What do RN's want out of CNA's

ChrisNZ · Jun 2, 2013

This is a very good question.

I look forward to reading the responses from our RN's.

allnurses Guide · Jun 2, 2013

In the beginning, I know you are not going to be perfect.

I want to see you BE SAFE while you are trying your best.

Please, ask me about or tell me about any concerns you have about the patients... even if you can't put your finger on it (and you don't have to!) and the patient just "looks funny".

Trust me, "the patient just looks funny" is not an uncommon observation and it has, no doubt, led to appropriate interventions in a timely fashion.

Please, when I ask you to do something, I mean it... and not because I'm being "lazy".

It's not about me... the patient needs you and there are other aspects of the patients care that only I can do, so I can't do it all.

Please, when a patient needs help, don't tell them "Sorry, you're not my patient".

That is not team work... You must have it!

If you get a little behind on your assignment because you took care of another aides patient, if that aide has any class, they will return the favor.

Please, hold yourself to a higher standard of dress and behavior.

Sadly, the bar is low for aides in many facilities.

Make yourself stand out and look and behave like a professional!

You will be taken MUCH more seriously!

Don't EVER just hover around the nurse's station.

There is always something you can be doing... and if you can't figure out what that is, I'll figure it out for you.

Don't just do the work... strive to do it with quality and finesse.

Anticipate... don't wait to be asked... what can you do before the patient, family, nurse or another aide asks you for it?

This not only saves time, but it shows you are thoughtful and makes you appear sharp.

There is soooooo much more I could add, but really, it comes down to professional behavior and seeing you provide excellent care.

Oh yes... and a good positive attitude!

duskyjewel · Jun 2, 2013

Warning! Jaded comment follows:

A good RN will want your assistance in patient care, maintaing a clean and orderly environment, and your notification of changes in patient condition or behavior s/he needs to know about.

A crappy RN will want a slavish workhorse s/he can boss around while sitting in the nurse's station facebooking on his/her phone. I've seen it and unfortunately it wasn't rare at my former workplace. There were nurses we aides swore wouldn't answer a call light if the patient were on fire.

When you start working, notice which type is in the majority in your workplace. That will give you an idea of how long you should stick it out to get some experience before looking for another job. If you land an awesome workplace the first time, great. If not, put in a few months and then get out! It's not worth the stress and abuse on your body and spirit.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2013

I no longer work with CNAs because I now work outside of acute care but when I did, I wanted the following:

Please do ALL vital signs in a timely manner. It's not sufficient to just document respiratory rate. It's also not sufficient to have not done 8am VS at 10am. All am VS should be done by 9am. If you don't intend on doing them, tell me and I'll just do them myself. (Note that when I worked in the hospital, more often than not I just did my own VS because that was the only way I could guarantee they'd get done.)

Please don't roll your eyes at me when I tell you that the patient in room 5 is total care and will need to be bathed.

Please don't think that there is nothing to do in between 8am-12pm-4pm VS. It was infuriating when I worked in the hospital to find our aides hiding in the locker room talking on their cell phones during the day or hiding in an empty room/the treatment room/a closet sleeping at night while we were running or butts off. And yes, all of the above did happen in real life.

If the patient is on strict I&O, please do strict I&O. There's really no excuse for not weighing a diaper on an infant who needs strict I&O because you didn't feel like walking down the hall to the dirty utility room where the gram scale is.

For total care patients, please check them and turn them q 2hrs as ordered. When I go into a room and know that the CNA was just in there and I see the patient in the same position I put them in 2 hrs earlier with a soiled diaper, it makes me very not happy. If it's a two person job to turn or change the patient, don't just leave them there and forget about it... FIND someone to help!

I had some very not good experiences with CNAs when I worked in the hospital and it was very unfortunate. Bad behavior had been accepted for so long that attempts to change it were fruitless. Most of my nurse colleagues would tell you, when asked why they were doing all their own VS, basic care and transporting patients to tests "It's easier and faster to just do it myself than to try to track down one of the CNAs and argue with them about doing it."

forbidden2know · Jun 4, 2013

Wow,, thanks for your input Hygiene Queen, duskyjewel, KelRN215

I haven't even started class for CNA yet, but I can tell you one thing, I would never tell a patient "Sorry, you're not my patient"

The least a CNA can do is say, "I'll get your CNA right away" .

