All medical personnel deal with complaints from patients and consumers at one point or another, but CNAs get it in such a way that it tends to mar the profession. While doctors and nurses make enough money and have enough authority to still attract people to the profession, nursing assistants can have a difficult time because they don’t have a lot of the authority, but still have the complaints! Dealing with patient complaints is mostly a matter of understanding where they come from so you can do your best to head them off before they come to pass.
There’s Not Enough Time for My Needs
This is one of the most common patient complaints a certified nursing assistant receives from patients. This is because CNAs are almost always over-scheduled and have to rush through each patient in order to get everyone done. While this problem won’t be solved any time soon, there are ways to mitigate it. A certified nursing assistant should make sure to take a few moments out to fulfill a simple request, such as asking for a book or for something different to eat. While this doesn’t take too much time and effort on your part, it does make the patient feel as though they are being listened to and their needs are being met. The other important thing to do is to prioritize and be willing to change up your schedule a bit as needs be. For example, a patient who falls or needs help could have priority over someone who needs a bath, at least for the moment. Prioritizing properly can really help patients feel more in control.
The Nursing Assistant Was Talking Down to Me
Surprisingly, even non-responsive (coma) patients have reported and complained about CNAs talking about them and down to them while he or she was unconscious. Others complain about CNAs talking about them behind their back or even divulging personal information. Obviously, all of these things are wrong. Even if a patient is in a coma, never assume that he or she can’t hear you and always speak to your patients, not just about them. And of course, never divulge personal information about your patients to anyone!
How Can You be Qualified With So Little Training
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about this complaint except work as hard as you can to prove yourself. Many people are suspicious of nursing assistants because the education period is short and the practicum is only about seventy five hours long. Nurses and CNAs fire back with the fact that nursing assistants are under supervision at all times and under very tight on the job supervision while being educated. As for the complaints, all you can really do is hold your head high and do the very best work you can so you can prove that you are worthy of working in the nursing profession.
Complaints are a common part of any profession and the health profession is particularly sensitive to them. As a medical worker, you deal with vulnerable people at their most delicate times of life and the slightest whiff of mismanagement, perceived or true, is enough to bring down the wrath of complaints. All you can do is work to the best of your abilities and keep your ethics in mind and you can get past the complaints with your integrity and your career intact.
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