Rude Cna To Nurses

[inna]

I am working in a unit with only one regular tech in our shift who is efficient and hardworking, but she has a hell of an attitude. I am barely new to the unit but I think I can't take it anymore. I've discussed about it with my other colleagues who has been working with her for a long time and they would just say that "she's just like that but she's a very efficient one" or "she has a very sad personal life that's why she became like that, but she's a hardworking one". I saw how she treated the old timer nurses, if they asked her to do something and she's in a bad mood, she would just say "NO, that's not my job!" or she would just give them a blank stare as if she heard nothing. I even learned that there was one nurse who left the unit and she's one of the reason. They even told me the reason why she always gets away with that is because the previous NM is her buddy and she has also a great shoe polishing ability skills, which she's starting to do to our new NM now. Imagine how worst she can be with the new nurses.

I could've barely tolerated her attitude since she's been a big help to me with my heavy pt's. Everytime she's helping me with my pt's she would always brag about her technical ability skills like, "How come you nurses don't know how to take the pt's EKG?" Or when we were transferring pt's OOB to chair and I didn't do it the way she does it, she would say, "You don't know how to transfer pt?"

One day while there was a volunteer student nurse observing us, we were cleaning my total care pt. when we noticed that her buttocks were red.. then she blatantly told the student.."Look the nurses don't know how to take care of the pt's skin. Then we have to transfer the pt to a medi-chair, as I was pulling my pt towards me from the sliding board, we noticed that the HOB was a little bit higher than the chair, with her sharp tongue, she sarcastically made a remark, "SMART, WHAT A SMART NURSE! Look the head of the bed is higher". Then she talked to the student in their own language.

I was so furious at that time and I felt that if I confronted her I might loose my composure and that I might shout, cry or even curse her... it was almost the end of her shift. She was off the next day and I did gave ny NM my written report and told her everything this tech has been doing to me. She told me that we will discuss it with the tech the next time we are all on the unit.

I don't know what's going to happen...That tech might retaliate to me by not helping me at all with my pt's. I don't know if my colleagues would support me. But I'm decided that I will give that tech a taste of her own medicine.. No more insulting side comments for me. I am no longer comfortable in my unit because of the fact that me and that tech would have already grudges with each other. I don't intend to work in my unit for long but I just don't want to leave there with them in mind that it's because of that tech. I want to give back that tech all the insults and sarcasm she had on me...I just don't care anymore. It's not right for my colleagues just to tolerate her. Not because she is the only tech in a certain shift and that's because she's very efficient and hardworking that she has the right to be the way she is. I know I will have to endure the days I will be working with her... If you were in my position what would you be doing?

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

** In 15 years I have yet to meet a "jealous" CNA. They are CNAs for one of two reasons...money LOL...or because they have a deeper need to fulfill in giving care to a patient. Personally a have a deep repspect for all nurses and our profession.

That is good. You are lucky you have not met any that are jealous. I am sorry, but I have met plenty of them. I also have met good CNAs that do their work well. There are good and bad in all professions.

[sweetpea22]

i am glad to hear some protests to LINDARN's ego trip. i am especially upset however to hear that this nurse resides in my hometown. i happen to have a high school degree, as well as a B.A. in Biology from a good school. Wanting to know more about nursing and to be able to care for people in some tangible way, i am going to get a cna. Not being qualified with nurses training i wouldn't expect to know more than anybody or that i could handle the responsibilities of a nurse. however, i would expect to be treated with the respect that every human being deserves, and not automatically treated as an imbecile because i have a label of cna. maybe it is because of the notable heirarchy of the medical profession that some nurses feel like they need to enact their superiority over others.

[Repat]

Well, I have just left a job for this very reason. I requested meetings with the NM, who refused to meet with us all together, and proceeded to tell me what a good influence this tech was for the unit. It turns out the tech had been fired at one point, and her family threatened to sue for wrongful dismissal, so there she sits in all her glory, running people off (I am not the first one, others have told me). However, I do not go to work to be demeaned and belittled, so I quit. If the organization wants to lose an RN rather than an aide, good luck to them (half the floor is leaving due to negative atmosphere in the extreme).

