Unruly CNAs, how to get them moving?

JKL33 · Oct 7, 2019

5 hours ago, RN_atlast said:
Work together with them. Show them you are not above doing something, that goes a long way. As a new grad you are pressed for time, making it hard to help out.

2 hours ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:
And while getting in the trenches to do the dirty work is good for morale and important for nurses to do, when you have 30-60 patients AND you're a new grad it is very difficult to manage one's time well enough to be able to do that.

Yes. There is a difference between not being willing to 'stoop' to provide personal/ADL care and literally not having much time at all to do it. I don't see how a new grad RN can afford to devote a lot of time to proving that s/he is willing to help do ADL care.

It is not cool and totally not acceptable to have the attitude that something is 'not my job' and/or beneath me. On the other hand, it is also not cool to essentially bully someone into not properly and carefully attending to the duties that only the nurse can do.

caliotter3 · Oct 7, 2019

This topic reminds me of a memorable person in my unit when I was in the military. Our workday consisted of working in the motor pool most of the time. While not many could have been accused of overworking themselves, this young man would go to the rear of one of the large trucks, and spend his workday sitting on the pavement, propped up against a tire. He was a college dropout, probably lazy there too. We all guessed he joined the military for “three hots and a cot” because he certainly was averse to making himself useful. For some reason he stands out in my memory, while there are probably dozens of less than stellar CNAs that I have met. Some of these CNAs have been so worthless that they dragged down morale.

Nurse_Mike, ADN, RN · Oct 7, 2019

59 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:
working in the motor pool

hey man... USMC 3521 here. ?

rjellew, CNA · Oct 7, 2019

I saw this only referenced once, and I think it doesn't hurt saying it again-they are not 'your' CNAs. Change your mind set, maybe they're less productive because they are being made to feel like your property. Looking at your credentials, and having been a CNA yourself, I am sure you have encountered the feeling of being less than before. Remember those days, what would you have liked for someone to have done for you? What would have motivated you? I don't feel like this was a hard question to answer yourself.

Nurse_Mike, ADN, RN · Oct 7, 2019

I personally have run my orifice off for all of my employers my whole life, and I am above 50 years old. I make sure I get plenty of rest before my shift, pump some caffeine, and go to town. Very often I make several dollars less than those in my cohort, but I will work hard and will work as part of a team. I get it, the employer will throw me in the dumpster and slam the lid shut immediately if I were to get hurt or were unable to produce. If I am unable to remain positive in my current post/location, I will try to work it out; if I am still unable to remain positive, I will move on, regardless of potential loss of pay, time in, or benefits. It's just how I roll. I have a strong work ethic, and that does not change.

caliotter3 · Oct 8, 2019

11 hours ago, Nurse_Mike said:
I personally have run my orifice off for all of my employers my whole life, and I am above 50 years old. I make sure I get plenty of rest before my shift, pump some caffeine, and go to town. Very often I make several dollars less than those in my cohort, but I will work hard and will work as part of a team. I get it, the employer will throw me in the dumpster and slam the lid shut immediately if I were to get hurt or were unable to produce. If I am unable to remain positive in my current post/location, I will try to work it out; if I am still unable to remain positive, I will move on, regardless of potential loss of pay, time in, or benefits. It's just how I roll. I have a strong work ethic, and that does not change.

Most people with a military background are known for having a strong work ethic. My daughter says that she learned her workaholic ways from both of her military parents and I have had this observation brought up to me throughout my civilian worklife whenever I have been complimented on my work.

brownbook · Oct 8, 2019

I have a crazy strong work ethic, no ideas as to why? My upbringing was secular humanist.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 8, 2019

23 minutes ago, brownbook said:
I have a crazy strong work ethic, no ideas as to why? My upbringing was secular humanist.

Haha, same!! ?

Hina90 · Oct 13, 2019

On 10/5/2019 at 8:03 AM, JKL33 said:
I see it this way: They were doing the job before you got there. That is to say, this isn't much of an emergency and things aren't going to happen overnight. I doubt that, as a new grad, you were brought in to correct whatever CNA-related problems may exist. Sooo...
The best thing you can do is get up to speed on your end of things. Concentrate on learning to perform the RN role well. That is best for the patients and best for you personally/professionally. There is a close-to-0% chance that you are going to improve the performance of the CNAs (if that is indeed necessary) when you don't have your own feet underneath you just yet. I mean this in a friendly way: You need to improve your own performance (Right? That is the goal of all of us when we are new at something ?).
Begin to develop a rapport with the CNAs.
If there are truly unacceptable things going on, don't condone these; report them. Don't make the mistake of making big compromises in attempt to ingratiate yourself. But other than those (important) points, you aren't in a position to get into the finer details just yet.
Generally speaking, people's cooperation is gained through basic kindness and treating them with dignity the way most all people want to be treated.
Good luck!

Yes!??