And now . ..a few observations about CNA's -- from a nurse on the floor.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Many of you are great, dedicated employees. I know you work HARD. Yours is a physical job, and I've done it myself a few times, and I was exhausted. I see how you are pulled constantly, not only to do your job, but to assist all the nurses you have assigned to you. You also do a job that many in our lazy society would turn their noses up at. You are special people -- and your work is invaluable. You should be paid more. We should ALL be paid more.

Many of us nurses are new, are not that great at time management, and so you are left to pay for it -- we call you in, pull you here and there, and it must totally drive you nuts some days.

Other observations: Some CNA's seem to be in their own world sometimes, and not interested in pt care. They can't seem to understand priorities. I will say, "can you please place this IV now as this patient needs a drip started STAT," and some will say, "sorry, I have to do all my accuchecks now." Sometimes you have to go with the flow and realize nurses and patients have priorities. I just LOVE the techs who will say, "Yes -- let me get to that for you, and be pleasant about it.'

And I also have to make one wish: that texting on the job, cell phones and other devices should not be allowed. I can't carry one and fool with it all day -- but I see our techs constantly on their phones, texting and reading messages. Drives me nuts when I'm running like crazy and could use a little help.

I have been placed on the floor as a tech, and it helped me to have a lot of compassionf for CNA's. Id just like ONE day, however, when I could drag my techs along and allow them to totally understand what I'm dealing with day to day. I would like them to stand with me as I get chewed by a manager , or a doc, or a patient for letting something slide. Yes, I earn more -- but not all THAT much more -- and I worked really, really hard to get my license.

And I don't ask you to do something because I'm trying to make your work too hard -- I'm practicing the art of delegation. I need you to do these things so I can provide better coordination of care and perhaps ALSO get out of my shift within the hour. I have filled SO many water pitchers today, covered SO many pts with blankets -- all things you could have done -- so I'm behind now, not to mention, exhausted.

For those of you who can hang with me, work with me, communicate well with me, be a team member -- you are worth your weight in GOLD!!! Those of you with superior IV skills -- I worship at your feet!!:bow:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One other note to techs -- I thank many of you also, for helping me get through the day. We share many laughs, and you are the light hearted person I can gripe with often -- because many of my "peers" are too crabby and stuffy, and perhaps I don't dare cross them with a 10 foot pole. But you are my buddy -- you really help me through the day, and I appreciate it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, ER, camp nursing.

I appreciate your note. I too believe the good aids are WAY under appreciated and underpaid.

It feels great when you're "in-sink" with your aid and you work well as a team. Love it when they think ahead and take initiative to do things.

I must work in a different part of the country.. none of our CNA's were able to start IV's (or Foley Cath's) for us. Where are you located?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
I must work in a different part of the country.. none of our CNA's were able to start IV's (or Foley Cath's) for us. Where are you located?

I was about to post the same thing! Nurses do all the IVs and foley insertions where I'm at.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was about to post the same thing! Nurses do all the IVs and foley insertions where I'm at.

was asking the same thing. i think we can ask our CNAs to remove foley but not insert and NO to IV starts!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yep. In the great state of AR, our CNAs have a high school education and possibly a three-six week training course in bed baths, skin care, etc. Luv em - can't live without 'em and the ones who incorporate compassion into the job description make a huge diff in the patient experience/ But really no foley or IV care - that's all on the RN

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

There are some techs that I work with that have a scope similar to a medical assistant--they can do accuchecks, blood draws, not sure about IVs, but there scope is wider than that of a CNA. Maybe that's who the OP was referring to?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That made me feel appreciated. I am a CNA, recent LVN graduate and NCLEX taker (still waiting for my results!). I work at a facitlity acute/ltc in the night shift, and in our morning rounds, it is my job, the lvn and rn to do patient care (bed bath, etc). Most of the patients are on ventilators and are very heavy, dead weight, so it is impossible to do it all by myself. At my job, administration says that we have to work as a team. When I go in to get my assignmnet and see what LVN and Rn I am paired up with, I am either excited or dissapointed(some of the nurses dont' help when they are supposed to. Anyhow, I feel that i am a great CNA, and do everything that my nurses ask me to do, even when I am busy, because I know they are busy too. I do feel appreciated at my job, but do wish I could get paid more. Hopefull I won't be a CNA for much longer if I pass my boards!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

Oh SoundOfMusic, I agree so much!!! CNA's/techs that know their job and do them are SO worth their weight in gold, and I too want to thank them! I totally feel it on the days that we don't have one. Yeah, I can put the pt on a bedpan, I can go get them a warm blanket and help them to the bedside commode, and I don't mind doing those things, but when I have a tech that is willing to help, then I can move along to the things that only I can do. So, techs and CNA's, thank you from the bottom of my heart...I'm sure you don't hear it very often, but your job is important and your work is very much appreciated! :) BTW, our ER techs are qualified to do straight stick blood draws and insert foley's but CNA's on the floor cannot. Our tech's cannot start IV's...yeah, where do you work that they can?? :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute care, LTC, Med/surg.

Hear, hear! I agree with MissERN-a good CNA/tech is like having an extra right arm, you can get so much good care done, and a poor one is such a total drag. (I was a CNA before I was a nurse. Best training you can get) They do the essential work most people would rather not do, and get less pay and less thanks than anyone else on the floor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MED SURG.

Hello. I am also a nursing assistant but im currently in nursing school. :heartbeat:heartbeatI know that we are there to help with the paitents care and that is fine. But alot of nurses where i work are lazy and when they dont want to do something they always try to get out of it. Or there are others that ask for way to much if you see that a urinal is full, empty it dont come back out to the station and tell me its full....Most nurses need to understand that if they would try to work as a team with me instead of asking me to do a hundered different things maybe the night would go better for her because Im not gonna be nice to someone who tries to take advantage of me. :banghead:That is what I think :twocents::twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment