are still helping me when i need it. i never had an issue with the DON, she is one of the best bosses i have ever had. i hope you can turn this situation around, or at least find a place that accepts you for who you are.