the cnas have taken over!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Help, I'm in a situation that I really don't know what to do. I'm a new lpn, about a year and a half. I consider myself a very good nurse and very professional and very fair. However, the facility I am currently employed has a real problem.You see, the cna's think they run the floor, and no one is doing a thing about it. They have blatantly told me that these were "their residents, and they can take care of them better than I can" I have complained to the don and nothing is done about it. The other two nurses that work the floor with me have been there for years, as have most of the aids, and they have been allowed to behave like this. The other 3-ll nurses have complained also but nothing is every done. The don, I'M told is afraid of getting involved because the aids belong the a union and the nurses don't. The aids are constantly involving themselves in nursing conversations I'm having regarding care. They easedrop on conversations with nurses and doctors and family members. I think they even go through charts when no one is around. I was even told by our infection control nurse to be careful, that the aids will "report" you in a second, just to see a nurse in trouble or get fired. I was even told that the cnas had to sign off on bolus feedings, just to prove that the residents were getting their feedings. I put my foot down with that one and was called to the don's office. I now have a fellow nurse sign for them. I have never been in a facility where the cna's were so empowered. It's really scary. I'm really thinking of going into home care. Have already contacted an agency. Would appreciate some feedback with this one, Thankss.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by MylissaG

To JadedNurse,

OOOOH! Looks like I struck a nerve on that one!:chuckle This just goes to prove my point.....this is a power-trip issue. A few RNs on this forum like to feel like they part of an elite group, looking down their noses on anyone ranking below them. Were you ever a CNA? I think CNAs are very important to the RNs. What would they do without them? I am sure there are those CNAs who have made a bad name for the title I suppose, But I have no intention of being that person. I am heading the RN program next year if all goes as I have planned. I really hate the attitude I am seeing here coming from "professionals", RNs. Sure, we do work under the RNs, LPNs and cooperate accordingly. But I'll be damned if I will let some stuck-up RN look down on me simply because of "status" issues. Give me a break:)

ILet me point out to you that we are all expendable-Many hospitals utilize RN's only...RN's ARE an "elite" group-they work very hard for their education and they can do OUR jobs.....but we can't do theirs....We are NOT exactly equals-the RN is RESPONSIBLE for our actions....
Originally posted by MylissaG

To JadedNurse,

OOOOH! Looks like I struck a nerve on that one!:chuckle This just goes to prove my point.....this is a power-trip issue. A few RNs on this forum like to feel like they part of an elite group, looking down their noses on anyone ranking below them. Were you ever a CNA? I think CNAs are very important to the RNs. What would they do without them? I am sure there are those CNAs who have made a bad name for the title I suppose, But I have no intention of being that person. I am heading the RN program next year if all goes as I have planned. I really hate the attitude I am seeing here coming from "professionals", RNs. Sure, we do work under the RNs, LPNs and cooperate accordingly. But I'll be damned if I will let some stuck-up RN look down on me simply because of "status" issues. Give me a break:)

Are you refering to my post #82??? How did you infer that it was a power trip issue??? I was simply stating that licensure is an issue. No need to get hostile MylissaG.

And yes MylissaG, I was an aide while I was in nursing school (I mentioned that earlier in this thread). I fail to see the point you are trying to make...perhaps you're not really making one and just venting. So be it.

This went absolutely nowhere. :rolleyes:

If nurses want to be treated with respect and recognized as professionals, they should actively seek to treat the other personnel they work with on a daily basis with the same respect as they would want. The CNAs are a very important part of healthcare, but in this thread it is evident that they receive no more respect than many people here often complain they do not get.

Grow up as a profession and stop being bullies.

Hey Guys,

Let's all agree that we have all known CNA's who are not doing a good job, LPN's, and RN's too. We need to respect each persons role in the care setting. If there is a problem, attempt to set it right, going all the way up the administrative ladder as needed. Here, on the BB we can rant, rave, and let go some of our frustrations, but we need to show respect and concern for one another, no matter what the title. I appreciate a good CNA, a good LPN and a good RN. Most of us work hard and understand that we are doing a very hard job. Please, lets be kind to each other whenever we share some of our stories.

Specializes in ICU.

There is a vast difference in knowing what to do and knowing why you do it.

