I'm a CNA, not a MAID.

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I've been looking for jobs, and these places want CNA's to cook, do laundry, clean, and drive people places. Um.. maybe I got this wrong, but I dont remember learning any of these things during my CNA training. I REFUSE to clean your house, cook, or be your driver. If you want a cook, get a chef. If you want you house cleaned, get a housekeeper. If you want a driver.. well, you get where I'm going.. LOL.... just had to vent about that... i just get sick of people expecting CNA's to be servants.

What do you think?

Specializes in LTC.

I love my job however I now understand the significance of being able to provide 1-on-1 care. You don't get to spend much time with one patient as you would like when you have 5 others to attend to. Some nursing homes assign 1 CNA to more than 6 patients.

I'm pretty sure ALL nursing homes assign more than 6 patients!

I've worked in all three settings (acute, home, and long-term). I only had one job in home health. I was way overwhelmed as the client was very advanced in age and had a series of health problems I was not familiar with. My responsibilities were light housekeeping, help with ADLs, medication reminders and food preparation. The pay was fairly decent, but it was live-in. I wouldn't do live-in again just because there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed. I can't get good sleep when I feel responsible for someone else's well-being round the clock like that. More than anything it was just lonely.

Long-term care wasn't easy. Others are right, you do end up with more than 6. Facilities I worked at, anywhere from 7 to 9 during day shift, 10-14 on pm or swing, 20 plus on night shift. I liked nights the best. In the facilities the closest we did to housekeeping was emptying out trashes into the main trash, and at the end of the day dumping the big bag of laundry. We didn't do much else besides specific to CNA besides passing and clearing meal trays. Not too bad at all, I'm actually trying to get back into LTC just because I do miss it.

Acute care was my last job. I worked in a major metropolitan hospital. Trauma center. WAYYY different than the other two settings. We didn't do any housekeeping besides keeping garbage off the floors and keeping the rooms tidy as much as possible. All other cleaning including emptying the trash was the environmental services' job. We were responsible only for emptying the linen plastic bags into a designated room for laundry to pick up. I liked it, but the job can be very stressful. Long term care the patients are way more stable. It's not life or death every single day.

Having worked all three, I liked LTC the best. The nurses are right there with you if you need them, as opposed to home health, which is a lot of liability in my opinion.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Hmmm. I just had a CNA help me with my laundry, take me to the doctor and pharmacy and help me with groceries. She got $12.50/h, and she didn't whine at all. A job is a job. And she did hers so well, Olive Garden was on me.

Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.
Hmmm. I just had a CNA help me with my laundry, take me to the doctor and pharmacy and help me with groceries. She got $12.50/h, and she didn't whine at all. A job is a job. And she did hers so well, Olive Garden was on me.
1. A CNA is not a person who takes you to the doctor, pharmacy and does your laundry. Yes, some do that but I should NOT be EXPECTED to do those things by so many potentials who think I should be greatful for the opportunity at $7.50 per hour. It's disrespectful and downright degrading. OBVIOUSLY you are not one of the people im referring to. take that "a job is a job" line elsewhere.

okay, sorry. i came off like a jerk... but i felt like you dismissed my genuine concerns by saying a "job is a job". its about respect and dignity. your cna worked for a decent wage and did many things for you. fine. but many aren't so lucky (including me). some clients take advantage of us bc they know we need jobs. not cool.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

A CNA who works in someone's home is called a Home Health Aide where I work and their job description does include housework, laundry, putting groceries away etc. Why is that degrading?

Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.
A CNA who works in someone's home is called a Home Health Aide where I work and their job description does include housework, laundry, putting groceries away etc. Why is that degrading?

The tasks on their own are not degrading. Some people really need the help and I fully respect that. i have done all those things and NEVER complained bc i was treated with respect and compensated well. i loved my job actually.

(IHMO)The thought that people want to hire "CNA's" to do literally EVERYTHING for them and only want to pay them as little as the law allows is degrading.

i have nothing against HHA's i just think taking advantage of us in this economy by paying so little on purpose bc we need job is not right at all. i see this all the time and it upsets me. being a CNA or a HHA is very hard work and we deserve to be compensated accordingly and treated with respect.

NO OFFENSE TO COMPANIONS OR HHA's You are the best!! :bowingpur

(maybe i did not express my point a well as i thought in previous posts)

i think you better quit while your ahead...like i said...iam a lpn and do all that..yes,it is in a state run home,and with other staff...but their are lpns that do just what your saying...

Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.
i think you better quit while your ahead...like i said...iam a lpn and do all that..yes,it is in a state run home,and with other staff...but their are lpns that do just what your saying...

Ummmmm..... i'm not talking about LPN's or RNs. kudos for doing what you do. but nothing i said has anything to do with a nurse and you are not getting paid min wage and you shouldn't. honestly, this thread has nothing to do with your tasks as an LPN. i don't even know why you keep commenting bc your situation is completely different from mine and many other CNA's

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
i have nothing against HHA's i just think taking advantage of us in this economy by paying so little on purpose bc we need job is not right at all. i see this all the time and it upsets me. being a CNA or a HHA is very hard work and we deserve to be compensated accordingly and treated with respect.

I can't argue with that! Although you mentioned this isn't an LPN thread both RNs and LPNs are asked to do the family's laundry, scrub the bathroom tiles, function as a waitress at their dinner party, etc "because we're not doing anything anyway". Grrrrrr.

NO OFFENSE TO COMPANIONS OR HHA's You are the best!! :bowingpur

Yes!

Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.
I can't argue with that! Although you mentioned this isn't an LPN thread both RNs and LPNs are asked to do the family's laundry, scrub the bathroom tiles, function as a waitress at their dinner party, etc "because we're not doing anything anyway". Grrrrrr.

Yes!

You are 100% right. Nurses so often appear to not be doing anything. I guess mountains of paperwork and hours on the phone with Dr. offices and pharmacies doesn't count. lol

Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
You are 100% right. Nurses so often appear to not be doing anything. I guess mountains of paperwork and hours on the phone with Dr. offices and pharmacies doesn't count. lol

It's just a misunderstanding I think. When I was a CNA I thought the nurses were just sitting around..but when I went to nursing school, I realized that the responsibilities that come with being a nurse is completely different.

i came here looking for info on the CNA state test and this thread caught my attention...sorry if i stepped on your toes....

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