Overstepping boundaries

[hookyarnandblanket]

I don't know if anyone else has dealt with this, but this is the second place I have worked and dealt with this issue. The issue is housekeepers who feel like they are in charge of the floor and boss the CNAs.

It completely baffles me. It is two in particular, and several of us are blamed for empty toilet paper dispensers, dirty floors left from the previous shift, a patient with Parkinson's who can't hit the toilet when he pees, and they try to tell us who needs to be up first and who gets bathed first. One has verbally insulted staff, patients, and patient family members well within ear shot of those people. One, we are sure, is sharing patient information and condition with a former hospital employee, but we can't prove it.

HR has warned them about their behavior. However, administration is reluctant to fire them because it is too difficult to replace them. We mostly ignore them, but isn't right that patients have to see and hear this. I'm at a loss as to how to deal with this anymore without getting myself in trouble.

[Kystudentrn]

Oh yes! When I worked ltc this was a huge problem. It was mainly the housekeeper supervisor that did it. Really the cnas there were so beaten down that everyone tried to boss them around. They got away with it too.

[Momof8CNA]

its a bit different where i work, but i get what you mean! there is this one housekeeper, who takes it upon herself to try and get the patient up, go into the kitchen to get things for them...and then tell ME what i need to do! one housekeeper even tried to fix someones iv that was occluded, and finally i told her that only cnas and nursing staff can touch them..she was not happy. this is almost as bad as the aide who wants to play house supervisor!

[Missingyou, CNA]

Yes, this is an issue where I work but seems to be getting better.

Housekeepers will often tell me who's call light is on, how long it's been on and what that resident wants. She will tell me which room I need to go into next because she feels it's been too long since I've been in there!!!!! I tell her "I know, no thank you. You should become a CNA".

I think it's easier as a housekeeper, or visitor to observe the resident's needs and complain about it, rather than to see how challenging a CNA's job is at a LTC and how good most of us are at time management among other things!!

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

This reminds me of a time when I was like 21 years old (I'm 25 now. Looooooooong time ago) and this housekeeper went to my Supervisor because I didn't make the bed fast enough. Mind you, I have tons of beds and patients and different responsibilities for each; making military folds is definitely not my priority. It will get done when I get it done. I nonchalantly went up to the housekeeper told her I would like to talk to her privately. I can't remember what I said but I do remember her backing down and profusely apologizing. Ever since that day, that woman not only says good morning with a smile, but when I am running behind, she actually makes my beds for me!

Either I earned her respect or she don't want none of this ~ ... either way, everyone else gets harassed...NOT Burrell lol

[VicChic20]

It's a real issue when a housekeeper tries to being your boss and tell you what to do and how to do it. I don't get how some feel that they have any authority over CNAs. I personally wouldn't let those two housekeepers behavior slide, it is wrong and they should be reported.