Night Aides keeping me late

uRNmyway, ASN, RN · Mar 26, 2014

Hi, I've been CNA for three months now. I work the evening shift from 3-11 at a nursing home. The issue that I have is the person that comes in after me always complains about residents not having briefs, and she makes sure I stay in and help minutes before I have to leave. The problem is that recently the nursing staff told us that if we are to leave briefs on the residents that we will get fired. Idk, what to do.
And since Im such a push over I cannot find a way to stand up for myself. Is it a big deal if I just leave the brief on the residents?

Um, well yes, it is a big deal. Look up your facility's policy on briefs. If it says what the nurses are saying, that you can be fired, there's your answer. Tell the other cna it is against policy and you won't do it. Or, be a pushover and risk losing your job. The choice is yours.

JDZ344 · Mar 26, 2014

Ask your DON or one of the nurses to explain to the night aide the reason nobody has briefs. Is she supposed to be using briefs herself?

likwit · Mar 26, 2014

The night aides know that not everyone should have on briefs, but the problem is that the unit manager isn't sure. The UM wants a list of suggested residents and then she will check their careplan. So I made the list and I will send it to her.

The only problem left is that I do my rounds at 1020 and she forces me to stay after to help change the sheets on the residents, only when their sheets are wet.

systoly · Mar 26, 2014

wet sheets are a good reason to use a brief

Paws2people · Mar 27, 2014

The sheets should always be DRY when the residents go to bed :)

likwit · Mar 27, 2014

Thanks for the advice guys. I decided to tell the night nurse about the issue and she explained that once I am finished with my rounds that I do not have to worry about the laws of nature. So if they are wet at 1031, I will tell her that I left them dry at 1030 and that I will not stay and help finish.

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 27, 2014

actually, not in LTC.

wet sheets are a good reason to use a brief

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · Mar 27, 2014

Please stand up for yourself. Why do you care about hurting their feelings when your job is on the line? If policy is they can't wear briefs then don't but briefs on them, simple. DON'T BE A PUSHOVER!!!!!

systoly · Mar 27, 2014

actually, not in LTC.

please explain

I'm thinking of the benefit of letting air get to the peri area, but

a wet sheet keeps a much larger area wet and cold and then there's

the loss of dignity and i doubt the mattress gets wiped before placing

fresh sheets

unless it's just a matter of the pad not being placed properly rather than

a pad capacity issue, which of course is and should be easily fixed

by far most of my LTC experience is from working in CCRC's (non profit)

and there are differences in approach and availability of supplies

for instance, at some of the for profit places i've worked, we were

supposed to use towels in the peri area of male pt.s to keep the bed

from getting soaked

that would be unthinkable at the CCRCs i've worked

cdsavannah59, CNA · Mar 28, 2014

Glad you finally talked to the night nurse, she absolutely said the right thing, in my opinion your duties are done at clock out time, the other aide I'm sure tries to pull this on all new help, she's lazy and type who feels she's in charge of you. I once worked the shift before a tech who told me frequently that I do not do certain job every night ( one that is done frequently) she said I left it for her most of the time. Well imagine her surprise the next time she complained to me that I wasn't doing that job and leaving it for her. I pulled out my worksheet that tracked the times that duty was performed and told her Oh Yes I do, I record it. (It's not required and not part of patient record or patient info but I do it to protect my job.)

likwit · Mar 28, 2014

Thanks again for the advice guys. I just now have the face the hurtle of telling the aide NO. Because she is the type to show up 10min early to inspect my work and then demand for me to help her.