I have a problem with a CNA at work. I am a new RN (since May) and the CNA is a nursing student (who has been a CNA about as long as I've been an RN). When we work together, this person frequently interrupts me in front of patients to explain the same thing I am trying to explain to the pt, "teases" me in front of pts which makes me sound like I don't know what I'm doing. If the pt or family puts on a call light or comes out to speak with me she demands to know what they wanted. A charge nurse and I were talking about some issues we were having with something-and she included herself and it had nothing to do with her. These are just a few examples of things that have been happening. She can be really nice, and I know she is caring to the patients. But it feels demeaning and disrespectful to me when she acts like that. She does her work (which is more than I can say about some of the other CNAs I work with), so I probably should be happy working with her but sometimes I end up leaving so frustrated.
I look young for my age and am still getting confidence in my job. I know we hear a lot about "nurses eating their young" but at my job the experienced nurses have for the most part been wonderful, but this "young" is eating me!
(I'm sure the answer is to talk with her, but I wouldn't know where to start and I'm absolutely horrible about stuff like this!)
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I'd consider using what you've written here as a bit of a script because I think it is a very thoughtful approach. You have outlined a couple of precise examples of when she made you feel undermined, you added that you are working on your confidence as a nurse and the best is that you also praised her caring attitude and work ethic. I think something along these lines should be very effective.
My guess is that she is probably very enthusiastic about working toward becoming your peer as a nurse and doesn't realize that she is being unprofessional. Hopefully she isn't totally clueless and if you have an honest private conversation with her it will help. Good luck!
Agreed.
Sometimes a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing!
When I was a CNA and in nursing school, I was very careful to wear my CNA hat while at work, and my nurse hat while in school. I don't think her being a nursing student is an excuse for her behavior. Perhaps she is a bit excited and just forgets herself, but her scope of practice as a CNA does not include patient teaching. I always cringe when I overhear a CNA doing patient teaching. As a CNA, if a patient ever asked me a question relating to their meds, symptoms, or diagnosis, I was very careful to refer them to the nurse. I'd say something like "That's a really good question for your nurse!".
I think, the next time it happens, you should just pull her aside and say something. If it continues after that, then go to the next step.
The next time it happens, pull her out of the room and tell her privately not to interupt your teaching; that you are responsible for patient teaching as part of your license and you don't want people getting mixed signals. Same with the teasing, tell her in private that she may not realize it, but that teasing is unprofessional and should not happen in front of patients.
If it continues, then write down the details, present them to your nurse manager, along with the date and times you have asked her not to do these things.
There were times I was inappropriate when a very young aide and even after graduating (can we say naive here, LOL), and needed someone simply to point out to me what I was doing and why it was important. I was embarressed, but I learned from it.
Tait, MSN, RN
2,142 Posts
Agreed.
Sometimes a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing!