Tips to supervise Cna's?

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 17, 2015

never worked in a LTC but I have mentored many nurses. The first thing is to know what they are allowed to do by law. Find out who certified them inyour state (Health Dept?). You might find a link on that site to the part of the Health and Occupations Code regarding their status. Find out what your BON says about delegation. Do not delegate something without knowing the CNA's competency in that task. If you know you are supported by law and policy then you will have confidence in what you delegate. Problems might be a lack of language skills (may not read well) or a mind-set of "but I have always done it this way". Be available for questions and do no belittle anyone for not remembering every utterance that comes from your mouth. I think you will be successful simply because you are making an effort to do it right!

caliotter3 · Mar 17, 2015

Start each shift with a briefing on what is going on with the residents as you received it from the offgoing shift and what that info entails as far as their assignments go for the shift. Make yourself available for any help as you can and remind them of this at the start of shift. Remind them to ask for help if they need it. When you see performance that merits praise, do so. When you see enough good performance, take the time to write a statement acknowledging the good performance for the person's personnel file and give them a copy. Likewise with corrections. Do not let substandard performance go for weeks on end. When you see something not according to policy, take the person aside, and correct them as soon as possible. Later, when you see that they are doing it right, acknowledge this with a sincere thank-you. Common courtesies that show that you recognize the assistants and the hard work that they do will go a long way in encouraging them to do even more, or at least, not to give you a hard time.

dream'n, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2015

Ah, the CNA issue. Honestly it is most important to have a management that backs you up. Watch during your orientation and see where management is on the issue. I've seen management that is so desperate for CNAs they let them get away with anything and there is nothing you can do about it or you will be considered the troublemaker. Trying to curb the CNAs work habits will then just tick off management and the CNAs, and you will be a "man without a country" so to speak. This isn't all or even most CNAs though, most have a work ethic that is incredible, especially with the difficult work they do.

NOADLS · Mar 17, 2015

Ensure they know what to report to you on the shift at the beginning of the shift. Most things should be common sense. As long as CNA assignments are already pre-determined then the expectations should be crystal clear for the CNA's. If not, the onus would be on you to figure this out and delegate tasks appropriately.

brownbook · Mar 18, 2015

Knowing policies and procedures, scope of practice, etc., is all fine and good. However this is basic bedside nursing in a SNF, not a nuclear energy site.

Since you are new and they may have worked there for 20, 30, plus years PLEASE give them respect, acknowledge their knowledge, on the job experience counts as a lot! Ask for their help. Their education has been in the trenches and they may know more than you even about something that is 100% definitely not in their scope of practice.