Articles by Linda Leekley BS RN on ArticleSnatch.com

6 Surefire Ways for CNAs & Nurses to Work as a Team

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:14:06 -0400

Teamwork is great, right? Chances are, everyone at your workplace would agree that client care improves when nurses and CNAs work together as a team. Unfortunately, it can be a challenge! Here are some recent comments from CNAs across the country: Valnecia said, "I respect nurses for their education but they should realize that CNAs are their eyes and ears with the patients. I feel the nurses at my job do not take me seriously-as if I don't know what I am talking about. We need to learn to work together as a team and not against each other." Guadalupe said, "Nurses and CNAs should have respect for one another; this would not only help the patients but create a better work environment." Heather said, "I know we don't have as much schooling as nurses but we're not dumb and that's how I feel that we're treated sometimes. And, some of my fellow CNAs are terrible, too. They throw child-like tantrums when you ask them for some help. I just wish everyone would work together as a team." Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services completed the first national study of American nursing assistants. **End Summary** Topics: CNAs]]> nurses]]> teamwork in health care]]> nursing assistants]]> nursing teamwork]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

How to Develop & Retain Top-Notch CNAs

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:47:11 -0400

Picture this: a couple of nursing assistants have quit and you are scrambling to replace them. You've taken the time to advertise for CNAs, interview prospective employees and complete the entire hiring process. Now you cross your fingers that these new CNAs will stick around. But, do you really want to leave it to luck? The best thing you can do to make sure that both time and money haven't been wasted is to orient your new nursing assistants. Nurse aides have the least amount of pre-employment training of any other clinical employee. Your CNAs may come to you with only weeks of clinical schooling. As a result, they require—and deserve—an extensive introduction to their jobs. A thorough orientation has many benefits—for your workplace, your new employees and you. These benefits include: Reduced anxiety. By providing new employees with specific guidelines, an orientation helps them know what is expected of them from day one. Increased job satisfaction. Orientation helps ensure that new employees are well-prepared to perform their assigned duties instead of feeling overwhelmed, stressed out and ready to leave! Time savings for supervisors and coworkers. A thorough orientation makes new employees self-sufficient sooner— **End Summary** Topics: CNAs]]> nursing assistants]]> nurse aides]]> CNA orientation]]> health care orientation]]> CNA orientation program]]> employee retention]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

CNAs and Nurses: Can't We All Just Get Along?

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:40:36 -0400

Nurses and nursing assistants are all part of the same team and have the same goal: provide quality care to clients in need. So why is it that nurses and CNAs don't always see eye to eye? Here's what a few CNAs across the U.S. had to say recently: Alisha said, "I have a lot of respect for nurses but some of them are only nice to the CNAs who are their friends. Nurses and CNAs should practice teamwork and respect each other's rights. Otherwise we are not going to have a peaceful work environment." Shay said, "It takes communication. If we are not able to get to something that a patient really needs urgently (like a walk or to be turned), we should at least tell the nurse that we are busy so she can delegate elsewhere or take care of the patient herself." Barbara said, "I'm lucky. I work with nurses who listen to CNA input and thank us when we report problems with our clients. But, as CNAs, if we can't show our worth by being an important part of the healthcare team, guess who gets the axe when times get lean? **End Summary** Topics: CNAs]]> nurses]]> teamwork in health care]]> nursing assistants]]> nursing team]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

Do You Really Need a CNA Inservice Provider?

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:02:57 -0500

Is part of your job as a nursing supervisor or nurse educator to develop monthly inservices for your nursing assistants? If so, you know that this can be a time-consuming process. Perhaps you've considered purchasing "ready-made" topics from a company that sells CNA inservices. You're really tempted, but are not sure it's worth the cost. Here are five tips for helping you make that decision: Add Up Your Time. Next time you need to prepare an inservice, keep track of how much time you spend. Remember to include the time it takes you to think of a topic, come up with learning objectives, research and write the inservice, create some handouts, develop a quiz and produce an evaluation form. Chances are, this will take at least 10 hours of your time. Multiply that by your salary and you'll probably be shocked at what one inservice is costing your workplace! By purchasing inservices, you avoid "reinventing the wheel" and can bring down your cost per inservice considerably. Do a Quality Check. No matter how knowledgeable you are about the nursing field, creating inservices may not come easily to you. **End Summary** Topics: CNA inservices]]> CNAs]]> nursing assistants]]> nurse aides]]> nursing supervisors]]> nurse educator]]> quality CNA inservices]]> CNA inservice provider]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

