[luv2healwounds]

I have to say, I was an aide for years before being a nurse and there are good ones and bad ones just like anything else. I always educate and be consistent with them and weed out the bad if no response and trouble. Good luck.

[rnsince83]

Nurses aides (we call them patient care assistants) are the same as everyone else--some good, some bad. I have also found that they share one other characteristic--they need some respect and consideration. Some nurses expect them to do all the heavy/dirty work. The best ones wear themselves out, the worst just hide out. There is no reason for them to break their backs or only be exposed to the most unpleasant situations. I always offer help and make sure they get it--from me, at least. As far as I'm concerned they are the unsung (and underpaid) heroes of nursing care.

[1mg.epi]

Most aides I have had are fantastic. Of course you have a 10% rule that applies to all fields. 10% will be total screw ups.
If a unit has problems with most of the aids, then it is the nurses falt.

1st they need a consistent job description. We must hold them to that standard. Aids will not do good work if the information varies between nurses.

2nd. Training. I have found, people will only work as well as they are trained.

3rd. Help them. One thing I can not stand is a Nurse that sits on their butts as the Aid gives a bath or helping a patient get in or out of bed. If you assisst your Aids in their work we will find that you get more respect form them. Then in turn you will get more willing help from them. They are not ours to do as we command.

My final say on this is, If your Aids do not know their job, IT IS YOUR FALT.
If you Aids do not want to do their jobs, GET RIDE OF THEM.

[proudpca]

Hi, I was just looking for some jokes to sent to fellow pca's, and lpn's, and was surprised to find this site...I would just like to say that in my 17 years as a pca, (14 of them being in the same wonderful unit in central alberta) that I am proud of what I do,and know that I do a good job. I think that the same can be said for any facility, pca's or not- there are always a few that prefer to let all the others do the work, but there are just as many or more that work hard to do their best....I have orientated and perceptored for 14 years and have had all kinds! That opinion is the same for the rn's...some sit and some jump right in to help us when their work is done. What I do is hard work, but at the end of the day when you get a sincere thank you, and a smile it is worth it...everyone needs to work together to make client care the best it can be in the end, right......proud pca in Alberta

[nylpn05]

I have read some of your posts..I feel as if I'm reading my own thoughts!! I work in a nursing home and the CNA's on my unit are the most horrific bunch of individuals I've ever worked with. I have seen such abuse and outright neglect I couldn't begin to tell you. I have reported this, and thus far, nothing has changed..These people wander in from 20 min. to over 2 hours late, they swear, intimidate residents, push them, refuse to feed them, refuse to give them drinks, refuse to shower them, refuse to change them, etc and on and on..there have been more unexplained fractures on my unit then I can remember...always nothing comes of it..2 people died as a result..secondary pneumonia..I mean..WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE PAYING?????HELP!!!!!!
ps..I've heard this is common..what do you make of it? Is it this bad where you are?

[MedicRN]

If this is truly what's going on in your NH and it's not being address by the higher ups, you need to get Social Services (or the offices which license NHs and CNAs - or all of the above) involved immediately. Someone is going to be in more hot water than they realize for ignoring it! It is absolutely uncalled for. You, as a member of the healthcare team and the human race, are obligated to report such elder abuse and neglect. Heaven help the administration if it were my family member and nothing was being done to address the continuing problem.

It may be a horribly common problem, but it can be fixed.

[Nyce RN]

I understand what you are talking about. With all the paper work, patient care, family complaints etc. We still have to chase up behind a lazy grown up. It's a shame. Then you have those aides that will keep the patient dry and clean but the patient room look terrible. I wonder how do you get an aide to take pride in there work? The thing that gets me is we are held responsible for everything they do. The only thing I can say is you HAVE to run up behind them ( although I know you don't have the time) and give those verbal warnings and then write-ups. I hope this helps.

Nyce RN

[lam]

here's my 2 cents worth: CNA's are people and come from all types of backgrounds, some are even fresh off the Welfare. The best ones very seldom have to be told to do their jobs. I have always helped as an LPN then as an RN because they are all my patients. The bad CNA's will do less as the nurse does more. I have found 3 CNA's in one room while I was running around answering the lights and trying to do what I needed to get done as a nurse. I have also gone in and worked as a CNA. physically it is harder but what a relief to just have to report everything to some one else. A good team is just that, they work together( cover for each other, remind each other, respect each other). I have only had to write up a few aides in my day, the good ones learned from it and the bad ones get revenge. I have had them do all kinds of things to sabatage me knowing that the next shift nurse would get even with me. One actually took the tube feeding bag off the pole and shut the pump off, this was after I had already done my rounds. shut alarms off etc. For some reason they either were trying to get rid of me so they could get their own nurse in or wanted a nurse that they could intimidate.