The problem with Some new nurses

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I work at a hospital. We have CNA's some nurses think it's bellow them to even take their patient to the bathroom. Hell they even refuse to get water if the patient needs it. Sometimes the unit is filled and all 30 beds are occupied and due to staffing issues, we only have 1 NA. An NA who is expected to run to bed alarms, get snacks, change an incontinent and take patients to the bathroom. I mean I've seen nurses complain about even placing a bedpan on the patient. It's ridiculous. When did nursing change and how do we change it back to being a team job?

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

I'm Mr. Teamwork, but as some others are saying, it's not always a matter of being WILLING to help, it's having any TIME - at all - to help. When I was newer I had some CNA's that thought it was great that I'd help... but I'm doing less of that now due to never getting out on time anyway AND management/corporate dumping more on us.

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Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

I totally get what you are saying, I have seen several nurses like this as an RN in many different settings and as a nurses aid in school. But one thing I want to point out, as a nurse I am often at work for 2-3 hours finishing my job. When aides are rolling out the door 10-15 minutes after their shift, I am calling my husband to tell him not to worry about waiting for me to eat dinner. I get home and see my family sleeping in bed, give them a kiss, get 6 hours of sleep, then wake up to do it again. I find that CNAs can get fussy when nurses sit down to chart, I understand that it might appear that we are doing nothing or taking a break but I promise you that is not the case. We also wear 1,000 different hats, we have an obligation morally and LEGALLY to ensure certain aspects of our jobs are done and CHARTED on, and sometimes we just do not have time to stop what we are doing to do a job that someone else is qualified to do. All it takes is one patient, getting stuck in their room for 45 minutes, and being behind on med pass for hours. Plus, every decision we make dictates if the patient lives or dies. Every decision, right down to properly administering medications.

I was an aid, I know the type of nurses you are referring to, I always support my aides and help as much as humanly possible but the crummy part for me is.... When I need help, when I am drowning, when I am missing my little girl growing up, I have no one there to help me.

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.
Griping about this is wasted energy. You will never be able to change these nurses views regarding ADLs such as toileting and feeding. The only aspects you can control are your views and reactions to the situation.

Always remember that the nurses can help you complete all of your duties, but you cannot help them complete all of their tasks. So, while their time is sucked up slinging bedpans and feeding patients, they fall hopelessly behind with assessments, med pass and documentation that you cannot legally do for them.

The nurse's job looks easier to those who are on the outside looking in.

Thank you for answering! This^^^^^^^^^^ :confused:

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Specializes in Medical-ICU.

As a new nurse I'm happy to give some insight.

When I first started I wanted to make sure that I could help my techs as much as possible. I would do some delegated tasks simply because it helped me with assessment or they were busy. I have no problem doing that. Then I realized I can do all of their tasks but it doesn't work the other way around. I can't ask them to do chart assessments, give meds, page doctors, titrate drips, answer all the patients questions, document tediously, and so on. Techs have an immense amount of responsibility. They are asked by a lot of nurses and patients to do a lot all day. They hear their name called by different people barking orders sometimes. However so do nurses. I think you may need to realize how much we are responsible for and just how often we accountable for all that goes on.

I noticed they would always leave on time but I will be there an hour later finishing documenting and what not. I hear techs complain about certain nurses and I ask them to tell me if they feel overwhelmed and that I am under performing than to come to be about it. I suggest they say something to the nurse they are complaining about. I also suggest you do the same but quite frankly you should be writing a peofessional and respectful email to your administration for the poor staffing.

I hope with some insight as a new nurse.

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I'm kinda afraid to have nurses treat me like poopie, as a CNA (I'm not there yet, but soon, I hope). I'm a tough cookie though, I'll be oki. Sorry if this doesn't exactly apply to the post, I just wanted to talk.

Best wishes, everyone.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
I'm kinda afraid to have nurses treat me like poopie, as a CNA (I'm not there yet, but soon, I hope). I'm a tough cookie though, I'll be oki. Sorry if this doesn't exactly apply to the post, I just wanted to talk.

Best wishes, everyone.

Good luck in your new job! I hope you are able to remember that, often, everyone has too much to do! Hopefully you will be able to give a little grace and understanding, and your coworkers will give it back :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Most likely the nurses are not helping with basic cares as much as you would like because they are way to busy trying to get their own work done. They may be able to do your job, but you can't do theirs. Sorry you are being run so ragged. If I were you I would consider looking for a new job with a better ratio than 1 CNA to 30 patients. That's just insane.

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While I have no problem toileting/changing/getting ice water etc... if I wanted to do it for an entire shift I would not have gone back to school.

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Specializes in school nurse.
Most likely the nurses are not helping with basic cares as much as you would like because they are way to busy trying to get their own work done. They may be able to do your job, but you can't do theirs. Sorry you are being run so ragged. If I were you I would consider looking for a new job with a better ratio than 1 CNA to 30 patients. That's just insane.

There is an underlying assumption here that helps fuel this divide. "They may be able to do YOUR job (emphasis mine), but you can't do theirs."

CNA duties are a subsection of the nurses' duties that may be delegated, not a separate job. If there is too much to be delegated to an overworked CNA, the duties fall back to the licensed nurse. Or not, if you want to start seeing more bedsores and such...

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Specializes in Unit Nurse.

If that was the only things I had to worry about I would be all over them, but since I have 9,999 other things to worry about that is on the bottom of the list, unless I actually have time. Now if I suspect they are going to fall before a CNA can make it in there to help them, it becomes more of a priority and I at least put them on the pot. However, on 30 patients we ran 3 CNA's. 1 is way, way to short staffed, you and your nurses need to take that to management.

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I used to be a CNA. It was my job to get water, help patients to the restroom, bathe and generally do those types of things. I never expected help (unless I asked for it), because it was my job to help the nurse, not the other way around. I think it's weird to get frustrated that someone else won't do your job for you. If a nurse helped me, it was a bonus, not an expectation.

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I do not see at all how this is a new nurse issue. I have worked with plenty of nurses that have the attitude that you described. However, the worst offender had been a nurse for 30+ years. Definitely not a new nurse issue but an issue of SOME nurses.

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