What would you have said to this CNA

Nurses Relations

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I was almost done posting this but it went away? Sorry if it comes up twice???

Anyway, I am an RN on a busy day shift med-surg/onc floor. The other day it was crazy. It was about 1400 and I had not eaten or peed. I was starting to feel a bit sick. I told the HUC that I was not feeling well and that I was going to take a quick break to pee and eat something real quick. I told her to tell the CNA I was working with that I was not feeling good, would be back quickly, and to give her this note.

The note said - Take temp in 502 and get water for 507. Thanks

Well when I got back, the CNA working with me was livid. She demanded to talk to me in private. She says (and I quote) "I am not your N-word" (but she says the word if ya know what I mean) "You can't just leave me notes and expect me to do what you say"

I was just so shocked! First that she would use the N word (we are both white) and second, that she seemed to not care that I had to get off the floor for just a few min.

So I end up apologizing to HER, explaining why I left the note, and telling her how bad I had to take a quick break. She really didn't care, didn't even give the water or take the temp, and just talked trash about me for the rest of the shift. I heard her later telling the other cna's that 'she put me in my place"

this type of behavior is so dishearting for me, We should ALL be there to support eachother and the patients. What would you guys have done?

I would have told her "until you have RN behind your name or you transfer floors, you are my ******. I tend to be a little more brazen than most.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
I can appeal to both sides if you don't agree then thats unfortunate , this OP / RN needs to practice time management !

I agree. She's probably been answering too many call lights, toileting, turning, ambulating, cleaning, fetching water and warm blankets for her patients instead of letting the CNA do it. She needs to stop doing CNA tasks and stick to RN tasks.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.
I agree. She's probably been answering too many call lights, toileting, turning, ambulating, cleaning, fetching water and warm blankets for her patients instead of letting the CNA do it. She needs to stop doing CNA tasks and stick to RN tasks.

Sometimes easier said than done. Short staffed and CNAs nowhere to be found. ha (4 gathered in the shower room eating,...or watching tv in an empty room...Job (CNA)postings in the paper and no one applying. So management turns a blind eye) But thats a whole other thread.

And where was this CNA??

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This is actually where I kind of disagree. This doesn't foster or promote teamwork in my opinion. You should always ask someone to do something for them, not just TELL them. I don't think you'd be winning anyone over by this. It's different when you're working FOR someone and working WITH someone. Everyone on the floor is working WITH each other.

I dunno, maybe I'm the only one who feels like this, but being a new grad, and just knowing how I am, even 10, 20 years down the road, I know its not my personality type to just demand that someone do something.

Now, if the CNA responses like the OPs did..... then yes, you'll see a different side of me real fast :p

I agree with you compltely here. Don't change! We all need to work as a team. When I worked as a tech, I hated it when i was told, not asked, to do something. How difficult is it to say please, or than you? Not very. I can tell you the times I would cry at home for the treatment I received by some. I always ask; am gracious and kind. I walk softly, but I carry a big stick if pushed.

Oslogirl, RN

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I'm not saying the OP did anything wrong per se, 'cause I wasn't there, but I never leave anyone notes. I mean, without assessing the CNA's situation, how am I going to make an appropriate work assignment? So I always get face-to-face. Frequently I'll end up passing something to another nurse instead of my aide, because aides get tied up in both routine and emergent work situations. And before I get to figuring out whether they actually have time, I've looked at their face and figured out if this person is close to blowing up or not. Sometimes, instead of assigning work, I'll end up doing it myself and then going to help out the CNA, because sometimes that's the best use of resources. But without assessing, how am I going to know that?

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Specializes in ER, Forensics.

Oh please....

I am not going to spend my time being all smoochy sweet to my coworkers......"Sally sue, could you pretty please get Mr President in room 208 some water? It'd be such a great favor to me. Thank you so much!"

Um, no.

