Reward system for hardworking CNA's..need help!

Specialties Geriatric

Published

At most LTC facilitys we have good CNA's, and then we have the LAZY CNA's who hide in rooms on their cell phones, never do rounds, and seem to just suck the life out of the other CNA's...etc. right? WELL. Im sick of the good aides not being appreciated at our facility...thus causing them to leave, because they are picking up the slack of the LAZY aides...Im trying to think of a reward system that our Baylor nurses can offer...maybe per shift for our Aides that go above and beyond, to say Thanks for doing an awesome job...

I was thinking CNA pins, badge holders, the new rubber band bracelets, Candy, heck, I dont know...Just looking for some ideas that wouldnt cost a fortune...like I said would like to give 4 out a weekend...one each shift.

Thanks in advance...

kristi

I definitely understand what the original poster was saying...It is really wonderful that you want to acknowledge the CNA's who really perform well on the job! Being a CNA while in nursing school has really helped me see "the whole picture" and I plan on making sure my hard working assistants know how much I appreciate them. Everyone likes a thank you, or a reward for a job well done.....Look at CEO's.....They get millions in bonuses each year for "doing their job" :uhoh3:

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
I can't believe Im reading this from a CNA. If you do your job well that means the patients have good care. Sure you are paid to do it, but so are the other CNA's who could care less. No one wants to treat you like a baby; they just want to thank you for the wonderful job you do. Take it as compliment.:)

I think it's great that nurse's appreciate their CNAs.It's not the idea of the OP that I find insulting as much as it is the attitude of my own DON. His idea was little tickets for free soda for the CNAs. And the reasons printed on the back of them? Things like "Smiling at and greeting a visitor" Hello! When did I go back to kindergarten? The best thanks I think would be just treating your CNAs like valuable members of the healthcare team. I feel appreciated by my nurses because they treat me that way. Today, a nurse who's been in LTC for 25 years told me that the group on my hall is the best group of CNAs that she's worked with in all of her nursing career. Now THAT is better than a little ticket for popl

I think it's nice to give a special thanks for your hard working cna's. I bet a free meal ticket from your cafeteria would be appreciated or maybe movie tickets.

At my job, we have a system for all to use. They are pre-printed "WOW" cards. ANYONE can fill one out for anyone else. Getting them from patients and/or family members is the best though. :)

Management keeps track of the number of cards we receive during the course of a year. This number plays a small part in the raise we get. When these first came out, everyone was filling one out for everyone. They were posted on the bulletin board in the hall for all to see...staff and patients/families. Now they don't seem to be as important. Certain people would actually give them to their pts and tell them that they had to fill them out. This made the whole system less meaningful.

Management also has scratch off WOW cards. They are given out on the spur of the moment for providing excellent care, using the "key words", going above and beyond the call of duty. Every card is a winner...from a free soda in the cafeteria to a free movie pass to a gift certificate to area fast food joints.

Given all of this.........I STILL think that the best way to let someone know that you appreciate them is a simple "Thanks for doing such a great job. I really appreciate you!!"

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I've worked in many different places where there were many different ways of recognizing workers who did more than they were expected to. At one place we had an "Atta boy/Atta Girl" bulletin board. You could leave a public note for anyone-CNA, Nurse, Housekeeper, Administrator...anyone you felt you wanted to get recognition for something special they had done.

At one facility, there is Above and Beyond...a once a month award. At another employee of the month.

I always say THANK YOU to my staff when they leave for the day. I tell them in public when they have done something extra, I always pass along the compliments I've heard about them. We aren't in kindergarten, but everyone likes to be rewarded and seen as a little special. I used to give out stars or some other goofy sticker for their name badges if,say, all the weights were done on time, or all the I+O's were filled out. The nurses from the other units laughed at me, but why was it that MY CNA's always did their work on time???

I am very surprised to hear some of the replies I recieved...

First, for those of you saying "we get paid, that is our reward," give me a break. I have yet to meet one person who refuses a "job well done", or "heres a token of my appreciation".

Our facitliy is one of the top in our area...I take pride in coming to work, and taking care of MY patients. As many of you prob see it, these geri pts are our family, you grow to love them as your own, and would do anything to make their life as best as it can be...

Though, there are many who dont care. Those individuals shouldnt even be in the nursing field, let alone working with the elderly. These are the CNAs, even nurses who leave the non responsive without being changed, or repositioned, etc. And write up after write up, nothing happens, these people continue to "hide" down the halls talking on cell phones, and yet they still have a job--with these pts whom we have grown to love. Management does nothing, in fear of being short staffed, etc. but the way I look at it, Id rather not even have the life sucking idiots working on my hall...Id rather work short that with them.

I have been told many times Kristi, you know, you are the only nurse that tells us thank you. You are the only nurse that helps us change our pts. ETC.

My aides are helping ME!!!! there is NO WAY that I could do my job, PLUS theirs. And therefore I would like to tell them thank you. I am constantly telling them thank you, heck, just for coming to work...ya know? Thank you for being here, and not being one of the idiots who call in everyday for their shift...Thank you for taking your break on time, thank you for doing oral care, changing your pts, TRUE, this is in your job title, this IS what you get paid to do....but like someone else said in reply, those lazy idiots get the same pay. WHY NOT SHOW APPRECIATIOIN FOR THE WORK WELL DONE?! LOL.

