My dad's regular GNA quit and he has been assigned the only GNA I highly dislike. She is the most unfriendly person with a bad attitude. I don't like hiw she is with my dad or other residents. I told the unit manager my concerns and he reluctantly agreed to have the other GNA's rotate with my dad. This isn't ideal because I think he should have a permanent gna like everyone else but at least I won't have the rotten egg GNA. Is it unheard of to deny a gna from caring for our loved one if we are unhappy with them? I feel like the manager didn't really care about my concerns regarding the GNA. I feel like some GNA's can be horrible and never get fired (at least where my dad is). Am I crazy for requesting someone else, any one else?
You have here a paid, professional caregiver whose attitude and manner are so abysmal that nobody is happy to let her near their loved ones.
And yet, it seems that nobody is prepared to make the formal complaints which would lead to disciplinary steps being taken which would lead - assuming she didn't mend her ways - to dismissal.
Why?
You think she's unfriendly, you don't like her attitude, okay. But how does your Dad feel about her? And is there anything she actually does, or doesn't do, that makes her a poor caregiver?
And, I just wonder, has there been any kind of whispering campaign at this nursing home that has led to this caregiver being undeservedly disliked? If everyone's talking about her behind their hands but nobody has anything specific to pin on her, well - as I say, I just wonder.
I'd put continuity of care over an attractive personality any day of the week.
But, to answer the question, you have every right to voice your concerns and preferences about your father's care, yes. And of course you also have every right to find a better nursing home if the poor attitudes are becoming part of the culture.
DJl, what specifically makes you feel that the "GNA" is a rotten egg? What has she or he done, or not done?
We want to help you, but we need more information about your Dad's situation in the nursing home, especially about the gna.
How does a geriatric nursing assistant differ from a CNA who works in a long term care facility/nursing home?
What is a "permanent gna"?
I know that sometimes it seems like the GNAs/CNAs/nursing assistants are "permanently" assigned to specific residents because the CNAs work on the same unit or hallway every day that they work. But your situation sounds like each GNA is assigned 1 or 2 residents and takes care of only those 1-2 residents and no one else cares for those residents. How many hours does this gna take care of your Dad &/or other residents? Who takes care of your Dad & the other residents if the "permanent gna" isn't working?
How many residents live in this nursing home? How many residents live on each "Unit" or "Hallway"?
What has this gna done that makes you think that she/he is the "most unfriendly person with a bad attitude"?
We would like to help, but we need more information. Thank you.
I'm so sorry to hear how you dislike how this nursing assistant is treating your dad. I know its hard to see our loved ones treated poorly or rudely. I too was sensitive to how nurses, doctors and other health care professionals treated my father.
I think its an issue of volume and the type of work involved. I do believe like you that there are bad people working in nursing homes. It is scary. One story had a family putting in a secret camera in the room to document the abuse.
I know you only want the best for your dad. If you feel you are not being taken seriously, maybe talk to a person higher up in the nursing home. I would start looking at other options. Maybe moving to a different facility might be better.
Keep looking out for your dad. He deserves to be treated with respect.