Trash talk

[01928437]

Maybe my view of things is warped because I never worked as an NA. But lately the aides have been driving me nuts from 0400 onward (nocs) with the lengths they'll go to to ensure the trash cans are completely empty by last rounds. To be clear: I don't fault them for wanting to hand off a spotless room. I am annoyed at whatever ridiculous communication tool they fill out with the oncoming shift that dings them for waste as negligible as a couple of gloves and used flushes in an otherwise empty bin. One of the aides hauls their own bag from room to room, removing nurses' and patients' careless last-hour trash from the bedside cans. At the long-term care facility where I work per diem, I was once chastised by another RN for "using the NA's trash" when I threw away an empty 250 ml carton of feeding in the room. That's when I found out this nurse only disposes of supplies into the bin attached to her med cart. Interactions like these make me feel bad, like coworkers think I'm being inconsiderate on purpose. I do change the bag if I have time. I try not to "stuff down" an overfull bin. It just doesn't make sense to me to carry a separate cup or bag in for "my" trash, then leave the room with it to find an appropriate receptacle that won't peeve the aides.

[caliotter3]

If nobody had clued you in to the unwritten 'rule' around there, then you should not have felt that you were being inconsiderate because you unwittingly "broke" the rule, and a silly rule at that. Be happy you aren't finding, at morning med pass, residents marinating in waste that clearly has been there since at least 2300 because the NA's hid out all night long. Don't sweat the small stuff.

[AutumnApple]

Every facility and unit within it has it's "identity". It's like a different culture almost.

A med/surge unit I worked on was obsessed with was obsessed with making sure anyone who wanted a bible in their room had one BUT, if they didn't.......to remove it.

A place I did agency shifts at for a bit loved making sure every resident got "activity time." This usually amounted to nothing more than sitting and watching other people play UNO. For others it was coloring or painting......whatever.

Another place I worked at seemed to think the alpha and omega of healthcare was making sure the two hour rounding sheets were filled out.

Point is, everyone has their *thing*. And this *thing* always takes an unprecedented priority. To me, it seems we all do this simple so we can feel like no matter how bad the day is, we accomplished something.

What experience has taught me though is, no matter how silly this *thing* seems to you: If you interfere with it..........you will regret it.

[01928437]

Point is, everyone has their *thing*. And this *thing* always takes an unprecedented priority. To me, it seems we all do this simple so we can feel like no matter how bad the day is, we accomplished something.

Yes, even preceptors who have helped me learn to see the big picture are not without their quirks and rituals. Perhaps it is also about control.

[JKL33]

I am annoyed at whatever ridiculous communication tool they fill out with the oncoming shift that dings them for waste as negligible as a couple of gloves and used flushes in an otherwise empty bin.

If I were going to receive a [personal] "ding" for trash in one of my trash cans at shift change, I would probably act like that, too. I like a clean record. So do a lot of other people.

This is the blankety-blank blank that happens when people are treated horribly. And being dinged for that crap is horrible. Any time some extreme solution that affects everyone is put into place rather than appropriately disciplining (including firing) people who don't do their work - - this is what you get.

Talk to management. Ask for a revision of the Handoff & Ding-Scoring Tool so that it says the trash must not be more than 1/3 full. Or "trash emptied within the 2 hours preceding shift change and whenever more than 2/3 full."

Or something. Geez.

[Chrispy11, ASN, RN]

I worked as a NA. It was a battle of the shifts thing. Evening did garbage. It had best be empty or day was going to report it. This was not but one place, but three and one was a hospital. This in the "Light housekeeping " part of the job description. Had to document it was done. If there was any trash, we got spoken to. Those cans were expected to be empty. The whole thing was ridiculous. There were times I took garbage from the nurse. Wore cargo pants to carry around rolls of bags. I see your point, but I understand where the aides are coming from. If the trash on the cart filled, we emptied it for the nurse. Heaven forbid there was an emergency, we were sneaking into dark rooms to get it. It would be alot easier if all shifts took responsibility. Mentioned it to management and was told day shift had two meals and had to get people up and ready. Night should not be doing it due to less aides working and other responsibilities. I wonder if this is what your aides are dealing with.