Delegation: How Nurses & CNAs Work as a Team

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:33:45 -0500

When work is delegated to a CNA by a nurse, what does that really mean? Here's the definition of delegation: Delegation is when a nurse entrusts the performance of a selected nursing task to someone who is qualified, competent and able to perform that task. Every state's Board of Nursing has regulations about which tasks may be delegated by nurses to nursing assistants. Most states have certain tasks that can be delegated without first assessing each individual client. These tasks include routine things like weighing, repositioning or feeding a client. However, in most cases, nurses follow a five step delegation process. In this process, the nurse: 1. Assesses each client thoroughly before delegating any tasks to a CNA. 2. Plans how the task should be performed, based on the client's individual needs. 3. Trusts the nursing assistant with the task, but because the CNA is working under the nurse's license, the nurse remains responsible for the task. 4. Gives the CNA clear instructions and adequate supervision. 5. Follows up to see how the task was performed and how the client responded. As you can see, delegation is a decision-making process that requires knowledge and skill. **End Summary** Topics: CNA]]> nurses]]> nursing assistant]]> delegation]]> nurse aide]]> nursing team]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

CNAs and Nurses: It's All about Respect!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:52:00 -0500

Throughout the health care world, nurses and nursing assistants work together in teams. And, respect among team members is important for efficient and effective work. But, which should come first: giving or receiving respect? If you ask your co-workers, they might say things like: "I'm not giving anyone respect who doesn't show me respect first." "I'd better show those nurses some respect so that they like me." "My supervisor deserves respect and so do I." If you take a look at these three responses, you'll probably agree that the first one sounds pretty aggressive. Let's face it: if everyone had that attitude, no one would ever make the first move! Instead, everyone would be waiting for someone else to be respectful first. The second response shows a lack of confidence; it's more passive. Respect is not about liking or disliking someone. Two co-workers might not enjoy each other's company, but they can still respect each other. The last response is the most assertive response. Remember-being assertive means that you expect to both give and receive respect. **End Summary** Topics: CNAs]]> nurses]]> respect in health care]]> nursing teamwork]]> inservice]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

10 Great Ideas for CNA Inservices

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:38:04 -0500

As a nursing supervisor, you are all too familiar with the basic (and often mandatory) inservice information presented to nursing assistants. At health care organizations across the U.S., CNAs sit through lessons on standard precautions, abuse and neglect, confidentiality and fire safety. Other common topics include nutrition, pain management and a variety of disease processes. Without question, these are all necessary inservices for nursing assistants. However, to develop a team of top-notch CNAs, it's important to go beyond what is necessary or mandated. Coming up with pertinent topics can be a challenge when you're trying to fit inservice education into your already packed schedule. Here are some ideas for inservices that will get your nursing assistants thinking outside the box—and have a real impact on the quality of their client care. 1. Teach about Being Assertive Top-notch CNAs are assertive people. They understand the difference between communicating passively, aggressively and assertively. They use their assertiveness skills to deal with difficult people and challenging situations. And, because they respect the rights of others without ignoring their own rights, they are excellent team players. **End Summary** Topics: CNA inservices]]> CNAs]]> nursing assistants]]> nurse aides]]> nursing supervisors]]> inservice ideas]]> health care]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

CNA Inservices That Really Count!

