New Nurse Issues the CNAs

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I work in a facility at night. I am the youngest staff member and some people really think because im a young white girl i can be walked all over. This is not the case. I have written up people for insubordination, Abuse, Restraints. ect... I might be a young nurse im italian i dont take bull**** to kindly. I do my job and i do it well but CNA are not listening to me, They talk back, yell at me for questioning their care, like how dare i check up on them. I ve been told i can be your mother dont question me, ive been told dont talk to me anymore ( after i told her not to yell at me again or take that tone with me, because i had to leave a patient for 15 seconds to put their property away) so i responded to her thats perfectly fine as long as you tell me about the residents and their care and she responded NO! all this is happen as im giving report to unit director and that the director jumps in and tell her thats enough one more word ill write you up myself. she stopped talking and walked away. I mean just because i am 22 and a charge nurse on the floor doesnt give them the right to speak to me that way in the facility or on the street. Ive told my supervisor about it and she responded shes just excited thats how we talk somtimes. I just do get it. I need advise

Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Do you ASK them to do things or TELL them? You seem pretty proud of your italian background and how you don't take any bull. Just the "tone" of your post seems a little brash and rough around the edges. Kill em' with kindness. The constant threat of you writing people up and DEMANDING respect cannot make for a pleasant work environment for ANYONE, and I shudder to think of how those under your care feel.

Your age also shows in your lack of puncuation and appropriate use of capital letters. Now before anyone blasts me for being the grammar police, I'm just wondering how the OP's superiors take the written complaints seriously if they are not being composed any better than this post....

I agree with Collen in this instance. Perhaps you are sharing your background to let us know that you were raised in a fashion that made you strong woman. Nothing wrong there. HOWEVER you can still be strong without reacting in a strong manner.

Respect is given when respect is earned. That can take some time.

I had a hard time reading your posts simply because of the grammar. My hope is that you were just angry and your fingers were flying over the keyboard as you were venting. You mentioned that you must be 'too anal', but your grammar certainly does not reflect that. You may see this as nit-picking, but a well written summary for an incident report is taken far more seriously when it is composed using correct grammar.

(Stepping down off of my grammar soap box now...)

One of the best ways to earn respect is to learn how to de-escalate a tense situation. If you ask a CNA to do something and they refuse, calmly ask them, "My understanding is that you are refusing a task that was delegated to you which is within your job description. Can you tell me why you are refusing? Do you need help with this task? If so, I will be glad to help you." Make sure that your body language reflects your words. Be sincere.

Also remember that a person's true character is revealed by the choices they make and the words they use while dealing with conflict or stressful situations. While your knee jerk reaction to a snide comment might be to say something retaliatory, sometimes it is just best to let it go and not make it a personal issue. Lead by example.

Yes, you DO have to prove yourself to these CNAs. Is this fair? No. Is it human nature? You betcha!

Always offer to help, offer breaks, and set boundaries. For example, when things start to slow down on the unit, go and find your CNAs. Tell them that they can take a break, but you need them again at X time and X tasks need to be completed when they return. Offer to help. Then say thank you.

Humor is a great way to break the ice with people that are not members of your fan club. Sometimes it is the ONLY way to break the ice. You are Italian--you know humor, girl! Use it to your advantage.

Think about some of the nurses that you really admire-the ones that are stoically strong, who don't get their feathers ruffled, and who get tasks done with efficiency and grace. Try to emulate the traits that you admire.

Try these techniques before you lose your wits about you. Remember that it takes time. You are the charge nurse, so you MUST take the high road. Let the snide comments roll. Then go to kick-boxing class when you get off work.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
Well, of course we are only hearing your side of the situation at hand, chances are that your CNA's would have some comments about the way you manage them as well.

For instance: checking up on them. Are you a micro-manager? NOONE (no matter what their level of education/training is) wants to feel as though their every move is being monitored. If cares are being performed, noone is being harmed, etc, do you really need to "check up on them"?

Do you ASK them to do things or TELL them? You seem pretty proud of your italian background and how you don't take any bull. Just the "tone" of your post seems a little brash and rough around the edges. Kill em' with kindness. The constant threat of you writing people up and DEMANDING respect cannot make for a pleasant work environment for ANYONE, and I shudder to think of how those under your care feel.

Your age also shows in your lack of puncuation and appropriate use of capital letters. Now before anyone blasts me for being the grammar police, I'm just wondering how the OP's superiors take the written complaints seriously if they are not being composed any better than this post....

LOL, look who mis-spelled "punctuation"! DOH!

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Colleen,

At least your didn't write, "Now before anyone blasts me for being the grammar police, I'm just wondering how the OP's superiors take the written complaints seriously if their not being composed any better than this post...."

Oh Lord, how I hate to see their and they're used incorrectly. Maybe I need to go up on my meds.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
Colleen,

At least your didn't write, "Now before anyone blasts me for being the grammar police, I'm just wondering how the OP's superiors take the written complaints seriously if their not being composed any better than this post...."

Oh Lord, how I hate to see their and they're used incorrectly. Maybe I need to go up on my meds.

Good Lord, I made myself cringe!!! LOL, I DO no better then that, I promise ;) SOMEONE needs to proofread!!

**that's: KNOW and THAN :smokin:

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Good Lord, I made myself cringe!!! LOL, I DO no better then that, I promise ;) SOMEONE needs to proofread!!