I don't have time for that. Working in the ER I have to get stuff done and get it done fast. I'm gonna say "Sally Sue - the guy in 208 needs water." Period. Actually, I'll be saying it as I run by her on my way to give morphine to my trauma patient with an open fracture. Too bad if she doesn't like it. I'm taking care of people who need me more than I need to be nice to Sally Sue.

Guess that's why I like working the ER. Nobody gets their feelings hurt nor do they go all crybaby on each other. We're mature enough to know it is not personal and emotionally stable enough to not get in a big high school fight about it. I might yell directions to Sally Sue 4 or 5 times during a shift and we'll still walk out the door together talking about the kids or going out and grabbing a beer.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
I wouldnt rest til i had this idiot's job. She has obviously lost track of her role.

My thoughts exactly, Bradley! I worked my way up from an CNA to ward clerk to LPN to RNC and would never have ever thought of talking to someone like that, especially when it comes to patient care. PLEASE!!! As someone I used to work with, KNOW YOUR ROLE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anne, RNC

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According to your profile, you aren't a nurse. How can a non-nurse tell an RN she needs to practice time management?

I'm an RN and I've worked in quite a few hospitals. From my experience I've worked with a few CNA's and many LPN's who had more common sense and work ethic than some of the RN's had. I'm not standing up for anyone in particular here but IMO I'd hesitate before disregarding someone's observations and opinions just because their name tag has three letters instead of two. Take care.

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Oh please....

I am not going to spend my time being all smoochy sweet to my coworkers......"Sally sue, could you pretty please get Mr President in room 208 some water? It'd be such a great favor to me. Thank you so much!"

I think it's interesting what a sharp contrast in work place attitudes there are between some older and most younger RN's. IMO - I'd much rather work with a younger RN who is humble, teachable, non-abrasive, and non-agressive in there approach. Sometimes it awe's me how nonchalant some RN's are about the metastatic effects their bad attitudes can have on rest of the work environment. Take care.

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Specializes in Oncology.
Hello. I'm not trying to be mean, but you asked our opinion. So here it goes. You were so busy that you couldn't take a pee break? You couldn't take a 2 minute break to eat a cracker? But you did have time to write down the 2 tasks, explain your condition to the HUC and ask her to pass along a note to your CNA? You did have time to step away from your work in private to argue with your CNA about this stupid note you left her?:selfbonk:

With all that being said please write this CNA up for deliberately ignoring a tasks given to her by a RN. The CNA has already admitted to you that she can't be trusted to complete the tasks you give her. Include that in your report.

Of course the best way to communicate is verbally or hand delivering the note to the CNA in case there are any questions. But in this particular case you were unable to because of an emergency. And just a reminder in case you've forgotten, the CNA is the subordinate.

Keep your head up and keep moving forward. This too will pass. ;) Take care.

Are you a nurse? Every time I go in a patient's room, the 5 second task of taking a temp turns into, "Fix my sheets, empty my toilet, I need some water, want to see pictures of my grandkids?" As oppose to writing down taking 10 seconds. Explaining to HUC only needs to consist of, "I'm going on break."

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I think it's interesting what a sharp contrast in work place attitudes there are between some older and most younger RN's. IMO - I'd much rather work with a younger RN who is humble, teachable, non-abrasive, and non-agressive in there approach. Sometimes it awe's me how nonchalant some RN's are about the metastatic effects their bad attitudes can have on rest of the work environment. Take care.

Wouldn't you say the same goes for everyone on the team?

If you're lucky you will get 'old' one day too. :redbeathe :nurse: :p

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Are you a nurse? Every time I go in a patient's room, the 5 second task of taking a temp turns into, "Fix my sheets, empty my toilet, I need some water, want to see pictures of my grandkids?" As oppose to writing down taking 10 seconds. Explaining to HUC only needs to consist of, "I'm going on break."

Please... Save your breath. I think it's quite humorous how many people have attacked me in this thread for merely pointing out the obvious, that the OP needs to take care of her health. And all I hear in the attacks are excuses after excuses why it's impossible to take hypoglycemic precautions.

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