taking control

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2007

Ours dont try to take control but they are almost to forward about coming to the RN about some things. Just drives me nuts when one comes to me and says,, "i need you to come to ***", but wont give me any more information. Its like im not moving until you tell me what the problem is and I will decide if i need to stop what im doing and go down there right this minute. I just cant seem to get it through peoples heads that im not sitting there doing nuthing because i want to, that i am working. Either doing some needed charting or waiting to call a doc or maybe re-organizing my prioritizing, but i dont just jump up and go because they want me to.

crb613, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2007

We have two that are absolutely awesome!!!! I love to work with them! They make my job so much eaiser! I make sure to tell them too. We have some more that need to follow these two around & learn.

As for taking control.....not on your life. I work with some older nurses & they would rip their heads off if they tried! On the other wing its mostly new nurses....they have a hard time just getting vitals.

sister--* · Mar 10, 2007

After yrs. without any assistants, we have one or two. So much of their time is spent telling us who they will assist and who they won't assist, what's wrong with the patients and who they (the patients and themselves) are related to, twirling in circles for minutes...one spot mind you...and asking where the monitors are. Hmmm, let me check my pockets, maybe there behind my ear....

They don't like to feed, don't like to bathe, don't like to set-up meal trays, afraid to transfer from bed to chair and back, don't want the nurses to ask them to help with pt. care, when asked why something wasn't done they explain ad-nauseaum why they didn't/wouldn't/couldn't do this or that. In the time it takes for the explainations MANY tasks could have been accomplished. Now, saying this long-winded drivel and having the Nurse taking her time to listen to it has wasted twice as much precious time that could be used for pt. care, procedures, and charting.

One thing they like to do is run to the DON. "Do I have to give so and so a bath?, So and So doesn't want to eat but the Nurse said to try to help them......on and on." On the latter, it's found that trays are set in front of frail pts., lids still on, milk cartons unopened, no straws or cups, cereal still in the little nifty (almost childproof) unopened box, pts. HOB about 45 degrees with pts. curled near the bottom.....you name it, it's just wrong, wrong, wrong. Have even heard them say to patients, "You're not hungry, are you? Cuz I won't bring in your tray if your not." Wow, the power of suggestion! Ho-hum.

I know there are great aides out there! I applaude them! I just pray that one or two will stumble into our facility.