CNAs writing up nurses??

Nurses Professionalism

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We have some pretty amazing CNAs and then we have some vindictive little....well, you know what I'm saying there. These handful of CNAs are indeed very good at their job, but are so incredibly arrogant and manipulative. They chase off new CNAs, they are disrespectful to the nurses (their supervisors) and have even sabotaged a few fellow colleagues and those nurses nearly lost their jobs. NOT nice women, these malcontent CNAs. They announce loudly that they too can write people up (nurses) and I've never heard of such a thing. Is this true? Immature, condescending know-it-alls can write up nurses? Are you kidding me? I can't find evidence of this nonsense anywhere. Has anyone heard about this or are they just blowing smoke up our scrubs? I used to value our CNAs, but these childish drama queens are getting right up my nose. Thoughts? Suggestions?

I don't see why the couldn't...

Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.

Our CNAs can't write up anyone. For that matter, neither can I. What we can do is write up a statement, give it to the ADON and let her handle the rest. She does the writing up, if any needs to take place.

Sadly, I am their supervisor and I am to do write ups if necessary. Can I fire? Nope. Can I walk them to the time clock and off the premises? Yup. Beyond that unwanted authority, I have never heard of a nurse's assistant writing up a nurse, their supervisor. A write up being a disciplinary action, I mean.

Specializes in Vascular Access.

We have a system in place but we don't call it "writing up." It's an "occurrence." Within that system we can report anything from a patient incident or complaint, equipment failure, to any incident that involves an employee or physician. Anyone is welcome to report whatever they need or want. From there it goes to the quality department and nurse manager of the unit for proper investigation.

As far as the behavior.... That should be dealt with. Start a performance improvement plan with specific goals and requirements. If they don't meet them within the specified period of time: deal with it how you must.

Specializes in Hospice.

On an abstract level, I don't see why CNAs shouldn't write up - or otherwise report - nurses. They may not be able to spot anything but the most obvious clinical issues, but that doesn't mean they can't recognize abuse, neglect and inappropriate behaviors such as conversations that violate confidentiality and the like. We are not licensed gods whose authority and behavior "will not be questioned" by the riff-raff.

If the CNAs are filing distorted or blatantly false reports of bad behavior in an attempt to torpedo nurses they don't like, then that's a whole other kettle of fish.

On an abstract level, I don't see why CNAs shouldn't write up - or otherwise report - nurses. They may not be able to spot anything but the most obvious clinical issues, but that doesn't mean they can't recognize abuse, neglect and inappropriate behaviors such as conversations that violate confidentiality and the like. We are not licensed gods whose authority and behavior "will not be questioned" by the riff-raff.

If the CNAs are filing distorted or blatantly false reports of bad behavior in an attempt to torpedo nurses they don't like, then that's a whole other kettle of fish.

I'm not talking about alerting upper management to blatant violations of HIPPA or abuse or anything like that. I'm not suggesting that we are gods either. I am asking whether or not CNAs may disicipline nurses with an "in-your-file" type punishment for perceived violations or conduct. I believe I made it clear that the CNAs voicing this are using it as a threat. Think..."Well I'll show you!"...that kind of attitude. It's very vindictive and childish. And yes, they have already falsified reports to managers trying to get nurses they don't like or ones that "have a backbone" in trouble. But it's a game of he said/she said. As I said, a few colleagues have nearly lost their jobs because they stood up to these very nasty people and paid the price for it. They use this turning people in as a weapon. I guess I just wanted to know how much weight these claims carry or if they are even disciplinary in nature.

Specializes in Hospice.

OK, I gotcha. When reports are made with distorted facts and malicious intent, then there is a problem, regardless of the licensure/certification of the reporter.

I have nothing to add to the advice already offered except to be scrupulously careful of your own paper trail. This includes the objectivity and provability of your own reporting. Here's the thing about liars ... they eventually out themselves. You just gotta make sure you're around to catch them at it.

When employees find that a threat against supervision or lower level management works to their advantage, they will use it over and over until it is obvious who is now running the show. Why this is allowed, and I've seen it more than once, I will never know. The only explanation that has ever been given to me is that a unit or facility in chaos, (being run by the lowest level on the totem pole counts as chaos in my book), benefits managers who realize that the spotlight will always be on the lower level troublemakers. No one will ever look at the supervisor's/manager's work, or responsibility, as long as there is someone else around causing trouble.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
They announce loudly that they too can write people up (nurses) and I've never heard of such a thing. Is this true?

Yes. There's no reason why a CNA can't write up a RN. Just because the RN delegates to the CNA doesn't mean that the CNA is entirely powerless. In fact, anyone can write pretty much anyone else up. How that write-up or whatever you want to call it procedure works is based on your facility's P&P.

Now whether such a write-up will be taken seriously by management is another story. Management tends to frown upon malicious write-ups and/or write-ups with no merit, especially if the same person keeps submitting them.

But if a CNA has a valid complaint against a RN, the CNA could and IMO should be able to submit that complaint. It would be up to management to decide whether it's a valid complaint and what, if any, discipline will be issued.

Yes, a CNA can write up an RN. As an RN, I can (and am expected to) write up an MD.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

My understanding is that writing up means someone makes a written complaint. It is not a punishment in and of itself.

If I was working with bully CNAs who threatened to write me up as a means of intimidation I would hand them a pen and say, "Here's a pen. When you're done writing your complaint please bathe room 11."

They are trying to scare you. It only works if you actually get scared.

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