Time to vent about today! Warning, I am ticked off!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

Okay, maybe this is just a little thing, but I just need to vent, and then I'll feel better.

Okay, due to child labor laws, I am not allowed to be at work past 10 PM. The nurses are all on top of that, and no matter what, I have to leave as soon as the clock strikes 10. I have a designated time to do my charting, 9:30. I hate this as it is. My hall partners are supposed to answer my call lights for me. Dude, they are SO strict about this. Anyway, I was so busy answering this one CNA's call lights for her, that I got behind on my charting. I am all for helping people, but what that CNA did to me, I'll be sure not to waist my time doing the extra things for her.

I was doing my charting and one of my lights were going off. It's 5 minutes to 10 and I am kind of ignoring this light because I need to get my charting done. She then snapped at me about that being my call light and I was just "sitting there" looking at it. I felt bad enough not answering it. I was so behind on my charting and charting is MANDATORY where I work. I told her, "I'm sorry, I have to leave in 5 minutes, and I need to get this done." She replied with. "No, you are not leaving! That light is going off, it is yours, and you will answer it!"

I just said, "I guess so, but I know what this light is going to be about, and I will be in there for atleast 15 minutes." She shruged and glared at me.

I did answer that light, and sure enough I was very late, and my charting was left undone.

Oh, anf get this. After I was in there for about 15 minutes, she came into the room and was watching me. Right, like I would pretend to answer the light, and stand there 15 minutes.

I dread tomorrow, because I will come into work, and have to face the music about not having my charting done, and possibly for staying so long after my legal time limit all because of some one who would not answer one stupid little light for me when she was just sitting on her butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

And get this, she's a new CNA, newer than me!

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Hi Mandi,

I do sympathize with you and there will be many more people and situations similar and sometimes worse, but keep your chin up and keep smiling.

Tomorrow will be a better day, just dont let the grilling you get at the start of your shift pull you down.

Take the criticism with a smile and start your day fresh after it is done.

Hope you have a great day tomorrow and remeber not to let things bring you down.

:)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Take some time with your new coworkers and explain the situation when a light isn't going off. If your manager/DON gets on your case, have her/him talk to the coworker who wouldn't cover your light.

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Specializes in ICU.

I would go to your immediate superior explain to them what happened and telling her that you will be talking this new cna to let her know why you could not finish your charting. Talk to the new cna take the approach that she was ignorant of your circumstances and fill her in. Doing it this way should cover you.

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You should explain this to your charge nurse right away, if it happens again. Maybe the Charge nurse could explain your situation to the cna, and then explain what the term "teamwork" means.

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Who was she to say to you "No ! You are not leaving ! etc.????????????????

You will have to be careful she doesn't assume the role of "bossing you"....i.e., ordering you around.

You need to put a little distance between you.

You can't be friends and chummy with her, have lunch together and all that.

She has already shown what her character is.

People like that have to be taught that you are not

"their employee."

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Stand up for yourself because no one else will.

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And explain to this CNA that it's not that you wouldn't stay extra to help out - but that you can't legally! Is she aware of your situation, with the labor law thing? If not, explain it to her. If she already knows and has a problem with it, tell her to take it up w/ your supervisor/mgr...or w/ the legislature for that matter.

Or you could make a voodoo doll of her:devil: :devil: :devil: I like that idea better, LOL!:chuckle

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Can't say I blame you for being mad..the nurses are your immediate supervisors NOT this new CNA..you don't have to answer to her in any way,shape, or form...I'd take my charting to a breakroom or someplace away from the buzzer until I was done..if she has a problem kindly tell her to report it to the freakin government..the law is the law..simple as that....agree with an above poster r/t : take up for yourself or nobody else will...hang tuff girlie :)

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Since this has already happened, you need to let the DON know about the circumstances surrounding your being late.

For the future, if a new employee (or a chronic bully) insists that you stay, just politely assert the facts, such as "Legally, I must leave by 10 pm. The DON and charge nurse are aware of this, so, please talk with either of them if you need an explanation." Then finish our charting and leave on time. And don't stress about it -- the law is on your side here.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

just a thought is there an out of the way spot you could chart....where you aren't readily in sight by the other CNA's? You know...so they don't see you and think you are sitting around? Which you know you aren't and if they would open their eyes they would too...but maybe that would help. Good luck and I agree talk to your supervisor. :)

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I wouldn't wait for the supervisor to approach you the following day. I hope you go directly to her and explain what happened. Since your charting wasn't done I think it goes beyond just talking to this CNA. She needs to be nipped in the bud. One piece of advice I swear by:CYA. Cover Your "you know what"-sorry if anyone is offended by my suggested verbage. This new employee should have been briefed on your situation by the charge nurse and if she wasn't or was but still has a problem with you, as someone said, you don't answer to her. The next time, hopefully there isn't one, get up and go over to the charge and tell her you are trying to get done and this person has a problem with you. You don't have to deal with any abuse from anyone much less a potential intimidator. You have enough, I'm sure, to deal with. Good luck. And going somewhere inconspicuous is a great idea.

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