Oh! and one more thing, I have very high respect for nurses.

sorry about the font, I couldn't change it.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 4, 2013

Be engaged in your job. I want to find you doing a little bit extra for Mrs. Cox, who is lonely rather than hiding in the locker room watching movies on your iPad.

Pay attention -- if Mr. Marks' wound looks different today, I want to know about it -- right away rather than as I'm giving report to the next shift.

Follow the rules. If the rules say visitors don't bring food and drink into patient rooms, do NOT encourage them to "Bring Mr. Miller a diet Coke. He'd love it." If the rules say no cell phone use in the ICU, your conversation with that visitor who is constantly texting ought to be about no cell phone use in the ICU rather than which app is better for shopping.

Be my partner, my team member. Together, we can get it all done. Separately, we're frustrated, overworked and I tend to get snarky when I'm running my butt off and you're playing Angry Birds. You could be getting the waters and handing out blankets so I can concentrate on meds and calling doctors.

The right response to "Can you please help me get Mr. Beetz off the floor" is "Of course," not "I'm going on break."

I work with some fabulous CNAs -- they've taught me so much. But I also work with some lazy, insubordinate and unmotivated CNAs. Be the former, not the latter.

duskyjewel · Jun 5, 2013

For the nurses who have been very detailed about what you want from your CNAs, we need you to advocate for us (and yourselves) for sane and reasonable patient ratios. The times I didn't have VS done on time, or have time to pay attention to the social need of a lonely patient, were because I had too many patients with too high acuity for me to do anything beyond keep my head above water. And a lot of times I failed at even doing that. My former employer set me up for failure by constantly short staffing the units and pushing the nurses to take more and more patients. None of us had time to really care for anyone. We could barely get assigned tasks done, and many times even critical things like bathing and turning fell through the cracks. All I did there was DO STUFF TO people, not take care of them. It made me feel like crap. I left every morning feeling like I did someone wrong. That's why I don't work there anymore. The majority of us CNAs want to be good employees and good assistants. Help us make it possible.

azcna · Jun 5, 2013

Just the fact that you have that attitude almost guarantees that you'll be a good aide!

Personally, I want my aides to notify me of changes, like the other nurses mentioned. Beyond that and safety, just act like a responsible adult. For example, don't complain about your co-workers all day, don't be on your cellphone all day, don't roll your eyes at me when I ask you to do something (especially if you are sitting on your phone and I'm running around), and do have a good attitude!

Ella26, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2013

Please don't shut the door and watch T.V in the patient's room that has dementia. Also do not eat off the residents plates during meal time... I have seen those things happen before ....

Glycerine82, LPN · Jun 18, 2013

I can't get over the stuff I'm seeing CNA's have done. I'm too busy to notice what other people are doing, but I do notice when I can't find someone. WHY WHY WHY would anyone want to be a CNA if they didn't want to work?!? I just don't understand it!! There is no money in it and its horrible on your body. It doesn't take my nurses very long to realize what kind of aide I am, and when they do they cut me a lot of slack. I've had Rn's stick up for me when my director noticed the few things I didn't do (because I was barely keeping my head above water that day) I've had RN's help me shower patients, help me do bed strips, etc. If two of my patents ring at once it's not uncommon for my nurse to get the one I don't go to first. Thats because of how I work and the relationship I have with them. I am so lucky to work with such awesome nurses. They teach me things, let me watch when they're doing something I find interesting (which is pretty much everything) and go to bat for me when needed. In return I help them in any way I can. I'll collect and send specimens, get their vitals (RNs do that on my floor), inform them of any kind of changes I notice and they know all my patients needs are met. They usually know I know what I am taking about, and take my suggestions seriously. I am very, very lucky I guess. Anyways, be the best you can be and your nurses will recognize that and your working relationship will be awesome.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2013

WHY WHY WHY would anyone want to be a CNA if they didn't want to work?!? I just don't understand it!!

Many states force people to participate in vocational training programs and get a job (or actively be searching for employment) if they are collecting public assistance. The nursing assistant (CNA) program is one of the most popular offerings because the training time is relatively quick and the schooling is affordable enough for states to fund.

Unfortunately, in many cities and states these welfare-to-workfare regulations have created a literally 'forced workforce' of people, mostly single females with children, who are working as CNAs when they'd really much rather be at home.