When Your LPNs & PCAs Take Over

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Oct 29, 2017

Sounds like you need a change of job if this is how you see things. I don't know what state you are in, but are they allowed to do blood draws via their nurse practice act.

If the management is letting them do this, I would say to leave and get a job where management manages.

Before you bash all LPNs, realize that there are many good ones. I know, I work with them. I know where I went to school, the screening was as tough as for ADN education. Also, I went to school with a lot of motivated men and women who were looking for a career, not because they were sent there to get them off of welfare. Maybe it is that way where you are, or, at least, in the facility where you are currently working.

JKL33 · Oct 29, 2017

While the culture certainly sounds frustrating, it seems you have taken liberties with assumptions and judgments that are rather crass and really have nothing to do with the issue anyway.

Focus on being the best you can be and being a postive force. Try to make some connections and build relationships. If the environment is not conducive to proper patient care, look for a different environment.

allnurses Guide · Oct 29, 2017

Many hospitals started down sizing LPNs a few years ago and I understand why. At my facility, many of them have unions and became LPNs via a welfare option a few years ago, to become an LPN, courtesy of the welfare department in attempt to move them into the work force and off welfare. Well I think a more rigorous screening process should have been performed. In my unit LPNs run the floor and tell the RNs what to do. Our head nurse is more concerned with being their best friend than ruling with a more firm hand. The LPNs have a union so they feel they are untouchable. With that being said, they come to work everyday with the intention of doing very little for the day. They don't draw blood, they don't collect samples, they don't help set up for the day, they don't stock supplies, they don't assist with anything except taking vital signs and even that is a challenge. They spend the day sitting around, texting each other, friends, and god knows who else, playing games on their cell phones, surfing the internet, paying bills, reading, and taking naps. Isn't this an amazing way to spend EVERY day and get paid for it? My favorite, strolling the hallways, speaking loud, laughing loud, carrying out inappropriate conversations and my absolute favorite, cursing all the time and dropping the f bomb with every few words so that the patients we are caring for can hear.
This is the environment that I work in. The PCAs are no better. Nobody can control them and nobody dare tries. If it were up to me, there would be no unions for these positions and there would be a no tolerance policy for this kind of behavior. Having no unions for these positions allows you to manage more affectively.

Wow, that job sounds like it's really not a good fit for you.

But your implication that the cause of the behaviors on your list is successfully completing a welfare-to-work program and entering the workforce is likely unfounded.

In fact, I would say the special snowflakes who never had a need mommy and daddy couldn't fix with dollars are at least as likely to engage in the same behaviors.

I think the most constructive approach is to address the problem as a toxic workplace issue, if you're interested in keeping your current job.

Best wishes!

Delia37, MSN · Oct 29, 2017

Honestly, you come across as the one who is not a good fit for that unit. Life is too short to allow other's (perceived?) behavior make you feel miserable. As others had stated, maybe it is time for a change.

macawake, MSN · Oct 29, 2017

Many hospitals started down sizing LPNs a few years ago and I understand why.

Welcome to AllNurses. You certainly picked a rather incendiary topic as your first one. If I understand your post correctly you have a beef with LPNs, CNAs and unions? I hope that you realize that even if it's true that you have work-averse LPNs and CNAs at your facility, that's hardly generalizable to the entire LPN and CNA populations?

At my facility, many of them have unions and became LPNs via a welfare option a few years ago, to become an LPN, courtesy of the welfare department in attempt to move them into the work force and off welfare.

Well, to me that sounds like an excellent initiative. While it's undeniably a good thing that a social safety net exists for those who need it, the goal from a societal/economic standpoint should be that as many people as possible can support themselves by holding a job.

Our head nurse is more concerned with being their best friend than ruling with a more firm hand. The LPNs have a union so they feel they are untouchable.

If it were up to me, there would be no unions for these positions and there would be a no tolerance policy for this kind of behavior. Having no unions for these positions allows you to manage more affectively.

Personally I prefer managers who rule by logic rather than affect... Just kidding Anyway.. The way I see it, the union isn't the problem. As you yourself pointed out; you have weak management. Don't blame the union for your laissez-faire managers.

They spend the day sitting around, texting each other, friends, and god knows who else, playing games on their cell phones, surfing the internet, paying bills, reading, and taking naps. Isn't this an amazing way to spend EVERY day and get paid for it? My favorite, strolling the hallways, speaking loud, laughing loud, carrying out inappropriate conversations and my absolute favorite, cursing all the time and dropping the f bomb with every few words so that the patients we are caring for can hear.

An employer pays the employee to do a job. It's that employer's prerogative to decide what they expect/demand in return for a paycheck. If things really are as bad as you've described, they for some reason known only to them, have decided that they are fine with paying people to surf, play games, take naps and drop f bombs all day long.....

It's also every employees prerogative to decide if they wish to remain employees at a certain facility so the way I see it you have a choice to make. You can either accept that your employer pays some employees wages for not doing much actual nursing, or you can try to change things at work by addressing the issue with your managers. Or you can decide that you don't find it acceptable and find a new job elsewhere. Personally, I don't think I'd hand around for long if the unit culture and management style is the way you've described. It sounds demoralizing. I would hope that there are other facilities out there that are managed in a better way.

Best of luck going forward!

nursingforlife24 · Oct 29, 2017

Sounds like you really support this kind of atmosphere. Perhaps you should be working there as well.

nursingforlife24 · Oct 29, 2017

This is what goes on in my surroundings. I don't let people make me miserable. I wasn't born that way certainly don't intend to live that way. Change my environment, exactly the quest at the moment. I think perhaps if you and some who have commented worked in that environment, you would better understand. Life of a nurse isn't as wonderful every where. When you work in a place that is private, in neighborhoods where the social economic standards are much higher, and you deal with more educated people the experience is much more different.

MunoRN, RN · Oct 29, 2017

Sounds like you really support this kind of atmosphere. Perhaps you should be working there as well.

I don't think anybody is 'supporting this kind of atmosphere', I think the issue is more with your assumption that those who have been on welfare are bad people.

nursingforlife24 · Oct 29, 2017

Taking liberties, doubt it, assumptions, doubt it,

judgments, doubt that as well. Perhaps you think it's normal to curse and carry on with patients present but I don't and think many would agree.

Street behavior belongs in the street. I connect with people and those who carry themselves in a professional manner and behave like licensed professionals. Perhaps you should spend a few days in the unit and see how your views will be afterwards. The issue is LPNs and PCAs out of control and management failing to manage out of fear of being brought before unions and having to deal with union backlash so let's just let everyone run mad!!

heron, ASN, RN · Oct 29, 2017

Not believing a word of this.

MunoRN, RN · Oct 29, 2017

Taking liberties, doubt it, assumptions, doubt it,
judgments, doubt that as well. Perhaps you think it's normal to curse and carry on with patients present but I don't and think many would agree.
Street behavior belongs in the street. I connect with people and those who carry themselves in a professional manner and behave like licensed professionals. Perhaps you should spend a few days in the unit and see how your views will be afterwards. The issue is LPNs and PCAs out of control and management failing to manage out of fear of being brought before unions and having to deal with union backlash so let's just let everyone run mad!!

I don't think anyone has argued that we shouldn't expect our coworkers to act professionally. Maybe you could clarify what "Street behavior" is?