A story of respect CNAs may like :)

Published Jul 24, 2010

316 Posts

Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.

A few years back, the agency I work for had me assigned in a Federal facility in the deep south. I was assigned on a nuero/ ortho floor.

The facility did use restraints, but very sparingly. Most of the time for folks 'not with it', they had these rooms on each unit called 'restraint free rooms'. Each room had two to four beds and a desk with a internet capable laptop. The job was basically like sitting. You would get dementia folks, confused folks, and violent folks and basically do everything for them except give meds (this included tube feedings, inserting/ taking out/ emptying catheters, etc.)

The restraint free room was one of the worst jobs in the facility. It was the job none of the other CNAs wanted. You were trapped in room for 8 hours (or longer if your relief was late.) Sometimes you would be hit, scratched, verbally abused, etc. by the patient. You would have to BEG for a lunch break or smoke break. Some of the nurses would not back you up if a patient was getting agitated. They felt like 'you just wanted to put them asleep so you could just surf the web and watch TV'

The night shift house supervisor would always "check in" about twice a night to 'inspect' and make sure everything was 'on spot'. Her standards were VERY STRICT. The lady had a MS in Nursing and had done nothing but desk work and staffing for many years and obviously had little experience with dealing with confused patients. She would insist that the bed be immaculate with them laying down completely covered at all times, amongst other picky and sort of unrealistic things.

One night she came into the restraint-free room, took one look, and marched immediately to the nurse that had the patient. The patient had sleep apnea and was prescribed a CPAP by the doctor to be worn every night. I tried to get him to wear it, but he would get very combative. I had told the nurse earlier, but oh well.

She came back with the nurse, seething. "THESE PEOPLE," she said to the nurse, "are here to MAKE SURE these patients wear their gear. YOU need to make sure they DO IT."

I turned around to the Big Nurse. I told her, "I have tried to get him to wear it, but he is confused and gets a bit combative. But, you know us CNAs hardly get ANY training. Some places it is only a few weeks. But you have a Master's. If you could show me the technique, I would be happy to learn from you."

The Big Nurse approached the patient. "Now, Mr. M... you need to have............."

POW! The Big Nurse's glasses went FLYING!

I turned to the Big Nurse and said, "You know... If an RN would have said the patient is non-compliant with a CPAP, you would have just nodded and told her to document it. Why is it if a CNA tells you something like this, we are being LAZY?"

The other nurse was trying to conceal laughter. The Big Nurse, pride hurt, changed her expressions. "You are right." She walked out.

Of course, a dose of Ativan was forthcoming for the patient after that.

From then on out, I never had any more 'check ins'. If I needed nurses to come in with meds because someone was getting agitated, they came. They never thought I was being lazy ever again. My contract lasted a year and a half more after that.

I even helped troubleshoot the Big Nurses computer a time or two.

Hope this story makes some folks' day. If any one has other CNA respect stories, I would love to hear them. It is rare sometimes in this field.