Polite way to deal with AWOL CNA’s?

[Beepbeepbeep]

FYI I am a VERY new nurse.  When signing up there wasn’t an option for starting my nursing career in 2020.  I would appreciate input on an issue that is impacting my ability to function as a nurse.

For context I used to be a CNA and I understand how hard the job is.  I was regularly told by nursing staff that I was very good at my job, and other shifts would try to poach me to their shift (haha).  I know you have to move fast and efficiently, and that it can be very draining.

I am now a nurse.  Training was brief and inconsistent and I feel like I am still getting my bearings. I have up to 20 patients a shift.  Very needy.  Lots of behaviors.  VERY heavy medication passes.  The CNA’s I am paired with are always nowhere to be found.  I genuinely feel like I am doing total patient care for all of my patients.  I ask for vitals (when I am stupid busy and CAN’T do them myself) from the CNA’s, I never get them and do them myself.  I am constantly having to go find the CNA’s (on their phones, chatting, in the kitchen, etc) and let them know they have call lights on, so-and-so needs to go to bed, etcetera.  I am answering 80% of the call lights.  Toileting, putting people to bed, etcetera.  I just CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME ever find the CNA’s paired with me.  I know these are all things that are within my scope of practice, but they significantly impact my ability to act as a nurse.  I can do a CNA’s job but they can’t do mine.  

I’ve talked to them about this and feel like I receive a lot of attitude and push back.  I explain that I really need to focus on getting my “nursing flow” down, and constantly doing “their job” (sorry!), really impacts that.  If I don’t get a flow down then I can’t expand and help where needed, and my shift will be chaos.  I just get “so?”, “ugh, well I’m busy too!” , and other dismissive snide comments.  I lost an hour of my med pass once because I did a patient’s entire bedtime routine because they said they didn’t like their CNA, and when I asked another CNA for assistance with this persons cares they gave me a snide “OK? So what?”  And didn’t assist at all.  Soooo I did it all on my own.

I don’t want to be overbearing or rude to the CNA’s I work with.  But I am genuinely lost as how to motivate them to do their jobs (?)
 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

You should first try to work this out with the AIDS. speak to them with respect for what they do do - but let them know they must be on the floor when they are on the clock. If that doesn't work you will have to start writing them up. In most facilities cel phones are prohibited due to HIPAA concerns. 

Hppy

[DesiDani]

I didn't even have to finish to see the problem. They still see you as a CNA.  Do you have a phones issued out to staff? If so call them and make sure they get their phone. Plus sense you are over them you have the right to right them up. I've seen CNA-to-RN people get taken advantage of.  As an RN you are in a leadership role, so don't even let them go away from their run.  If you catch them away from it, ask them to be in their run.

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

Write them up. Talking to them will likely get you nowhere.