So I've been working at an assisted living facility for 2 weeks now... my FIRST nursing job. I am the only nurse 1 qma and 4 ra's. I love my job and everyone is respectful and great.. except this one RA. I really need some advise on how to deal with her. Everytime I try to talk to her she turns her back and walks away.. even when I'm still talking. I've never had a real conversation with her because she refused to give me the time of day. I'm so sick of it. I feel so disrespected and frankly it pisses me off... but I keep my cool and stay professional. It all began when I asked her to grab an orange juice and sandwich for a resident that had a bs of 51.. she said, "uh okay" and sat down on a bench in the hallway. I asked again and she didn't say anything and just leaned back. The qma, who has been there for years, finally said something and she went and got it. Ugh. Then the other day 2 hours before the end of shift, she was sitting in the living room watching tv. I told her that she needs to get up and do something if she's still on the clock. She said she had everything done and that I'm the ONLY nurse to ever say she cant sit on the couch and watch tv if her works done.. yeah right. Then as I was telling her that I feel like she need to show a little more respect.. she got up and walked out the door while I was still talking. A little later, in front of residents and all, she was loudly saying to another RA, "well I guess we should run laps around the building to waste time after we put so and so to bed." Then today, I found a resident in the memory unit walking down the hallway alone. This lady is not to walk unassisted (she's fallen a gazillion times). I said (girls name) you need to keep an eye on mrs. so and so, she's not to be walking unassisted... Well I only got out her name when she gave me this "my sh*t don't stink" look and turned away and went into a residents room. I walked into the room and told her to come to the nurses station when she's done, I needed to speak with her. An hour later she walking in and said, "hey you, what's your name, what ya want". I said, "My names Amanda, and expect you to stop and listen to me when I'm talking to you. Not just turn and walk away while I'm still talking." She said, "I nodded, what u want me to do" I said, "I want you to treat me with a little more respect." She said," mmmhumm k, are we done." and walked away.
I understand I'm a brand new nurse, I get it, everyone's gonna push me and see how much they can get away with. The thing is, I'm still trying to feel out the place and I am super nice to everyone and help when I can. But this girl has had it out for me since the begining. I don't know what to do. She is like 7 months pregant, and has a ghetto diva attitude. I have absolutely nothing against her... I don't know if she hates me because I'm a new white nurse or what... I JUST DON'T GET IT.
I have to agree with the above post. It was a very bad choice of words. Everyone deserves respect reguardless of skin color. You made it seem like her position was way beneath you and she was jealous. I feel everyone is their to do a job and if someone is not doing their job it needs to be documented. If i feel tension in the work place i will confront the individual and ask is their something that you and I can do to settle this tension cause we have to work together. If that does not solve the problem, then i will have to involve management.
1. If things don't improve, document everything the CNA does/says and let TPTB know. Patient safety is priority at work. If she's too pregnant to be doing her job appropriately, then she needs to either take her maternity leave now or be moved to another position--I don't buy the "I'm pregnant, I can be lazy" excuse and neither do many employers.
2. Maybe it's a racial issue, maybe it's not--I wasn't there and I only have your side of the story to go on. But honestly assess YOURSELF, your attitude and how you are coming across to people. While I know you're a new nurse trying to prove herself, perhaps in doing so, you're coming across in a negative way to others. Also, find somethere there who can give you honest feedback about how you come across.
Documentation. Dates, times, exact words in quotation marks.
Just curious, would you document this all in the pt chart?
Things such as the cna sitting on the couch and watching tv while she was on the clock, would this be appropriate to put in the chart, or would you just include the stuff that affected the pt care, such as the cna not getting the pt the sandwich and oj, and letting the pt ambulate unassisted?
I am a new nurse and what/what not to document stumps me sometimes.
Just curious, would you document this all in the pt chart?
Things such as the cna sitting on the couch and watching tv while she was on the clock, would this be appropriate to put in the chart, or would you just include the stuff that affected the pt care, such as the cna not getting the pt the sandwich and oj, and letting the pt ambulate unassisted?
I am a new nurse and what/what not to document stumps me sometimes.
Anything that doesn't directly involve the patient's care, such as the television watching during downtime, should not be included in the patient's chart. The OP should document that seperately--one suggestion is to get a notebook and use that to keep record of everything that's been happening (and include date, time, location...as much specifics as possible) Then if she has to file a report on the CNA, she can refer to the notebook for examples.
When documenting in a patient's chart, you should avoid placing blame on anyone or saying that someone did something wrong. If the CNA didn't get the patient OJ and a snack and the OP did, all that needs to be documented is "Patient's blood glucose at 1000 was 56. Patient given a sandwich and orange juice to eat. Blood glucose rechecked at 1100 and was 100." No need to mention the CNA's refusal to get the food--that would go in the incident report instead.
Or "Patient ambulated unassisted without incident (or describe what happened if something did happen). Assisted patient back to bed and instructed patient to call for assistance before ambulating." Never say "CNA let patient ambulate unassisted" in the patient's documentation--again, that is what incident reports are for.
Anything that doesn't directly involve the patient's care, such as the television watching during downtime, should not be included in the patient's chart. The OP should document that seperately--one suggestion is to get a notebook and use that to keep record of everything that's been happening (and include date, time, location...as much specifics as possible) Then if she has to file a report on the CNA, she can refer to the notebook for examples.
When documenting in a patient's chart, you should avoid placing blame on anyone or saying that someone did something wrong. If the CNA didn't get the patient OJ and a snack and the OP did, all that needs to be documented is "Patient's blood glucose at 1000 was 56. Patient given a sandwich and orange juice to eat. Blood glucose rechecked at 1100 and was 100." No need to mention the CNA's refusal to get the food--that would go in the incident report instead.
Or "Patient ambulated unassisted without incident (or describe what happened if something did happen). Assisted patient back to bed and instructed patient to call for assistance before ambulating." Never say "CNA let patient ambulate unassisted" in the patient's documentation--again, that is what incident reports are for.
I hope I still have time to gain control, but at the same time earn respect.... I don't know.. I'll keep you updated. Thanks again for your comments.. they help alot.. even the one's that say it's me.. You know I don't think it is but I will surely re-evaluate myself, words, and actions.
After all, we're often blind to ourselves and how we act.
If you are having difficulties with your staff, then you do need to step back and consider how you are interacting with them and how you come across. It usually (not always!) takes two to tango in these cases, so you may or may not have a role in this...but you won't know until you self-assess. And sometimes that's harder to do than dealing with a difficult CNA
Pen and paper, keep copies and send the results to your supervisor. Keep applying this tactic and you have done your job. Ask your supervisor if you have the authority to send the person home. If so, and she comes off with an attitude, clock her out yourself and tell her if she doesn't leave the facility you will call the police. No sense in having someone around who is trying to infect the others with her bad attitude. She should have been fired a long time ago, the only way you can move her to that point is to provide the firing authority with the needed documentation.
Specializes in home health & nonprofit management.
You know what it sounds like to me? It sounds like she's TRYING to get fired/laid off so she can collect unemployment and get out of working before FML would take effect. Just something to think about. There's more than one way to skin a cat.
MsTosh, RN
14 Posts
I have to agree with the above post. It was a very bad choice of words. Everyone deserves respect reguardless of skin color. You made it seem like her position was way beneath you and she was jealous. I feel everyone is their to do a job and if someone is not doing their job it needs to be documented. If i feel tension in the work place i will confront the individual and ask is their something that you and I can do to settle this tension cause we have to work together. If that does not solve the problem, then i will have to involve management.