Nurses who let NAs Boss them around

Nurses Relations

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When will nurses ever learn to delegate? When will nurses ever collectively stand up and get some backbone--Fight for higher wages, and better benefits like a company matching 401K plan?

I get sick when I work at institutions (I am an agency nurse) and I see the Nurses aides doing whatever they want when they want--unlimited breaks, breaks all at once together leaving the floor uncovered, flat out refusing to answer lights or doing a task.

Its no wonder nurses are leaving the profession in droves. Management appears to be scared to approach the NAs too, but have no trouble when it comes to chastizing an RN. Whenever I ask an RN why they tolerate a situation, the response is always the same--management lets them get away with it. I have returned to Nursing after 13 years of working in a business setting. Not much has changed. PT, Pharmacists, and OT have all manged to get substancial financial increases while many nurses are still making $21 bucks an hour. I don't allow NAs to get the best of me, and all I get for my trouble is even more resentment. Not all NAs are like this but I will go out on a limb and say the lack of RN delegation and management skills are detrimental to the professionof nurses.

Phe Phe, RN, BSN, MBA

I guess I must be in Kansas with Toto and Aunty EM'.....I'm a CNA working for a Hospice Care Center in Florida...I just got off of a 12 hour shift and I can tell you for sure that my Nurses wouldn't have gotten everything done that they needed to get done, had I not spent that 12 hours feeding, bathing, changing beds full of poo, bathing and changing beds full of poo, talking to my patients families, holding my patients hands, reinforcing their dignity, doing I/O's, patients laundry, making sandwiches and milkshakes, changing beds full of poo and holding hands and soothing fears and when I left, everyone of my Nurses thanked me, for simply doing my job.

It's unfortunate that there's CNA's out there that take advantage of their postion's, but I for one, don't , won't , can't and hope that as Nurses, you realize that those CNA's are not the norm.... I'm ashamed for them, but I'm proud of the job I do...

Thanks for listening

Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

You know, when I became applied to be a CNA, I did not envision the job as being busy. When I thought it was: Sweet elderly people, alert, oriented, continent, who loved everyone unconditionally. I did not envision what my job was really like. But, I did fall in love with my job, and my heart really is in it now. I don't want to lose my job, and I don't like being bored, so I stay busy.

Originally posted by pcelest9

I'll be a nurse soon, and will be more than happy to take it outside if my NA decides that he or she wants to assault me.

I know of CNAs who have gotten away with assaultive behavior toward co-workers. Once you become a nurse that is not going to fly. Nurses are considered professionals and held to "professional standards". CNAs are not.

Let a nurse "take it outside" at a healthcare facility. Chances are said nurse will have their license revoked.:o

:confused: I can't believe some of these stories! I guess the fact that i've been a CNA for "only" 4 years and worked at the same facility might have something to do with that. Where I work...in LTC.....we try to work together as a team. Some of us "get it" and some don't. Typically we have 2 CNA's for 20 residents and are usually running our butts off all day. It pisses me off when we are both in rooms busy taking care of residents, lights are going off, and the nurse is sitting up at the desk reading the paper or a magazine. I guess I do expect her to help out. Is that wrong????

No MaryG, you are not wrong to think that the nurse should answer the call lights. When I was working my job was MDS nurse. When ever I would be at the desk getting info for my job, the nurses would sit at the desk and ignore the call lights, I answered them, but got to where I would not take my work to the desk. Some nurses just do not want to answer the lights as they feel that this is not their job.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by MaryG

:confused: I can't believe some of these stories! I guess the fact that i've been a CNA for "only" 4 years and worked at the same facility might have something to do with that. Where I work...in LTC.....we try to work together as a team. Some of us "get it" and some don't. Typically we have 2 CNA's for 20 residents and are usually running our butts off all day. It pisses me off when we are both in rooms busy taking care of residents, lights are going off, and the nurse is sitting up at the desk reading the paper or a magazine. I guess I do expect her to help out. Is that wrong????

Usually I am busy passing meds,doing treatments,routine paperwork,chart checks,summaries,orders etc while the cna's are doing care.If I stop to answer bells well then I am in trouble because I did not finish my med pass within the legal time limit.Or I am still at the desk after my shift finishing my 7 day assessments and the facility does not want to pay overtime.....I have NEVER been seen reading a magazine at the desk -with 44 residents on our dementia unit and 6 aides I don't have time for that.I also try to help with meals and toileting when I can-when I am caught up with what I have to do-the cna's can't help me do my job if I get swamped due to helping them do theirs....I can't imagine how that nurse would have down time to read a magazine.If she does she should be ashamed.

