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.
first of all it is wonderful of you to appreciate the hard working CNA''s!! I am one of those hard working CNA's in LTC. however, i also left because of the situation. the nurses, resident's, and family members all loved me there. i received many "thank you's." i gave my best every shift, but in the end it was not enough. we were short staffed many days because of the call ins. this lead to substandard pt care, IMHO!
i believe that the best thing that you can do for the hard working CNA's is to make sure that the other CNAs do their own work and weed out the ones that don't.
the other problem that i see is CNAs need to be viewed by the public as valuable members of the healthcare team!! when asked what i do, i respond with, "i am a CNA," and then receive the normal reply of ,"oh..." unfortunately the public views us as the person that assists you to the restroom and gives baths. i do that, but i do so much more. i keep your loved one from getting decubs. i observe changes in status that even the nurse may be unaware of. i keep your loved one safe and provide comfort. i feed pts. and encourage those that can feed themselves to eat. most of all, i do the things that alot of family members say they could never do! i do it because i care, not for the 6.15/hr that i get (i assure you of that).
so, in my opinion, to improve the situation CNAs need to be seen as more professional. to make this happen, i propose that the certification test should be much more difficult. the test is a 70 question test. of the 70 questions the first 10 that you get wrong don't count! now out of the 60 questions left that do count you only have to get 40% of them right!!! this is the honest truth!!! that is 24 of 70 questions. and the questions are very easy. i honestly just looked at the four answers and without looking at the question i could tell you which one was the correct answer on most of the questions. the second thing that needs to happen is we must pay CNAs better. we can not pay CNAs just above min. wage and expect to have CNAs viewed as important. and CNAs are important! we are the first line of defense. i am usually the first to notice a pt begining to have skin breakdown or behavior changes as i get to spend more one on one time with said pt because the nurses are swamped with med pass and paperwork! the final step would be to have a public awareness of the important job that CNAs do. i truly believe by increasing the standard, pay, and public awareness that we will recruit many more quality CNAs. i am NOT saying that there are not CNAs out there now! i am only stating my opinion that right now people think of us as "just CNAs." if getting certified was harder and the pay was better then in the public eye we would be a more professional part of the team and more quality people would want to join that team. this is just my suggestion as to how to solve this problem. i do not view it as a be all end all, but being viewed as more than just a bottom cleaner would increase the respect that the general public has for us.
so, in my opinion, to improve the situation CNAs need to be seen as more professional. to make this happen, i propose that the certification test should be much more difficult. the test is a 70 question test. of the 70 questions the first 10 that you get wrong don't count! now out of the 60 questions left that do count you only have to get 40% of them right!!! this is the honest truth!!! that is 24 of 70 questions. and the questions are very easy. i honestly just looked at the four answers and without looking at the question i could tell you which one was the correct answer on most of the questions. the second thing that needs to happen is we must pay CNAs better. we can not pay CNAs just above min. wage and expect to have CNAs viewed as important. and CNAs are important! we are the first line of defense. i am usually the first to notice a pt begining to have skin breakdown or behavior changes as i get to spend more one on one time with said pt because the nurses are swamped with med pass and paperwork! the final step would be to have a public awareness of the important job that CNAs do. i truly believe by increasing the standard, pay, and public awareness that we will recruit many more quality CNAs. i am NOT saying that there are not CNAs out there now! i am only stating my opinion that right now people think of us as "just CNAs." if getting certified was harder and the pay was better then in the public eye we would be a more professional part of the team and more quality people would want to join that team. this is just my suggestion as to how to solve this problem. i do not view it as a be all end all, but being viewed as more than just a bottom cleaner would increase the respect that the general public has for us.
thanks again for the appreciation!
sincerely,
j.b.
I agree that CNAs are often underappreciated and underpaid. Also, what you told me about how the certification test is scored is interesting. However, I thought that a 70 percent score was required to pass. (This may vary by state, I think.) I'll admit that the written test I took recently seemed "easy," at least compared to the tests that I had in my CNA course. However, the skills exam that us aides had to pass before we took the written test was difficult, since (at least in my case) if we forgot to do one step, or forgot a safety feature, we would fail. Also, we had to pass ALL five skills in order to pass the skills exam, so, as far as the skills exam goes, we had to follow a high standard. Also, as far as pay goes, it bothers me that nursing homes pay agency aides almost twice the hourly wage of aides who regularly work here, but then claim that they can't pay us the same amount as agency. If nursing homes want people to work for them, they need to realize that $8-$9 per hour is not enough to live on.
