When is it delegation and when is it "Being bossy"???

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Feb 26, 2015

Team sport concept. Make a plan. "I have 2 total cares that need turning every 2 hours. Lets find each other every two hours to just bang it out. Can we start now? No? OK, so you tell me when we can do this? You rock! Thank you!"

And always, always praise the CNA's that help you to your charge "I don't know what I would do without CNA Xyz!! She is amazing!" And hear any badmouthing? "CNA Xyz is rally good at what she does!" And lastly, really hear what your CNA's are saying, and ask if you need clarification. They are all up close and personal with the patients, and they are most likely to see any changes, no matter how subtle. "Patient in 322 seems a little more confused. Do you think so CNA Xyz?"

Guest03/15/15, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2015

What are PCA's? Bahaha We have the occasional ER techs (emts/medics) - I'm lucky if they can make time for patient care. I can't remembered the last time they helped with patient care without being cornered or begged. Granted, there are a few techs who I wish they could clone - but again, that can be said for any discipline. The rare chance we get floated a PCA from the floor - I can definitely feel they are wayyy more "on the ball" and anticipates patient care needs.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Feb 27, 2015

I haven't had CNAs on any of the units I have worked on (I'm in L&D), so it is quite possible that I have no idea what I am talking about. However,as a student CNM ( TWO AND A HALF MORE MONTHS OMG) I work with MAs in the office all the time.

I hardly EVER have to delegate because they just do their jobs. Maybe we just have a wonderful staff, but I can't imagine an MA/CNA neglecting patient care just to spite a nurse or provider they thought was rude or bossy. If I rudely told my MA to hurry up and run that damn urine, she would DO IT, because that is what the patient needs. I'd still be a jerk, but that wouldn't stop the MA from doing what needs to be done.

Do some CNAs really leave their patient sitting in a sopping wet brief or refuse to grab someone water because they don't want to take direction from a rude or green RN?!?!

When I need a specific thing of the MAs that they somehow haven't already anticipated, I ask them in exactly the same way I would ask another nurse or provider to do something for me.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2015

As I complete my final semester of nursing school I hear a lot of talk about leadership and management using terms like accountability and delegation and it makes me think... At what point is a nurse delegating to support staff (i.e. CNA, RT, PT, etc.) and when do we cross that line into bossing people around? I know when I was a CNA and even as an EMT I had a bad attitude when it came to nurses Telling me what to do rather than asking me.
So what do you think? When do we cross the line between delegation and being bossy?

That is why Nursing should be done by military or religious orders, not by civilians. It's nice to "ask" people to do something, but what do you do if they don't do it? Or mouth off to you about being "asked"?

Someone has to be in charge, whether or not any of us like it. You have to get along with staff, but you are still their boss. I am so sick of this aspect of Nursing and will not miss it when I retire.

thevez · Mar 23, 2015

It's so hard especially when some CNAs cannot do things that they should be doing even if not being asked "Like checking if an incontinent patient is wet, preparing them for therapies (working in rehab)...there are some exceptions where you have to tell them everything. It's kinda frustrating but there are awesome CNAs too.