I was training a newer RN on the pm shift yesterday. He will not be working on my unit, just cross-training per policy. I did the same when I started and have never gone off of my unit. He has no experience with psych nursing and is ending his training. I knew he wasn't pleased to have to come shadow on my unit but managed to keep up appearances most of the shift. Towards the end, I was busy with a new LPN in training and the supervisor came along for rounds.
I came into the nurses' station on the back end of a conversation in which he was asking if "this is normal and allowed". Although I was wondering, I had enough to do and had to leave the station again. Report was complete so I didn't need to be there for the supervisor. When I was able to come back, the super asked me to deliver a taped note to one of my staff, which I did. But, I had an awful feeling I missed something with this new RN.
I asked him if I just delivered a very negative note to one of my cna's and if so, could he explain. He stated he saw her eating crackers and had a book out during a 1:1, which is against policy. He never came to me with this information so I never had a chance to correct the bx. It was a very busy night with 2 admissions (which never happens), physical altercations, family drama...in short typical nursing evening, lol. I could have screamed I was so po'd. I discussed this with him regarding giving staff a chance to do whats needed before going to the next level and he just didn't get it.
It was a very busy stressful night and to top it off with a new orientee who I just wanted to get off of my unit and never see again. I spoke with other staff that float to the other unit and was told he's been writing up employees there. I'm just sick that someone with no experience in their new field would be so blind to chopping off their other hand. I did tell him to be careful because those same staff members are the ones that should have his back when pts become assualtive. I think he had no idea. I was new just over a year ago and understand how hard it is, but jeez was I frustrated. I just needed to let it out :)
All I can say is, Don't sweat the small s..., pick your battles, win the war, not the hill.
Which aspect(s) of this battle do you think are small? The orientee more or less going over the trainer's head? The orientee wanting the aide to behave according to policy? The orientee speaking up and enforcing the
rules? Other?
So, OP, where are you? What is your response to our responses?
I'm sorry that I've taken so long to respond. Between mandatory doubles and bsn completion classes starting up again, I've neglected my favorite outlet!
This orientee is now on his own unit and far away from me. I hear it's been difficult between staff and him. They know what's going on and are staying as far away as possible and trying to fly under the radar. As long as he's now staff and stays on his unit, I'm good. We're taking bets on how long it'll last before something better comes along somewhere else. Just seems to be that type.
My staff member that was eating and reading.......yes, that has been an ongoing problem for quite awhile and while management is aware, there are apparantly so many chances to give. This means that a paper trail needs to be established (or so I've been told). There needs to be a plan of correction for the employee that sets clear goals and consequenses (termination). Whether or not there is union representation is not clear (Wisconsin has recently been battling with that) and that could have a seperate impact.
I did not see this employee eating or reading any of the times I checked. Although it was busy, I don't deny the claim. It was not this orientees job to go above my head without at least letting me know. Believe me I would have nipped it and documented the incident as I was instructed by my nurse manager. The house supervisor would have no knowledge of the inner workings of each unit. Their job on the pm shift is housewide management. They would be called on to deal with this situation only if necessary. If the cna refused direction, I would normally inform the supervisor. Going above my head signifies my inability to lead my staff. I may have much to learn, but I don't ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn't do. I'm hands on and not afraid to go the extra mile. Everyone knows what their duties are and the expectations are well within their scope.
All I can do is to keep on keepin on. I learn everyday and I hope to say the same thing 10 yrs from today.
Oh, the orientee was ticking my off. This was more of a vent for me so I could just let it go. It's the first time I've dealt with this and just couldn't get my mind around it. I went through the same orientation just over 1 yr ago and I would have never shadowed someone and then did this. Your a brand new employee to a facility, you don't do that. You sit back and let what you see help shape the practice you will work as you find your way there. That just seems to make a little more sense under these particular circumstances.
Which aspect(s) of this battle do you think are small? The orientee more or less going over the trainer's head? The orientee wanting the aide to behave according to policy? The orientee speaking up and enforcing the
rules? Other?
So, OP, where are you? What is your response to our responses?
Sorry, let me clarify which battles, hill and war. With regard to the specific care giver "reading a book", unless it were a pattern, I would choose another hill to die on, IF I was the OP. With regard to the orientee, I would let him/her sink his own battleship, and speak to all involved what the real goals of the night are...just like the OP did, and as the OP says later, she/he was venting, a most appropriate outlet for this board. I just bet this board saves a LOT of headaches during the "real" world battles and we can function nicely after venting, thinking it thru safely and anoynomously here.
as far as i am concerned, if the new orientee took me out of the loop by going to the supervisor with concerns/write-up then one of two things should occur:
if i'm responsible, then the supervisor should have redirected orientee back to me.
if i'm not responsible, then supervisor can deal directly with cna with regard to counseling/notification of write-up etc.
don't use me as your middle man to pass notes and "the buck".
nursing is famous for delegating responsibility without any authority.
exactly and when the "middle person/supervisor" attempts to provide leadership, use supposed delegated authority, then a lot a hand slapping goes on, especially in ltc. it has always seemed to me that ltc staff really don't want to be up to the highest standards, including the lead management, because of the fall-out, whining and complaining that goes on in the ranks. if we don't lead, how will we ever lead?
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jujuseah, RN
38 Posts
let him into the wild and learn the lesson by the hard way!