[Justus]

"It turns out the tech had been fired at one point, and her family threatened to sue for wrongful dismissal..."

How old was the tech that her family could sue in her place?

"However, I do not go to work to be demeaned and belittled, so I quit."

Have felt this too, responded the same way and still regret it. It is a shame that we come into this with the greatest of intent and nobility only to be shown how replaceable we are. As if! It is their loss, keep going you will find a place that appreciates all you have to offer and if they fail to see it...(see end of post)!:)

"If the organization wants to lose an RN rather than an aide..."

It is unfortunate for any organization to lose qualified / professonal staff regardless of their position.But what does Nurse vs. Aid have to do with it? Not being persnickety but this is a common attitude that I do not share or understand.What makes a Nurse better? A college education, income, power? (Again, I mean this in the kindest way) For me to claim some egotistical superiority over an aid is rediculous, are children less valuable because their not adults? Albeit, they may lack the wisdom that comes with age I can hardly imagine a world without them.

{sitting on the fence,taken it all in }

It seems that some Aids are more assertive than their more educated counterparts and being a Nurse does not make you a leader. eek...this makes for bad chemistry.

Whether your a Nurse, tech. or housekeeper you are taken under wing by the senior employees to learn all the ropes that don't necessarily go by the book. Nevermind what employee X thinks you "should do", stick to the book! Trust yourself and your educated training first and foremost, if you can't do that you're not ready for an authoritive role. There's no shame in it, better to admit it then run amuck.

{bloody longwinded! sorry}

This is a pet peeve, I hate that we keep losing good nurses,cna's etc. to bad management. If we keep allowing ourselves to be shoved aside for those that are unprofessional even incompetent then how are things ever going to get better? STEP ON THEIR TOES! Post on top of post speaks of how tiring this is to all of us and yet we do nothing because we're somehow inferior ,defeated or "in this alone"?

{tugging on jack boots}

Who's got my back?:rotfl:

[Repat]

I certainly didn't mean it in a superiority way (about losing a nurse vs. a CNA), but in a financial way - they oriented me for 6 weeks, sent me to a 2-week critical care course, and certified me in BLS/ACLS. An awful lot of money invested in me due to my position on the staff (and the other nurses, not just me). The CNA's, while they are required to be certified, do not attend those classes at the hospital's expense, and while they also require orientation, it is usually two weeks long.

[Justus]

:imbar Did not mean to offend. I'm sorry.

Truely, just went through very similar circumstance and it is so frustrating that it has become common or much worse acceptable! From bottom to top everyone is complaining about how awful nursing has become.

I have acute Nightengale Syndrome highly irritated by this infection of bad nursing, bad management and overall b.s.! We need a bloody antibiotic that will drive these little germs out of the system and allow nursing in its truest form to recover and prosper as prescribed by everyone of us that is worth our Caduceus! {LOL-although I am serious}

Again, I apologize- I did understand your post and feelings therein.

[missmercy]

I don't really care as much about what title the person has ( I'd be just as torqued IF another nurse was puttin' on the tude". ) It is just plain wrong for ANY person, regardless of education, social status, financial standing or whatever, to belittle and insult another person. Doing so in front of patients and students ( or anybody for that matter) makes it even MORe unacceptable. We have some attitudinal issues here too -- I have to say that Iagree with the posts that are advising to get with the DON or manager and expose the behavior ASAP. It isn't tatteling -- it is holding another person accountable for their actions!! We've talked to our aides, our nurses, our volunteers, our techs, our transporters, and even our doctors! Common courtesy and professionalism are not optional!! They should be as much a requirement for maintaining a position here as obeying the law, accurate and complete documentation and/or competent care!!!

[Repat]

Thanks - no offense taken! :kiss

[Mandarella]

You're absolutely right. No matter what your title you shouldn't belittle anyone and you shouldn't accept it either. Draw the line-it does make for a better working environment. When I go to work I don't try to guess whether I am going to do actual work or not. So there's no surprise there, I know my job and I know what is expected of me...Maybe a job description needs to be pulled out as a refresher. (not by you though-that may be a little hostile) GOOD LUCK!!!

description

With ANY job title, no one should stand for it!

[Justus]

Ladies- you are the tops and point on! I would be honored to work with you!:balloons:

[Stitchie]

"It turns out the tech had been fired at one point, and her family threatened to sue for wrongful dismissal..."

How old was the tech that her family could sue in her place?

"However, I do not go to work to be demeaned and belittled, so I quit."

Have felt this too, responded the same way and still regret it. It is a shame that we come into this with the greatest of intent and nobility only to be shown how replaceable we are. As if! It is their loss, keep going you will find a place that appreciates all you have to offer and if they fail to see it...(see end of post)!:)

"If the organization wants to lose an RN rather than an aide..."

It is unfortunate for any organization to lose qualified / professonal staff regardless of their position.But what does Nurse vs. Aid have to do with it? Not being persnickety but this is a common attitude that I do not share or understand.What makes a Nurse better? A college education, income, power? (Again, I mean this in the kindest way) For me to claim some egotistical superiority over an aid is rediculous, are children less valuable because their not adults? Albeit, they may lack the wisdom that comes with age I can hardly imagine a world without them.

{sitting on the fence,taken it all in }

It seems that some Aids are more assertive than their more educated counterparts and being a Nurse does not make you a leader. eek...this makes for bad chemistry.

Whether your a Nurse, tech. or housekeeper you are taken under wing by the senior employees to learn all the ropes that don't necessarily go by the book. Nevermind what employee X thinks you "should do", stick to the book! Trust yourself and your educated training first and foremost, if you can't do that you're not ready for an authoritive role. There's no shame in it, better to admit it then run amuck.

{bloody longwinded! sorry}

This is a pet peeve, I hate that we keep losing good nurses to bad management. If we keep allowing ourselves to be shoved aside for those that are unprofessional even incompetent then how are things ever going to get better? STEP ON THEIR TOES! Post on top of post speaks of how tiring this is to all of us and yet we do nothing because we're somehow inferior ,defeated or "in this alone"?

{tugging on jack boots}

Who's got my back?:rotfl:

Having worked as a tech thru nursing school I often felt that I was talked down to by particular nurses I worked with. I had to prove myself. There is also that 'tech thing' that says make life miserable for the new people, so they don't ask for help from you. Uh huh. But working as a tech made me a better RN, although I worked with my own philosophy: "Keep the RN out of the room as much as possible".

The reason that no facility wants to lose an RN is: the hospital cannot function without RN's. The hospital can function without NA's, although it isn't pretty. It's called primary nursing.

There is also a small bit of Magnet Status consideration. Nursing turnover is one of the things that the Magnet gurus look at. If there is high nursing turnover, then there is something wrong with the unit.

It's not that I don't appreciate my NA's. I do, the hardworking, no sarcasm, no attitude dependable ones are a treasure and make the unit run more efficiently. But the next time I see one of them on the phone talking about movies or what they're doing after work or on the weekend, I may just open up a can of whup-orifice. It's infuriating to see this -- in fact, also my fellow RN's -- act this way when I'm lucky if I get a chance to go to the bathroom.

[tattooednursie, LVN]

I am a CNA myself, and I would never treat my nurses that way. If they ask me to do something, I do it, whether I like it or not. If I am indeed to busy, I make that politley known.

On the other hand, it is a two way street. I think nurses shouldn't be unkind to the CNA's. I'm not saying that YOU aren't. Infact your putting up with alot of BS from a CNA that you should not need to deal with. I'm just saying that from a POV od another CNA, cause we do have a rough job.

I wish that we could ALL work in harmony, but there has to be that one person who makes it all so unpleasant

I hope that CNA cleans up her act. she does not have the right. I'm sure she'd treat her fellow CNA's the same way.