Nurses don't eat their young, the CNA/CMT's do!!

[proudauntie415, LPN, RN]

Starting my first nursing job (as a GPN) has been very exciting, and different. I did three days of orientation with the aides, which I think was smart. Really got to know the residents and floor routine. They are some very hard working people and I have so much respect for them!!

However, the nurses, have been just so receptive. Really talking me through prepping for NCLEX, giving me tips on LTC nursing etc.

Yet, I'm sensing their is about 1 or 2 CMT's/CNA's that just seem to well.....i don't know, make it clear I'm on "their block". It's a CMT who is much older then me, about in her 40 or 50's and an aide about the same. I smile at them, offered to help when I can. Answer their call lights, but they just don't seem receptive to me. I say goodbye at the end of the day, and just get a "yeah" reply.

How do I work this angle to build a rapport with them. I did hear those two snickering about me being new and so forth. Advice?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

1) Stay respectful, but don't roll over for impoliteness-- call them on it firmly if there's overt rudeness

2) Remember that CNA work is hard and they might have some envy/jealousy issues over seeing some young thing come in at a higher level of responsibility

3) Maybe they've seen a lot of "you" come and go, and it will just take some time to win them over

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Good luck with NCLEX! :anpom:

[roser13, ASN, RN]

As a new grad, I made the mistake of trying too hard to make "friends" with the CNA's who seemed to rule the floor. I was almost obsequious in my communications with them because I sooo did not want to get on their bad side and have no help whatsoever. It backfired on me big time. I have since learned to be professionally cordial (and no more), fair and reasonable in my expectations, and clear in my communications. If your floor is one that supports ALL personnel equally and does not allow the CNA's to get away with insubordination because "it's so hard to find good CNA's," then you have a reasonable expectation of success.

[Elladora]

I went through that where I work. There was a HUGE "us vs. them" between CNA/CMA/DCPs and LPN/RN/BSNs.

1) Stay respectful, but don't roll over for impoliteness-- call them on it firmly if there's overt rudeness

This is GREAT advice. Come to find out at our facility, nurses come and go but the floor staff (as we call it) tend to stay a long time. The floor staff is a bit jaded when it comes to new nurses. There is also the tendency for them to try to "test" the nurses. My situation got bad enough I went to the DON and said "either this stops or I'm out of here." Did that solve anything? Nope. What finally did? I went to the CMA I was having the MOST problems with and talked to her. I mean really talked to her. Asked her if there was something I had done to her or if there was anything she wanted me to do differently. She was so caught off guard at actually being confronted with her behavior that it stopped. A year later and she is one of my best friends at work.

Take your time. Show them you are a good nurse and good at what you do. NEVER be condescending or get "Nurse'itis" (thinking any job is beneath you because you are a nurse), pitch in and help whenever possible, and stand your ground!

Good luck!

[proudauntie415, LPN, RN]

Thanks guys, really great points. Stay respectful but stand my ground. I know they have a some very hard back breaking work and I respect them. My goal is just to act as one team, I don't think I should have to micromanage anyone, they know what needs to be done so do I.

Just gonna take some time though. For now, I just need to focus on NCLEX!

[Catch22Personified]

I haven't experienced lateral violence as a nurse. However my younger sister is a tech at the local medical center and she says that she basically is being eaten alive down there and being verbally put down all the time by other techs/other staff. Merely anecdotal evidence but yeah.

She says however the nurses are great to her since they know she is a nursing student.

[nursel56]

I think a lot of it is probably as Grn Tea mentioned, they've seen lots of people come and go. Once you've been there for a while the growly people can be the most loyal friends-- or at least they'll have your back. Weird, I know but I've see it many times.

[Aurora77]

The best thing you can do is keep doing what you're doing. Answer lights. Don't be the nurse that has to go find a CNA to empty a urinal. Don't be "too good" to do aid work. And, most important, give it time. It's going to take a while for your new coworkers to see that you want to be a part of the team and to get to know your work ethic.