First of all.... ROCK ON! CNAs who care about what they are doing make my job a MILLION times easier! Secondly, you are right - when I got on the floor I had NO medical background except school and really didn't know how to clean up a patient efficiently, but instead of just shooing me out of the room and saying "I'll do it" while rolling their eyes one or two CNAs were cool enough to gently point out some tips and help me until I got the hang of it. There are so many CNAs AND RNs/LPNs that are a bit slack in their job that each group is super sensitive to what the other may/may not be doing. Luckily, I have found open communication and time helps. Because over time, my co-workers will realize if I DO have the time, I will do ANY task and communicate, teach, talk, and spend with my patients as much as I can. And if I am suddenly calling sixteen times to ask for help with X, Y, and Z then you will know something is going horribly, horribly wrong and maybe work with me so we can both make sure everyone is taken care of. Teamwork is awesome. :) Thank you so much for the idea of giving report to my CNA co-workers! Like your unit, nurses give report to nurses and CNAs to CNAs, I never though about how much could get miscommunicated or lost in the cracks between the two, I will try that on my unit and see how it is received. I already know some people will be irritated, and some overjoyed, but as you stated it is rarely that "over-communication" happens.
