Being trained by CNA to do procedures

[Ginger80]

I'm a new grad LPN, and the other day, a resident where I work required a fleet enema. I have never done one yet (only on the mannequins at school ). The CNA there offered to show me how to do it.

Which brings me to this question: Are nurses "allowed" to be shown techniques, etc., by someone with less "education" than them?

Would I have had to call my supervisor?

[caliotter3]

The legality only comes into play if something goes wrong and someone questions what went on. Imagine yourself on a witness stand testifying that you were taught by a CNA. That is the reason I would verify things with a supervisor and definitely read and learn the policies and procedures.

[OttawaRPN]

A similar situation happened in a place I worked but it was the CNA's complaining about giving enemas and suppositories. Turns out in my state enemas and suppositories are considered medication therefore the CNA's could not perform the procedures. I believe it would be if the enema had anything besides water in it. Anyway.....you're in Canada so it may be a possibility; I really don't know.

I knew you were asking per regulations and not being snippy about the fact they it was a CNA etc... Some things get lost in translation when communication by type only. So my advice is ask your charge or DON; they should know.

Same in my province, unregulated care providers don't do enemas or supps so, obviously, would not be able to demonstrate to an LPN/RN the process.

Ginger, you really should be looking into your facility's policies and procedures or asking management rather than asking for opinions here.

[lilbearzmom]

It's an enema, not an IV! You might be shocked to know the things that CNAs know that you don't.

[mikeicurn, ASN, RN]

because citing "this is how I was trained", when the trainer was in fact a CNA, .

I wouldn't really worry about this if I were you. You said you had done enemas on mannequins, so I assume that at some point in time you were formally trained by either a CNA instructor, or Nursing instructor. Just because a CNA showed you how they do a skill, doesn't mean they trained you.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I would have had the resident (I'm talking physician resident) show me, politely turning down the CNA, telling her that as a nurse, you have to be trained by a licensed, trained, professional for that specific procedure. Enemas are ordered by a doctor, we have to get them out of our pyxus. They are a medication. Where I work, nurses provided medications, maybe LTC is different. I'd check w/ policy at that LTC.

[OttawaRPN]

It's an enema, not an IV! You might be shocked to know the things that CNAs know that you don't.

If the OP's LTC's policy is that CNA don't do enemas, but she's shown this procedure by a CNA, then she could be disciplined for allowing the CNA to work out of scope of practice. I would recommend to check your P&P before initiating procedures.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

Am I the only one who is completely floored that you graduated from your LPN program and never gave an enema?? We were doing enemas within the first month of clinicals. For heavens sakes, grab the box--the instructions are in there somewhere. Yeah, yeah, I know, you have to have stuff checked off but seriously? It's not rocket science.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

This may sound awful, but I'm so glad a PCT (our version of CNA) showed me how to change a bed, do a bath, transfer a patient, etc. A lot of my RN preceptors were not techs in the past and didn't often do "those things."

[smartnurse1982]

I know they may show you,nut who is going to comp you?

[smartnurse1982]

I don't know and I do disagree to a certain extent. Do newly licensed physicians get taught by Physicians assistants how to do certain skills?

Who makes sure the cna's are doing it right? In my state,an lpn can show an rn some things but can't comp an rn. But each state differs I guess. I wonder why the other nurses can't show you? I never,while on orientation,followed a cna around but my state doesn't let them take bp,insert foleys,or give enemas,so I guess it would have been a waste of time.(btw,I was a cna prior to becoming a nurse.) I know I would have been nervous to show a new nurse some skills.

[smartnurse1982]

Oh me oh my. How silly I am. She offered to show you and there is nothing wrong with that. I thought you were following her for orientation. That was nice of her very sweet actually.

[dianah, ASN]

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