Strong Personalities on my unit and a rude CNA

[RNursingAssistant]

Nurses, I have tried talking to a rude and lazy nursing assistant about her behavior. By the advice of a coworker, I discussed it with the assistant nurse manager. I know the CNA and ANM have known each other for quite some time, but nothing was resolved. I myself have taken her aside to talk. She defensively told me the nurses are lazy and never do any of the patient care aspect, and that these are YOUR patients not hers.

I was angry, but controlled myself and said these are OUR patients, we need each other as a team to work well together. When you do not support each other, we fail together.

She seemed to let it go in one ear and out the other.

Several months later, and not much has changed. She is still getting away with being lazy and rude; specifically to the young and new nurses. Those that are well-liked she will never try to offend, but me, I'm having trouble getting used to my day shift.

I'm not comfortable with public confrontation even if they are obviously rude. i.e. disposing of liquid pain medication. I asked a nurse if it was okay to throw the cup into the bin as well, and she looked completely horrified, and stated loudly at the nursing station so everyone could here, " I CAUGHT YOU, YOU'RE THROWING AWAY THE CUP AND YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO! THIS IS WHY WE GET DINGED BY JCAHO, THE NURSING MANAGER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS!"

My nursing manager never pursued this with me, fyi.

I responded, "I asked you because I wasn't sure, but now I know not to throw the cup away." I should have told her it was unprofessional, but its a sticky area to breed confrontation on my unit. It's very unstable the way everything feels. Cliquey, people who are not happy with what they do, and frankly don't seem to care to much to do their job.

Nitpicky/micromanaging, people complaining about trays not being taking away immediately and how lazy the nurse is for leaving it on top of the trash bin, while I'm behind closed curtains cleaning my patient up because he just had a bout of bed-filled diarrhea.

It's either just me, or the unit I work on. But I was a lot happier working as a nursing assistant with my fellow happy RNs at another hospital. As an RN in this new hospital. Workload is still physically demanding but the people just feel so toxic and the nursing knowledge is like a cesspool. Teamwork is a word you say, not something you do.

I'm thankful they do allow me to be proactive on the unit and learn as much as I can. But, I can't deal with this nonsense, it's draining. I do not want to run away or avoid my problems anymore, I want change to happen. What can I do to make a difference?

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Wow.

You even tried to be an adult while this is going on...I would go higher in the chain of command, as well as have a meeting about this...are you able to go to your NM and talk to them? Try to promote civility and get other nurses opinions and if you have one, the nurse educator.

It may take a while, but it could be a start.

Best wishes.

[RNursingAssistant]

These issues have been noticed by other nursing assistants and nurses as well. I can count a handful of coworkers who have asked me if this has also happened to me, where I realize I am not the only one experiencing toxicity at the workplace. I think that is good advice because I may not get anywhere with this issue since it doesn't seem like she wants to change her behavior with fellow coworkers. I don't need to be enabling bad behavior at work, we don't allow patients to be abused, so why allow our fellow coworkers to bully each other?

[RNursingAssistant]

When approaching my NM would it be better to have other nurses who have experienced this to be with me, or should it be a one on one?

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

You need to tell her that your issues need to be resolved and if you two can't do it together, a third party will need to be brought in. Everyone has a boss even the head boss.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

You don't say how long you've been in your present position or in your present role. It matters. You cannot expect to come to a new job and make things change right away. People are more likely to listen to you and go along with your proposed changes once you've earned some credibility. You have to first be competent -- usually about two years.

In the mean time, you can effect positive change by treating everyone with kindness and professionalism. You haven't really described the behavior from the nursing assistant that led to you reporting her; only that "other people have had trouble with her, too." You say that she "doesn't try to offend" those who are well-liked, which leads me to wonder if you are one of those who is less well-liked. If that is the case, then the best way to effect positive change is to change your own image. It is entirely possible that people are rude to you (if indeed they are) because you have somehow offended them and they don't like you. If this is the case, you're going to have to make amends before you can make a change.

Start by examining your own part of any negative interactions. It's a tough place to start, but it's probably the best way to change things.

[pinksteth]

Your unit sounds like a mess If everyone sucks that bad, chances are the nurse manager probably already knows. I personally would begin searching for a new job. Too much going on, nursing is already stressful as is.