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.
Totally agree with this. Lately at our facility people are getting written up like crazy. I know a coworker who got written up because she wasn't "smiling enough" when serving in the dining room. Good gravy!!!
Every staff meeting (and they're all mandatory) is the same--criticism and threats from mgmt., shift wars, etc. I'm tired of hearing it, but still have to go to these things or I'll get written up. And mgmt. wonders why things never improve??? HellllOOOOOOOOOOO!! :deadhorse
I think thank you's and recommendation letters to charge/ nurse managers go a long long way. Everyone wants to be appreciated, right?
One thing the nurse manager did for us as aides was buy us lunch on days when we were really overwhelmed, especially when it was because other people called in sick. A thank you AND a Rueben? I remember it recharged me to come in to that place everyday to remember that the hard work I did wasn't invisible.
Totally agree with this. Lately at our facility people are getting written up like crazy. I know a coworker who got written up because she wasn't "smiling enough" when serving in the dining room. Good gravy!!!
Every staff meeting (and they're all mandatory) is the same--criticism and threats from mgmt., shift wars, etc. I'm tired of hearing it, but still have to go to these things or I'll get written up. And mgmt. wonders why things never improve??? HellllOOOOOOOOOOO!! :deadhorse
We have the opposite problem here...not one is ever called on poor performance.
I realize that you only have the best intentions, which I can appreciate. A "pat on the back" is a beautiful thing, especially in our industry -- they're way too few, and far between. We need our affirmations from each other. Though, here's the thing - and not necessarily directed at you, Kristi:
A reward system implies that one is superior to the other, which is evident in certain poster's referring to a CNA as "my."
They do not belong to you.
Along this same vein; We are actually talking about two separate jobs here.
It is completely impossible for one human to give meds, etc., while also handling the other (numerous) needs of the residents, plus vitals, of anywhere from 22-30 residents -- the usual patient load of a CNA on night-shift.
The nursing assistants (this title needs an overhaul), while technically "assisting," in actuality have their own job. Nurses know this, CNAs know this; so let's give up the charade.
The reality is this: We are a team. Nurses have their assignment, the CNA's (not "aides) have theirs. Many are also in nursing school, and occasionally come to work exhausted. I certainly hope that they are not the "lazy" ones to which you refer?
Surely you remember those days of complete exhaustion? Or, maybe you don't, depending on whether you worked as a CNA during nursing school - or have any prior experience with this particular job.
We don't have "lazy" CNAs where I work, anymore than we have "lazy" nurses. Apparently I work at some magical facility where we all respect - and enjoy - each other, with an understanding that this is "teamwork."
To truly gain the (much deserved) respect of "the" CNAs, may I suggest that the only treat that's needed is some basic respect? Let Admin. give out any "incentives."
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
MsLandOLakes---You must work in a magical place. We most certainly do have lazy aides. One stands around watching most of the time unless she is told to get to work. We also have our share of lazy nurses who do the least amount possible to get through their shift. So, some people are "superior" to others in the way they work. Everyone likes to be recognized when they do a good job. I find it hard to believe that anyone would find a pat on the back, literally or figuratively, demeaning in any way.
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
A SIMPLE 'THANK YOU'........YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED WITH A PIN OR BRACELET GOES A LONG WAYS. ALSO, THE LAZY ONES SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED AND LAZINESS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED ANYWHERE. EVERYONE SHOULD BE EXPECTED THE SAME AMOUNT OF QUALITY WORK.
I CAN SEE WHERE THE GOOD CNA'S ARE LEAVING. IF THE LAZY ONES AREN'T BEING REPRIMANDED AND SHAPED UP....THEN IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE CONDONING IT OR IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL.
