Why isn't my manager listening to me?

[zb2008]

I've been having issues with a Nursing Assistant for almost a year now. I work as a charge nurse in a hospital and we work together a lot. My nurse manager is aware of the issues that I have but seems to be doing nothing about it. I am tired of going to work and having to deal with her...I've had enough. I get along with everyone I work with including other Nursing Assistants. This NA is unprofessional,complains about everything,takes long breaks and is not a good team player. I am not the only one who feels this way just about everyone of my floor agress with me.Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do?

[RN1989]

There is always the possibility that there is nothing your manager can do about it. Many managers lack the skills or the authority to fix problems like this. Not everyone really knows how to manage people.

Managers also get flack for having high staff turnover so she may not want this person to leave or the manager could get canned. HR doesn't just let you fire people. Frequently you have to document, document, document, do all the counseling, etc. and sometimes even then the HR people are too afraid of bad press or lawsuit to let you fire someone. And giving bad evaluations don't help. Most places require a manager to set up a "rehab" program for an individual for whom they give a bad eval to. This usually entails lots of extra work for the manager. Therefore managers will give the minimum "passing" grade on an eval because they don't have time to play mommy to someone.

I've always told the staff that if there is a problem with the person, they need to document everything, and I mean everything, each and every shift. Only then would I have enough to even approach HR about terminating employment of a chronic problem employee. Most of the time the staff is unwilling to take the time to do this so there was never enough documentation to warrant starting the counseling process unless the house sup. or I saw the behavior. And it is always interesting how people can act like angels when a supervisor is around.

[siggie13]

You are the charge nurse...if you are having that much trouble with an employee, you need to write her up and start the process of correction. With paper works in the process, your manager has to listen to you since she has to address any written complaint. Also, I would advise you to sit down with your manager and have a heart to heart with her about how you are perceiving this situation and how she wants you to handle similar situations in the future. I always stay on a talk if needed situation with my manager and do not let problem matters linger before talking about them with my manager.

Being a charge nurse can be difficult at times due to having to deal with problem employees and that is your job. Be professional and deal with this CNA,:pumpiron:

[Riseupandnurse]

Totally agree with above posters. Verbalization of complaints is one thing, but WRITTEN documentation, particularly if it follows to the letter the official policy for complaints, and especially if several people are submitting written testimonials about the same individual, for various infractions, will get results. Maybe not the results you expect, and maybe not as soon as you expect them, but written, judicious and reasonable communiques are the only thing that will help. And they need to be as absolutely specific as possible, with verbatim quotes if possible.