I am a new nurse. I have been working on my particular unit for about 7 months now, and I find that because I am the new nurse the cna's ignore me and make fun of me behind my back. They make comments like, "I can't believe she is a nurse!" and they don't answer my calls to them when I need help.
I asked other nurses about this, and they all say they always do this to the new nurses. I even whent to my boss and she just said try to talk to them about this. Well I did, but it is getting worse. I love my job, I love the other nurses that I work with, and I love the pediatric floor that I work on.
But I don't know what to do about the cna's. I am misearable, and I think that this makes the cna's happy. What makes things even worse is that they overheard me talking to another nurse on our lunch hour about a man I was dating in another hospital and now that seems to be their new topic all about me.
How do I make this better?
Lisa
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November 5th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
I’m a nursing student (BSN) right now, and currently I work at a gym where gossip and disrespect run rampant. From experience at being the receiving end of all gossip, (just b/c people are people and unfortunately many of them are very petty), sometimes the best way to deal with this sort of situation is to not necessarily confront them again, (since obviously it isn’t working really well), but rather make it a personal mission to NOT be part of the gossip mill. If anyone tries to gossip with you about anyone else, or worse yet, if you hear of anything about you, ignore it and be the professional that you are. Eventually, you will earn respect as the “girl who does her job & doesn’t mess around with the rumor mill”. It worked for me! 🙂
November 6th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Thank You so much Andrea I will try this is really hard not to let this get to me. This helps a lot.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
As a CNA I’ve seen this done before. Sometimes Aides do this because they feel a new nurse is unfit for the job. They tend to forget how hard it can be when you are starting in a new facility(or in a new career). Sometimes they do this to new nurses because they feel that they aren’t being respected. Either way you should talk to your aides and find out what the problem is and find a solution. Hope this is helpful for you.
November 7th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Lise i can really identify with what you are saying about gossip. i work on a post partum floor with 135 women and L&D has another 150. Talk about cattyness!!! Keep your head down and do your job. The best advise i ever got was in elementary school. My mom told me that the older kids pick on the younger kids because they knew they could get a reaction out of them. Stop giving them a reaction and eventually they will get bored. Do your best to smile, be cheerful, help them even when they dont help you. Believe me your other coworkers will notice that! dont let something like bored gossips discourage you. And congrats on a job that you love!
November 7th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Hi! I am a CNA and I can tell you that I have seen other aides do this at the hospital that I work in. I work in the ICU, so many of the people have been on that floor for a long time, and the ones that people talk about are usually ones that they just haven’t gotten the chance to connect with on a personal level yet. Usually as the nurse settles in, it gets better, especially if he/she is respectful of the aides.
Also, I am going to nursing school and I have found that some of the aides talk about me because I am half their age and in college and I think really that they are just angry at the fact that I went to school with their kids and I am making as much as they are. If this is the case with you, as soon as the aides come to realize that you are a good nurse who doesn’t have time for their petty games, they will move on.
I hope things get better for you! It’s hard to work in a place where people don’t all get along and the fact that your supervisor didn’t do anything to help doesn’t make it any better, but hold your head high knowing that you are the better person here ^_^
November 13th, 2007 at 10:15 am
I’m an RN on a med/surg floor, I can really understand where you are coming from. I used to work as a CNA on the floor and I think now as an RN my new task at delegating makes the aid’s resent me alittle. I try to help them as much as I can but sometimes I really think they try to find things wrong with me. I’m often a subject of gossip and at times I really just confront the person, attempt to find out what is wrong. But usually I just don’t let it bother me. People are going to be people and once they are tired of you they’ll find their next victim to talk about.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Hi,
I think it is best to keep your professional life apart from your social life re: talking about your boyfriend. In my opinion it is fine to do “lite” talking about your social life but not to go into details or problems. Don’t give people fuel for gossip. What is done is done. Move forward.
