I work as an LPN at a LTC facility and depend on CNAs to do their jobs.  When I have a free moment, I try to help the CNAs assigned to my floor with toileting,  changing, etc.  The other nurses and I have noticed in the last year that several of our CNAs have started to have very negative attitudes and complain about anything from their schedule,  being asked to do THEIR jobs, why nurses are not helping them,  etc.  Patient care at times has been less than acceptable and when one of us nurses asks the CNA to re-check the resident, they make some sort of excuse, refuse, or grumble about having to work more.  It wears on all of us and makes for a very unpleasant working condition!

We nurses know that we are supposed to write up the CNAs when we have a behavior problem, but if we do, the CNA will make our job "a living hell".  We have spoken to the DON and other management, but do not get much response other than "write them up or make them clock out and go home" if there is a problem.  Let's see... if that happened, our car tires could be slashed, cars keyed, resident care could be abusive, etc. 

I worked as a CNA when I was younger so I know what their job entails- it can be hard work.  As an LPN, though, I have other responsibilites that I have to do (med passing, assessments, treatments, feedings, lots of charting, conversing with drs. and families, new orders, etc.) so I don't have a lot of time to watch CNAs do their work properly.

 How is the CNA situation in your facility and do you have any suggestions or comments?