qajen

Believe me I understand where you are coming from-certain things are expected and all the aides know what is, that doesn't mean that I don't have to follow corporate policies. If I could make a policy it would be No call, No show, NO JOB!! Yet corporate says 3 chances! I think it is insane what staff can get away with. I follow it to the letter so I don't get myself in a bind but they certainly know it will not be long and they will be in my office for a write up! After 3 you no longer have a job- at least not for me. This is one way I show the aides that care that I am on their side. (The last DON was so afraid of confrontation that almost everything was swept under the rug) I would like your opinion on how to get the newer, and I say that only because it seems like those are the ones I have the most trouble with, to understand the job they do can be so rewarding and that they make such a huge difference in the lives of those they care for.

I have began to have the CNA's do the interviewing, I think this is empowering them. I have given them guidelines as to what they can ask and can't ask and they LOVE it! I have my best CNA's do the training now and they can tell me within a few days whether the new staff will work out or not. I am so proud of my CNA's that care! I just want to bring it to the corporate level because without our front line we have nothing!!

I want to thank all of you for your input. You have given me alot to use. Love the thank you board, gift cards, etc... I am going to use quite a few of these ideas. I am going to also propose the offer to my Administrator that we start "STOP YOU'RE GETTING A TICKET" program that for every week they work as scheduled and are on time you get a ticket with your name into a drawing for $50 drawn in the beginning of the following month. Then your name continues on for $100 every 3 months and at the Christmas party we could draw from those name for $500. The total cost to the corporation would be $1500 a year...You get extra ticket for going above and beyond, working short, working extra when needed....I am hoping they see the $1500 as a very cheap way to show the aides how important they are! Since I took the position as DON I have tried hard to fight for my aides(I was an aide for many years). They deserve it!! I am hoping by rewarding those who care, the ones who don't will either step up or get out!

My best aides have told me the exact same thing! To quote " I would rather work short with the ones of us who care then work full with the ones who don't" I wish I could clone the ones who do. I am hoping by rewarding the ones who love their job the others will weed themselves out!

I am looking for ideas to help boost the moral of my aides other than the "Thank yous." I hear to often, as I am sure you have too, the complaints from my dedicated aides that they feel that they come to work everyday and put forth their best effort :bow:while others call in quite often and do just enough to get by. They don't get extra pay or any regonition other than "Thank you" I want to change this! A thank you is great but does anyone have some ideas that might be useful? We used to have "Employee of the Month" but that went to the wayside....don't really know why. I would like to see something like a "Positve Incident Report" where when you see an aide do something that goes above and beyond you fill out and Positive Incident Report and reward them in someway...just don't know how...Please let me know if you have something in place at your home that works!

The first day I took over as the DON State showed up! I made it through that one and have seen a few more go by. You can too! The thing that I have learned during this experience is treat your aides fairly, listen to them, and make sure you don't let them down, but first and foremost it is about the people who live in your home don't let them down. There are so many regulations it is crazy. I would also advise you to read the Long Term Care Survey Guide. I know it looks like a lot and it is but it will be your best resource, along with your consultants. Don't be afraid to ask questions. At first it may seem overwhelming but if you put the time an effort in it can be very rewarding! I wish you the best of luck.:wink2: