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?

[RN34TX]

Re:RN34TX

I had to reread your post(s) and must admit you were somewhat right about "haste". To conserve space I won't quote the posts in their entirety. It is so hard to tell on b.b. when one is being a smart a$$...truely I'm not. I mean this with the utmost respect and seek only enlightenment on that which eludes me. So here goes:

"They all have 2 things in common...." - this is stereotyping. The only commonality that is shared in this context is they are bullies, manipulators etc. and need to be reminded of their limits. And that those limits must be enforced.

"These types could prob. function much better if they went back to school..." - Why? Wouldn't this only make for licensed bullies, manipulators etc.?

"...I've tried diligently to encourage them to go back to school and better themselves and show everyone what they know"- If in the context of this thread, wouldn't it be better if they were re-educated in their current position first? If this post was in referece to only the toxic CNA as you say, then here again I must wonder what difference would be made?

"When I was an LPN I got a little offended..." - Why? Did you feel like you / your accomplishments weren't valued by those around you?

"But try to encourage your co-workers to go back to school...every excuse in the book" - Obviouslythis applies to more than toxic CNA's, so is that to say that you must have a formal education to validate your position or knowledge? By who's standard? If you understand that "some people stay where they are for their own reasons" and you have already been in their shoes...then how is this any different?

Justis-

Boy can you pick apart somebody's opinion with a fine tooth comb. Are you a lawyer? If not consider the possibility, you may have gifts and talents you may not be aware of yet.

Wher do I start with all of those bullets flying at me? I'l start at the end of your thread, somehow it's easier for me.

I have no formal education to validate my position or knowledge. I have not accomplished anything above ADN RN level as far as formal goes. Those comments are only my opinion, not carrying any academic or otherwise authority.

However, I feel that I am qualified to make these comments based on my own experience being in all of these positions and having multiple interactions with all 3 levels of healthcare provider. Expert? Hardly. If I were, I probably would have been able to solve these issues in my school and work settings instead of retreating to ICU where I wouldn't have to deal with them. Next:

"When I was an LPN I got a little offended.." yes you are correct on your take on that one. I guess it maybe wasn't so much that I felt not valued, I got great reviews and feedback. It just bothered me that people just assumed that I wish I were an RN and I somehow "settled for being an LPN" for one reason or another. Like I wasn't good enough being an LPN.

"These types would probaly function better If I were acting "toxic" like you described, it would be a different story. Yes I do assume that about "toxic" CNA's, LPN's, ADN RN's, even others because (only my opinion, no expert authority here) I suspected that they felt like that needed to be in power and respected by those in power and in healthcare without the proper credentials, you can't get it.

"Thes types would probably function much better if they went back to school.." Was I naive to think that people might straighten out and perform better if they were in a position that they were happier in? Maybe they would stay the same, I wanted to think not. I've had jobs I've hated. I didn't take it out on people around me but definitely perform better in a job that I like. Do I feel like I'm in power now that I am an RN? Hardly. You can only control so much in your work or personal life. I can't control 'toxic" CNA's behavior, only my own behavior so I moved to an area where I do everything myself and don't have to deal with them. Healthy way of dealing with it or not, I just wanted it to stop and I stopped it for my own professional work life.

That's all I can address for now, you're too taxing on my brain just to defend my opinion and personal experience. I wasn't trying to be an authority on anything. Just another nurse telling of their experience and journey through this field.

[Justus]

justis-

boy can you pick apart somebody's opinion with a fine tooth comb. are you a lawyer? if not consider the possibility, you may have gifts and talents you may not be aware of yet.

wher do i start with all of those bullets flying at me? i'l start at the end of your thread, somehow it's easier for me.

i have no formal education to validate my position or knowledge. i have not accomplished anything above adn rn level as far as formal goes. those comments are only my opinion, not carrying any academic or otherwise authority.

however, i feel that i am qualified to make these comments based on my own experience being in all of these positions and having multiple interactions with all 3 levels of healthcare provider. expert? hardly. if i were, i probably would have been able to solve these issues in my school and work settings instead of retreating to icu where i wouldn't have to deal with them. next:

"when i was an lpn i got a little offended.." yes you are correct on your take on that one. i guess it maybe wasn't so much that i felt not valued, i got great reviews and feedback. it just bothered me that people just assumed that i wish i were an rn and i somehow "settled for being an lpn" for one reason or another. like i wasn't good enough being an lpn.

"these types would probaly function better if i were acting "toxic" like you described, it would be a different story. yes i do assume that about "toxic" cna's, lpn's, adn rn's, even others because (only my opinion, no expert authority here) i suspected that they felt like that needed to be in power and respected by those in power and in healthcare without the proper credentials, you can't get it.

"thes types would probably function much better if they went back to school.." was i naive to think that people might straighten out and perform better if they were in a position that they were happier in? maybe they would stay the same, i wanted to think not. i've had jobs i've hated. i didn't take it out on people around me but definitely perform better in a job that i like. do i feel like i'm in power now that i am an rn? hardly. you can only control so much in your work or personal life. i can't control 'toxic" cna's behavior, only my own behavior so i moved to an area where i do everything myself and don't have to deal with them. healthy way of dealing with it or not, i just wanted it to stop and i stopped it for my own professional work life.

that's all i can address for now, you're too taxing on my brain just to defend my opinion and personal experience. i wasn't trying to be an authority on anything. just another nurse telling of their experience and journey through this field.

must i be an attorney to question an opinion? no.

this is a discussion board, throw out your opinion and if someone replies you, they or both might gain enlightenment. ie.( if i say all eggs are blue (my opinion) and you think that only robin's eggs are blue (your opinion) and we discuss it we will learn from each other. )

your post(s) reflected either something i agreed with or disagreed with in its entirety (ie. stereotyping) or something vague that i could neither agree or disagree with because it lacked specific explanation. or was perceivably contradicted by another opinion/statement. my perception ,in part, is that you did not like others devalulization of your accomplishments (lpn vs. rn) and yet you appear to do just that to your co-workers.( ie. "when i was an lpn i was offended...." "but try to get your co workers...") likewise, you say you understand why some stay where they are and at the same time refute their reasons / excuses. by asking you about these things i was attempting to clarify your opinion vs. my perception. also, i was not asking you to validate your opinions / education, to the contrary i was asking why anyone should have to. (ie. im' not an attorney but in order to understand and potentially learn something either about you, myself or any given topic i ask questions as opposed to make assumptions.) this was meant to be a discussion not a personal afront.good communication is key and it is difficult to aquire that over the internet. if nothing else i've learned that.

[mommy&nurse]

I work in a facility wh:mad::mad:ere the aides talk to the nurses like they are a piece of crap. The aides talk back and have even used foul language to the nurses. They get certain family members of the residents involved. If they are on call and have to stay over they refuse and punch out without someone to cover their assignment. The nurses get in trouble and even wrote up for the aides actions and neglect. We have gone to the DON and she says to write them up. We do but they equity commity has to determine if the aides get the write up and half the time they dont. So therefore the aides continue with the bs. I dont feel that us nurses should be punished for how the aides are. The aides are all adults. They should be held responsible for their own actions.

[sanchezlpn]

Really....you know what really is quite funny...not the laughing kind of funny though...that rude cna's that treat their nurses like crap, don't speak when spoken to, walk on the unit as if they own the place, rude behavior and offensive attitude are actually really hurting themselves.....why I say this? I am an LPN on a unit where I have just one person that is exactly as described above...rude and obnoxious!!! By all means is this person hurting themselves...yes, because this person won't ask me for anything, that person is not getting any help from me if I am unaware they need some additional help on the floor. So in the long run, I spend time with those that respect me, get along with me and don't take me as a fool.....and for those that don't know it, I also know that every time I leave or arrive on the floor, a text message is being sent to the other telling them where I am! I am no fool, I play along and have learned more than I would like to mention here!

To all the nurses out there that are being treated like this...I am truly one of the nurses that goes thru this about every night!

nursing gal