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
#1) For the aides that do a good job and are not hiding out to be recognized and told that they are doing a good job. As much as we love to help our residents and that is what we are there for, if we constantly see other people slacking off and hiding and nothing is done about it. We will eventually leave because we feel as though we are not recognized or we are just a body filling a #needed (ex. 3 aides for a shift needed). For me, knowing that a nurse knows that I am working hard and truly shows it to me and does not give me the nightly good job girls--- makes all the difference. Besides giving out all these little treats, I would feel other things would help. If you have available time---helping them transfer somebody into bed, answering a call light for them, etc. Not saying that you should be taking over their job... But just a little gesture shows that you care about them and they are getting more than just a pat on the back.
We have a CNA who is trying to get into nursing school, and taking other classes in the meantime. I used to resent her because it seemed like she spent most of her time studying rather than working. But I've noticed that she IS getting her work done (we don't have much to do late in the evenings), and she's seeking to make a better life for herself and her kids. At least she has some goals for the future. Most of the people I work with are just trying to make ends meet and stay out of trouble (and unfortunately, I've become one of them).
On second thought, I wouldn't describe our facility as "magical," so much as "professional." Derogatory terms such as "lazy," reek of arrogance and immaturity.
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 think the best reward would be to get the LAZY CNA's to do their job. A system of checks and balances to make sure everyone is doing their job should be in place. How about a weekly meeting where you recognize those who are going above and beyond and somehow try to encourage those who need to be motivated. I think the serious hard working employees would find it rewarding to know that management cares about the quality and performance of all cna's. I have worked in places where they give you a pat on the back but that feeling of goodness wears off when your job becomes overwhelming because of a lazy co-worker. I would much rather see my employer recognize the person not doing the job and fix the problem. That would be the ultimate reward!
A SIMPLE 'THANK YOU'........YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED WITH A PIN OR BRACELET GOES A LONG WAYS. ALSO, THE LAZY ONES SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED AND LAZINESS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED ANYWHERE. EVERYONE SHOULD BE EXPECTED THE SAME AMOUNT OF QUALITY WORK. 
jb2u, ASN, RN
863 Posts
first of all it is wonderful of you to appreciate the hard working CNA''s!! I am one of those hard working CNA's in LTC. however, i also left because of the situation. the nurses, resident's, and family members all loved me there. i received many "thank you's." i gave my best every shift, but in the end it was not enough. we were short staffed many days because of the call ins. this lead to substandard pt care, IMHO!
i believe that the best thing that you can do for the hard working CNA's is to make sure that the other CNAs do their own work and weed out the ones that don't.
the other problem that i see is CNAs need to be viewed by the public as valuable members of the healthcare team!! when asked what i do, i respond with, "i am a CNA," and then receive the normal reply of ,"oh..." unfortunately the public views us as the person that assists you to the restroom and gives baths. i do that, but i do so much more. i keep your loved one from getting decubs. i observe changes in status that even the nurse may be unaware of. i keep your loved one safe and provide comfort. i feed pts. and encourage those that can feed themselves to eat. most of all, i do the things that alot of family members say they could never do! i do it because i care, not for the 6.15/hr that i get (i assure you of that).
so, in my opinion, to improve the situation CNAs need to be seen as more professional. to make this happen, i propose that the certification test should be much more difficult. the test is a 70 question test. of the 70 questions the first 10 that you get wrong don't count! now out of the 60 questions left that do count you only have to get 40% of them right!!! this is the honest truth!!! that is 24 of 70 questions. and the questions are very easy. i honestly just looked at the four answers and without looking at the question i could tell you which one was the correct answer on most of the questions. the second thing that needs to happen is we must pay CNAs better. we can not pay CNAs just above min. wage and expect to have CNAs viewed as important. and CNAs are important! we are the first line of defense. i am usually the first to notice a pt begining to have skin breakdown or behavior changes as i get to spend more one on one time with said pt because the nurses are swamped with med pass and paperwork! the final step would be to have a public awareness of the important job that CNAs do. i truly believe by increasing the standard, pay, and public awareness that we will recruit many more quality CNAs. i am NOT saying that there are not CNAs out there now! i am only stating my opinion that right now people think of us as "just CNAs." if getting certified was harder and the pay was better then in the public eye we would be a more professional part of the team and more quality people would want to join that team. this is just my suggestion as to how to solve this problem. i do not view it as a be all end all, but being viewed as more than just a bottom cleaner would increase the respect that the general public has for us.
thanks again for the appreciation!
sincerely,
j.b.