Supervising difficult cnas

[honeybee3383]

Hello,

I’m a new nurses with 6 months experience, 3 months at my current facility in assisted living. The issue I am having is dealing with difficult aides and insubordination, I guess. When I state an issue that must be corrected (like bad practices, improper transferring), I’m either told off, told that I don’t know what I’m doing, or told I don’t care about the resident’s “quality of life”. My aides are either mid-30s or early 20s in age, so the ones older than me tell me that they’ve been doing this longer than me and don’t have to listen. The early 20s aides are just drama. I have gone to other coworkers for assistance and my supervisor is aware and hasn’t done anything yet to my knowledge.

I did not have this issue at my first facility and I’m just looking for outside help to talk to my aides. I just want the residents to get the best possible care that they can receive.

Thanks!

[clopez3477]

I totally understand I can remember my first early years in LTC and your fresh meat to the veteran CNA’s unfortunately you gotta stand firm and it comes with time and experience, and several different jobs. A lot of management is like that u kinda get thrown out there and it’s sink or swim. But if u can tuff up and learn which battles to fight for, you will be fine. Some people and staff can be just down right mean. Don’t let them discourage you or intimidate you. Keep doing your best, and best of luck to you.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

My experience is if the culture of the place contains what you say i would be finding a new job. Aint nobody got time for that. Your job is hard enough.

[Daisy4RN]

I have run into this situation a few times. Best way for me was to show respect for what they already know (which is probably about everything) and just concentrate on asking them to do those tasks that really need to be done. Be professional and friendly, give it some time, only report to supv what really needs to be reported and with time this should work itself out. Last hospital I worked at had CNAs that had worked there for many many years, they didnt need me to tell them how to do there job, if I said anything it would be an acute need for the pt that they were not aware of. Good Luck!

[Forest2]

There is always some kind of craziness going on no matter where you work. I can't really advise you because it takes a certain finesse to talk to these kinds of people. I am pretty self confident to say things. You could refer to the policies and procedures. Like, Hey, you know you aren't following the policy when you do that, I don't want to see that again, OK? It takes guts. Don't let them "tell you off", If they do it goes in the record! They will soon learn what you will tolerate. Keep your chin up and realize that being an aide is the hardest job on earth, the least rewarding at times and they have the most MS injuries. Don't forget to tell them they are amazing when they deserve it. I wish you tons of luck. The care of the elderly is a tough job.

[Glycerine82, LPN]

Just to play devil's advocate, what exactly are the things you're pointing out? Do you have experience as a CNA? It can be really difficult to supervise the CNAs if you've never been one, especially if you're also a new nurse.

That being said, whenever i've had issues with CNAs (and i can count them on one hand - at least the issues worth mentioning) I've taken them aside and issued verbal or written warnings. I don't like doing that though, because we all have to have a good working relationship. I care less about who is in charge and more about my patients getting good care.

Just make sure you pick your battles, its not worth arguing over the little things and you want your CNAs to respect you. They have a really hard job with very little reward.