I have been a CNA for four years now. I became a CNA and started nursing school in 2008. Before working, I pictured nurses and the work field to be a happy place and lots of team work. I applied at a nursing home, and got a rude awakening. The nurses were rude, lazy, and unappreciative of your job. We were told by the DON that we are replaceable. The workload was rough, especially working midnights with two whole halls. The nurses did not answer call lights, do not help reposition, and ignore you when you tell them about residents.
After dealing with this nursing home for a while, I decided to go to another one. This nursing home makes sure to stay staffed, more team work than the other, but the nurses were still rude. I have a seen a pattern of cynical people, why become a nurse to complain about everything? On top of being rude to CNAs, some nurses are even rude to the residents! They do not pass out all their meds, do not their treatments, do not report all falls, and make no effort to go the extra mile.
Things have changed since the old days of nursing, more things are required of nurses and you rarely have the chance to interact with residents due to excessive paperwork, but attitude is not the way to help it. Not all nurses are disrespectful to CNAs, but most are. Why? Because our title is not the same as yours, do not make us lesser human beings! I am so sick of being called just a CNA as well.