**that's: KNOW and THAN :smokin:

I no what you mean. We need too quit being the grammer poleece. Sereusly.

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Specializes in Neuro/ MS.

As a former aide/tech, I have been in situations where a new RN regardless of age speak to aides like they are dumber than a box of rocks. Like another poster said, if situations are explained aides tend to do better. RESPECT goes BOTH ways. I have personally had to go to a charge RN or Director over a "younger" RN that was rude and disrespectful. I am an ADULT not a child that should be talked down to, because at the time I didn't have initials behind my name. The RN had issues with every tech that she came in contact with because she felt as though we were less than her. Needless to say she did not make it out of orientation. Similar type of RNs do not tend to last that long, atleast on the floor I where I was a tech.

Also as an African American person, assuming your DON was AA, We do not "all" get excited when we speak. Stereotyping is irritating. She may have been trying to smooth things over. If the aide continues to her unprofessional behavior, write her up. You should keep/begin a paper trail and keep a copy of all write-ups. That way you have written proof of the problem. As an professional adult (regardless of job) I follow the chain of command. Tell person then supervisor, to director and finally to HR. I will not stoop to their level to the point of arguing at work. I personally think that when people think they get someone "told" what they really have done is reduced the level of respect that the person may have had for you.

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Another reason I couldn't work in a nursing home! I don't want to have to manage or supervise people and its hard enough at the hospital. I've had the occasl CNA outright refuse and I just don't need the aggravation. My mom was a CNA and she told me I'm too soft and I should insist and tell them I'll write them up and then do so! I just don't want all the drama of writing someone up and then all the negative atmosphere after! I try to pick my battles. It is tiring having to take someone by the hand to get them to do their job or do it myself! Another reason I don't work extra!

Life would be so much easier if I could just use my brain and assessment nursing skills and not have to deal with these other issues and of course the wear and tear of my body! I do wish I had gone for an NP back in the day, but hindsight is 20/20! Also I love how the new idea is we shouldn't talk or be interrupted while passing meds!

Hey if only I could do my job without being interrupted! How many times during the shift are you interrupted from what you were in the middle of, too many times to count! It's amazing we do so well considering we are literally constantly interrupted from the moment we start till we leave! But I don't have a practical solution to the problem!

I appreciate your comment i think eveyone has me wron. I am no where near disrespectful towards my staff by any means. they just have this idea that they can talk to me how ever they want. period end of story. she told me im going to speak to you anymore and all i said was that fine as long as you report to me about the resident thats ok. and she respomded i wont even do that. UNITERUPPTED MED PASS LOLOL what a joke. the tell me about skin tears o/a rashes right before i leave. And the list of things i would tolerate was just a list is not that i do anything about them. those are just the things im my head that bother me about this place. and RACE is an issue, i have been called cracker, casper, wahp. so idk

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As a former aide/tech, I have been in situations where a new RN regardless of age speak to aides like they are dumber than a box of rocks. Like another poster said, if situations are explained aides tend to do better. RESPECT goes BOTH ways. I have personally had to go to a charge RN or Director over a "younger" RN that was rude and disrespectful. I am an ADULT not a child that should be talked down to, because at the time I didn't have initials behind my name. The RN had issues with every tech that she came in contact with because she felt as though we were less than her. Needless to say she did not make it out of orientation. Similar type of RNs do not tend to last that long, atleast on the floor I where I was a tech.

Also as an African American person, assuming your DON was AA, We do not "all" get excited when we speak. Stereotyping is irritating. She may have been trying to smooth things over. If the aide continues to her unprofessional behavior, write her up. You should keep/begin a paper trail and keep a copy of all write-ups. That way you have written proof of the problem. As an professional adult (regardless of job) I follow the chain of command. Tell person then supervisor, to director and finally to HR. I will not stoop to their level to the point of arguing at work. I personally think that when people think they get someone "told" what they really have done is reduced the level of respect that the person may have had for you.

I dont ever disrespect anyone. i dont understand why everyone thinks so, i was venting. I talk to my cna as my peers co workers. i help them with there asignments, i make sure here doing ok i let them take hour and half breaks(we work nights), they have this idea they can speak to me as they would their children. and race is an issue i have been called casper, wahp, and cracker, and dont like each other jamaicans vs haitians

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Specializes in LTC, L&D.

"My CNAs" "My staff" lol

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Specializes in LTC, L&D.

"My CNAs"..."My staff"... My, My, My! haha!

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

*sigh

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Specializes in Cardiac.
LOL...I'm "24" to most people but actually well older than that.

Are you in LTC? There are a lot of threads on subjects like this and have dealth with it myself.

First off....I agree..pick your battles. Be respectfull of the rest of the staff. You do get more flies with honey....Let everyone know your willing to help or show them the correct way or get them help if they need it. Give verbal warnings first (unless it is an abuse etc situation where it is more serious). You don't need to be thier friends, but you need to work with them every day.

What about asking other managers for help on dealing with staff issues?

I just turned 30 but look 16, seriously. I'm the lone nurse on a LTC unit with 60 pts and 3 CNA's (on a good night) My 3 CNA's are 45, 40 and 52. My "three" know I value them and they value me. I make their life easier and vice versa. Its something that we had to work out, but we are the greatest team on nights. We operate as a team and work as a team, we have to with so many patients. It takes time to build those relationships though. Treat others how you wish to be treated and they will hopefully return the favor.

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