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:27:03 -0500

It's a fact of life: your nursing assistants must meet annual inservice requirements. In most states, this means a minimum of twelve hours of inservices per year although that number jumps to 24 in some states. But, how do you make the most of the time you spend on CNA continuing education? How do you ensure that your inservices are helping to develop top-notch nursing assistants? And, what do surveyors look for when they review inservice records? Here are four basic guidelines that will keep you on track: 1. Any inservice you give should contain "portable" information. This means that the knowledge your nurse aides gain must serve them in any job—not just at your workplace. For example, if you review how to take blood pressures and instruct your CNAs on the importance of documenting vital signs, that's an inservice. Your nursing assistants can put that knowledge to use no matter where they might work in the future. But, if you pass out a new vital signs flow sheet and teach your aides how to fill it out, that knowledge is workplace-specific and would not count as an inservice. 2. Inservices should consider the learning needs of your CNAs. **End Summary** Topics: CNA Inservices]]> CNAs]]> nursing assistants]]> nurse aides]]> aides]]> nursing supervisors]]> learning needs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

Nurses & CNAs: Be Smart, Creative, Lifelong Learners

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:25:25 -0500

For people in the field of nursing, it's vital to have an active, open mind and a true desire to keep on learning. Things change rapidly in health care; nurses and CNAs can't "rest on their laurels" and claim that they know all they need to know to do their jobs. And that's a good thing! Studies have shown that an hour of increased brain activity can make a person smarter, more energetic, creative and open to new ways of thinking. Of course, completing inservices or reading medical information online are two ways to increase your brain activity. However, there are countless ways to exercise your mind that have nothing to do with medicine—but will still help keep your mind stimulated and ready for "on the job" learning. Here are just a few: Listen to a radio station that you normally don't enjoy. Try to find something interesting about the music you hear. Whenever you find yourself waiting (at a red light, in line at the grocery store or while "on hold" on the phone), use that time to stretch your mind. For example, run through the multiplication tables in your head; **End Summary** Topics: nurse]]> CNA]]> lifelong learners]]> learning on the job]]> exercise the brain]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

How to Shower Your CNAs with Praise

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:51:59 -0500

Can you imagine your workplace without hardworking nursing assistants? They are your eyes and ears with your patients. And, because they provide a high percentage of the hands-on client care, they have the power to make or break the reputation of your company. Yet, consider these startling facts: · Nearly half of the people who quit their jobs do so because they don't feel appreciated by their supervisors. · Praise is the least expensive-and least used-management tool. · Many supervisors say they don't praise their employees because they are too busy. Health care supervisors are a very busy group. Recent changes in the health care arena have meant that there are fewer people to do more work. And, a lot of that work falls on the shoulders of the supervisor. However, your job will be easier in the long run if you take a moment to notice and recognize good behavior among your nursing assistants. So, what is praise? Praise is not flattery. It is a sincere expression of appreciation for a job well done. Praise is encouragement, motivation and reinforcement of positive behavior. What's the best way to give praise? Look for signs that praise is warranted. **End Summary** Topics: nursing assistants]]> aides]]> CNAs]]> nursing supervisors]]> praise employees]]> retain aides]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you want help developing a team of top-notch certified nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, In the Know has what you need. Try our sample inservice topic today! It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know

5 Ways to Make Your CNA Inservices Memorable

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:21:13 -0500

It's a fact. Continuing education is an annual requirement for nursing assistants. It's also true that ongoing education reduces turnover and enhances job satisfaction among CNAs. But, how can you know that the information you're giving your aides is "sticking?" Here are some staggering statistics about adult learners. Over a span of three days, adults retain: * 10% of information that is read * 30% of information that is seen * 50% of information that is seen and heard * 90% of information that is said and done (applying learning to real life situations) Many factors affect adult learning retention including age, level of prior education and motivation. It's a tall order for any educator to motivate learners, accommodate different learning styles and keep his or her teaching fresh and interesting. Here are five strategies for ensuring that your nurse aides actually retain the information you are giving them. 1. Focus on several different learning styles. If possible, give your learners a choice between interactive group study and contemplative self-study. Make sure that aides who are studying solo know who they can approach with any questions about the material. **End Summary** Topics: nursing assistants]]> nurse aides]]> CNAs]]> CNA inservices]]> learning retention]]> nurse educators]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Linda H. Leekley BS, RN President, In the Know, Inc. Do you need help developing a team of top-notch nursing assistants? With more than 120 inservice topics, written just for CNAs, In the Know has what you need. It's popular. It's free. And, it's yours by going to => In the Know .