As far as the problem with the CNAs on your floor not responding. A few things come to mind ( you might have tried this already ): when it is not urgent and you need their assistance say something like -“when you are done with your current task I would appreciate it if you would kindly help me in room 105” (always be professional and polite, record in your own “log” the time you asked and the time they responded if they do not respond log that also!); after they do come and help you always thank them for their hard work (people like to be respected for their work and they like to hear that they did a good job if indeed it is true); if it is urgent say, “please I need immediate help in room 105″(be direct but polite); You might also try saying, “I know you are busy but I really need your help right away in room 105.” If they worked in the hospital for a long time – compliment them for the years of service and experience in social chat. You might also invite the CNAs you work with for lunch or dinner or try to sit with them when they eat. Ask the CNAs if you could join them. Now I am not saying over lunch or dinner. You might bring in a cake or donnuts (for the staff) on the weekend to thank e
Now this is the easy-style approach – Building bridges. Perhaps – their is a nurse on the floor that gets along with them and can talk to them on your behalf.
The hard nose approach would be to take your log and in writing submit it to your “boss” and cc the nursing supervisor and your human resource file. Your boss will be forced to help you and not just tell you to ignore them.
These are just ideas…..thinking back I really never had problems with CNAs. I remember one time, the CNA always got mad at me for talking linen ( but I was using it to change my patients’ bed in the evening and would say something smart……..well someone told me to say to her – Why do you care, are you going to take them home with you? She never said anything after that out-of-the-way. I guess sometimes humor helps.
Just ideas…….I wish you luck.
Regards,
Diane
http://dianej.wordpress.com
December 6th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
I’m a nursing student who works as a Nursing Unit Secretary, and I observe this type of stuff all the time. Though CNAs and nurses often work well together, there seems to be a kind of hazing that goes on when a new nurse comes around. No one likes to take direction from someone they dont respect, and a college degree doesnt necessarily translate as competence in a seasoned CNA’s eyes. I’m so glad Ive seen this first hand, because when I get into my career, I’m going to take the same advice I’m about to give you; ignore it or laugh it off. Eventually they’ll get to know you and either like you, respect you, or find someone else to talk about. But there is definitly a hazing thing that goes on….and you just have to stick it out.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:42 am
It takes time to earn the respect of time-served staff, at whatever level. This does not obviate their requirements to provide a service and support you as needed. Ignoring your requests for aide is beyond rude.
However, I agree with the advice to ignore the gossip stuff but it will take a longer amount of time to stop it as it’s been going for some time already. It will also get a little worse to start with cos they won’t be getting the same reaction as they used to. Either that or talk about yourself to them so much that they get bored of you! But that might not help you’re getting them to come to your aide when needed.
If it’s a serious problem or you’re still getting nowhere, I trust there are other RN’s you can confide in and a manager who respects your developing abilities. It may not suit the unit routine, but there are two suggestions/requests you can make with your team:
1. That a CNA be assigned to you for the shift because you’re just not getting anyone to help. It may start out with resentment and bitterness but regular reviews with both of you and the unit manager might help as long as you’re honest in those reviews and accept any genuine criticisms that come your way.
2. If another seasoned RN works with you and you cover double the work together. The seasoned RN would be able to get them to work their butts off and they become more than willing to work alongside you if it means not having to bust a gut anymore.
Another option is for you to approach the whole RN team and ask them to meet for a team meeting specifically about why they don’t think they should assist you. Highly confrontational, but if the RN team do it together then the CNA’s know where their loyalty/professionalism is.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
It is a simple problem. I beleive that the CNA’s are just jealous! You worked hard to get where you are(RN). hold your head up and be proud of yourself!
January 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
first apologize for whatever it is that you have done that offended them even if you are sure you haven’t done anything to offend anyone and then just ask them that for what ever reason they dislike you could they please for the sake of the patients put their views of you aside and work with you as a team for the sake of the patients that you guys are assigned to take care of. This will perhaps cause them to reconsider and examine their negative behavior and acknowledge their lack of professional work ethics.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
first apologize for whatever it is that you have done that has caused them to be offended with you even if you are sure you have not done anything intentionally or unintentionally to offend anyone. and then ask them for the sake of the residents could they please put their dislikes and negative views of you aside to work as a team for the residents sake. Perhaps this will cause them to refocus their attention on whats best for the residents and cause them to examine their questionable professional work ethics.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I’m a CNA in nursing school on a pediatric unit. Such talk is very common on both ends, especially in places where people never leave (ie: Pediatrics, Mother/Baby, ICU).
While what they are doing isn’t right, it just takes time. I went through the same thing with the nurses when I first started.