This is a very touchy subject for a lot of NA's, RN's, and Management. My philosophy has always been to work with people instead of against them. NA's on my team know that if I am asking for help, then I really need it. I helped clean and bath patient's when I had extra time. Phe Phe - You need to do a basic statistical approach. Log the amount of time you note certain NA's on your floor taking breaks with each of their shifts. Then compare it with the work that was not completed on their shift (ie bedpans, I&O's etc). Do it however you want, but management may listen better if they have real numbers in front of them on how it affects patient care and time spent doing another person's job. Just a suggestion, hope it works. God Bless.

I know that the nurses have their own work to do. I know that I can't pass meds and do their charting for them. I also know that they do have time to help, the majority of the time. I really don't think it's unreasonable to ask that they help. I'm not asking them to do my job, but a little help goes a long way. Even if it's just picking up trays after a meal. I'm not saying that they don't always help, sometimes they do. I guess it just depends on what kind of day they are having and I totally understand that some days are just extremely hectic, Mondays especially. I would love to go to school to become an RN......but i'm really torn. I love my job, I love giving the care that I give and having satisfaction that i'm taking great care of my residents. I see the nurses jobs and it's just not the same. They don't get to spend the same amount of time and I wonder sometimes if they feel a great sense of satisfaction............

:eek:

Wow...I knew it was happening in other places. I have worked in several nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals and also in a dialysis clinic. Most places had CNA's but some did not as they were not required there. I always made an effort to do whatever I could to help out and that included bathing a patient, feeding, cleaning up a patient and checking rooms to be sure they were all neat, clean and the call lights were in reach. Yes, I ran all night. Between charge nurse duties, charting, making necessary calls, checking on patients, and helping out cna's I was a mess by the time I would get home. But, the patients were cared for and that's all that mattered. Sure I got resentful sometimes but I kept it to myself unless we had a staff meeting with just nurses and administration where I felt "safe" enough to express my thoughts.

Why? Because, in my experience, the cna's were tolerated due to the fact that there were never enough cna's. Send someone home? not unless you wanted to explain to your fellow nurses and the administration why you don't have anywhere near enough coverage now. Never failed that administration was more worried about keeping the cna's happy because they didn't want to lose them no matter how lousy they were. Of course, this happened in some instances with nurses as well. Especially when we were due for our annual inspection. :(

It's crummy yes but it happens. Many CNA's will respond to requests made respectfully and reasonably. They will also treat you with respect. You have to work together or the job won't get done.

If they are really bad, document it, notify administration (from the building adminstrator to the DON) and let them know in no uncertain terms that if the aide doesn't go, you will. If they choose the aide, find another job and be sure to have a letter placed in your file (that you wrote) explaining exactly why you left. Keep a copy.

It's tough I know but until we have a change of attitude across the board, nothing will change. All we can do is keep our heads high, stay positive, and make sure the patients get the best care possible because they are the reason we all have jobs.

Ha ! funny that I read this thread today after day 3 back at LTC. iIwas a CNA first, I realize that it is a tough job. To be honest, I thought the nurses had it easier ! Some days, when the doodoo hits the fan, I long for the days when I could say " hey- you might wanna do something about this" . But I can't. I have never, rolled my eyes, or smacked my mouth when given a task.

Today I had to go to my DON and explain why her one of her aides is alienated. I said that I cannot tolerate neglect. This girl has refused pretty near everything I have asked her to do. No matter how simple. Will you get this b/p ? " nope don't know how" . Did you get mrs.x up? "no, she's gotta do it cuz I already did 2 people " - 2 friggin ppl. .. these girls were arguing over who was gonna get this person OOB. I had enough and told them to clock out if they did not wish to work today, that this is not a day care, they are grown women and would have to work together.

*sigh* I am still on orientation, and not at all impressed. Everyone just does whatever they want. Nurses too! There has been some major admin. changes recently, and it seems that they are trying to weed out the crap. Lord help me till then. CNA classes start soon at work, maybe some fresh faces, competition will help.

edited to add : There are some wonderful aides out there, I wish that I could infuse some of the compassion and work ethic that I have witnessed the these girls.

CNA's give the profession a rotten name. YES....I believe that being a CNA is a career choice and i'm very proud of it. I take pride in the fact that I am a CNA and would like to tell the ones that make us look bad.......go work at McDonalds.......we don't need your kind taking care of our elderly. One thing that I truly believe is what comes around....goes around. One day they will have someone taking care of them......just like themselves.

hey Mary- ever think about movin' to Arkansas ?! You said it well. CNA's should take pride in what is, a very noble profession- human service.

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