If my DON showed her nurses some appreciation to those who are just doing their jobs, I think the others who are lazy nurses will either quit, or realize they should get off their a$$es and do something. We have nurses who give the dressings to the CNAs to change. Nurses who let the CNAs do tube feedings, Nurses who let colostomy bags be changed by the CNAs...When knowing the policies and procedures of our facility clearly note it is the nurses job to perform. Is the nurse suffering from this act? Surely not. The CNA?--slightly, they are doing their job and the nurses...But the Resident is suffering most.

When management sends out memos informing everyone that this isnt right, that isnt right, you arent working to our standards, etc....and NEVER EVER tell you THANK YOU! JOB WELL DONE. Its crap!!!!!!! And the over all moral of a facility goes down hill. Those who are working hard everyday says screw it, why should I keep doing my job when so in so is screwing off??!? Ive heard my good aides say that.

OR! you have your aides doing their jobs, PLUS those jobs of the crappy aides...Before you know it, they are passing snacks for the entire facitily, they are changing everyone, they are catching every call light. Why not give those aides a pat on the back to show appreciation??

(we get paid to do our job) GET REAL. Not one person wouldnt like an additional pat on the back, something special to just make your day. I know I would. For those of you who gave me wonderful ideas, thank you very much!!!!! I think they are wonderful!!!! and my aides will love it!!!! Perhaps the slackers will start picking up the slack to be recognized too.... :rolleyes:

Uggh.

kristi

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

A pat on the back and a thank you definately went a long way. It made you feel good, made you feel like you're making a difference.

I'd never turn that down.

Perhaps the slackers will start picking up the slack to be recognized too.... :rolleyes:

kristi

I agree. We all know that we have those that do their work and those who slack off.

If the ones who are doing good jobs were recognized, maybe some of that good working attitude would rub off on the slackers.

Who wouldn't LOVE to have a good convenient parking spot close to the front entrance?

That's one way that good workers could be recognized. Maybe there would be some competition to get the most convenient spot.

Of COURSE, with any reward system it has to be FAIR.

The one who hands out these compliments and extra little benefits should NEVER play favorites.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Wound Care.

Kristi-

I think what you want to do is great! Someone mentioned little cards that everyone can fill out for each other, and I worked at a large retail store that did something like this. If I remember correctly, they would toss all the cards in a bowl and do a raffle or have the person with the most cards at the end of the month win a prize. It was great because everyone could see if you had gotten a card, and if you didn't, you sure wanted to!

I am a CNA, although I'm not working right now, getting ready to go into nursing school, but I once worked with a nurse who always had the best candy and would only share with "her" CNAs...kind of silly, but you sure did feel appreciated when she walked by and gave you something good! :)

I worked at a hospital and we had a coffee cart that management would give coupons for, and free meals in the cafeteria (although those were useless to those who worked nights, since the cafeteria closed before we ever thought about getting a break!).

I love the idea of the bulletin board with pictures where everyone can see it. I would have loved it if we had something like that when I was working. Too often CNAs are forgotten...I will say that I was appreciated by most nurses I worked with, but we all felt ignored by management, our union, and respect was reserved for nurses, doctors, PT, etc. I don't think most people realize how hard a GOOD CNA works. Yes, we are paid for our work, but not as much as many of us are worth (and some are overpaid for what they are worth!), but EVERYONE needs to be appreciated...no different from when I was a secretary and received flowers on Secretary's Day, or a Christmas bonus. So nurses...appreciate your CNA (even with a simple thank you) and your CNA will thank you right back by making your job easier! And thank goodness for the nurses out there who appreciate their CNAs...I appreciate good nurses for all their hard work!

Jennee

we get paid to do our job) GET REAL. Not one person wouldnt like an additional pat on the back, something special to just make your day. I know I would. For those of you who gave me wonderful ideas, thank you very much!!!!! I think they are wonderful!!!! and my aides will love it!!!! Perhaps the slackers will start picking up the slack to be recognized too....

A slacker is a slacker. I just do not believe we need to turn work into a game in which the hard working need to motivate the slackers. I work, I love the care I provide, and I do not expect anyone to motivate me by dangling a carrot (or other gift of thanks) in front of my face. Yes, a thank you goes a long way, but only to a person who already values and takes pride in the service they are providing.

I use to work at a car dealership and we had a sign that read: The best way to get back on your feet is to miss a payment! That was all the motivation most people needed in order to stay on track. You want a motivated staff? Remove all the slackers!

Yep....a simple thank you goes a long way.

I think a big reward for the great CNAs I work with is to get rid of the bad ones thru progressive discipline. It burns me to see the lazy, careless CNAs get away with what they do and then see the other hard working ones just working away.

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

I vote for a sincere thank you to show your appreciation, but dealing with the slackers is just as important! Those very good CNA's won't stick around for long otherwise, despite the appreciation.

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