The difference between a, say, 12 week course ( I know many are shorter) and a 4 year degree is usually knowing the why we act as opposed to the what we should do.

Anyone can take a temperature - that is why they sell them over the counter but it takes knowledge to know why we take them at certain times and intervals and even more knowledge to evaluate the significance of the finding. People who are operating on "this is what we do" are often operating at the novice level on Benners framework. They see issues in black and white. They may know that temperatures are taken at 10,2,6,10,2,6 and variation to that routine becomes suspect and engenders ill feeling. Those who operate on "this is why we do something" may alter circumstances to fit the patient deciding that some patients should have their temperatures taken at different times or not at all.

I am not saying all CNA's are operating only on what rather than why anymore than all RNs operate on why rather than what but this is in essence the division between the two groups and often the source of divisiveness.

For those who, by limited knowledge base, are forced to work in the world of "this is what we do" change can and does become threatening - hence negative reactions.

One of the ways of building bridges and ensuring that conflict is minimised is to ensure that rationales for change and directions for care are understood.

Do I believe that some RNs think that the sun shines out of thier anatomy - yes!

Do I believe that some Aides/CNA's think that they are better than they are? Certainly

BUT!!! The best way to build bridges to develop mutual respect and to do that is to recognise where each one is coming from.

There is -in Pa-a big difference between LTC and acute care(duh) and as a LTC-LPN that's what I'm talking about.I have never been "put down" by an RN working "above Me" because I am well versed in my scope of practice and quite secure in my abilities.When I have come into contact with an RN who seems to have a problem with LPN's it really does not bother me-it's not MY problem-it's theirs.....I work in a facility with 9 units-2 of which are similar to what the original poster described.Why is it SO HARD for some people to understand that they must take direction from others? I accept that from my supervisors and the cna's I work with accept that from me.As a matter of fact the staff ENJOY WORKINGwTH me because I take the time to educate them about the residents....And I don't have a problem with anyone sitting at the desk doing their paperwork-because the good aides I work with have the good sense to get up and move when the doctor comes to make rounds or to be quiet when I get a call......but don't flop your orifice next to me when I am busy taking off orders-and spread out a magazine in my workspaceand don't pick up the phone to order lunch when the doc is making rounds and we are working behind the deskThe crowds on the other 2 units have NO respect for anyone-they are the ones that need set limits because they are inclined to take advantage.They are the kind of staff this thread was supposed to be about.The staff on those other units do not care for me because they can not intimidate me into looking the other way when they are slacking with their care or being rough...as many nurses will.....I am responsible for the well being of those residents when I am the charge nurse on that unit.If I have to remind you 4 days in row to please put shoes on Mrs Smith and on the 5th the family comes in and complains to me then YOU will be hearing about it-and I will take the time to explain that Mrs Smith has PVD and why her feet need to be protected...I sure have a Great deal more appreciation for most of the staff I work with after reading some of the posts to this thread-seems my co-workers are a cut above...

Just to clarify I was talking about what I percieved as disrespect from the LPN that I quoted. I agree with your post. I am a very good aide. I work for an Agency and have a lot of LTC facilities that I am the first person they try to get when they need help. I respect the LPN's and RN's authority over me. I just do not like to see CNA's disrespected because most of the CNA's I work with are very good and knowlegable in their work. I will do anything that I can to help out the liscenced staff but realixze the scope of my field. I was just pointing out that if you disrespect me when I am an aide I will quit. I will be a RN in 1.5 years. Don't think that I was disrespecting LPN's I would never do that. But I have worked with LPN's that I respect their position and authority but have no respect for them personally because of the way they handle themselves and treat their CNA's. But I will still do what they tell me too because I respect the Proffesion of being an LPN or RN. Just wanted to clear somethings up.

wow, glad I'm not the main target...

I worked my 2nd half of my weekend double today...I had to direct an aide three times to empty the urinal of patients in a timely manner...she is not in nursing school (not a knock on her!), and seems to be coasting...

I have another aide that was an IT supervisor (60,000/year) for 10 years (information technology) before being laid off, and now makes 9.75/hour and is on welfare to help make ends meet...she has drive, wants enroll in RN school (the IT field which she would love to return to, looks bleak, 2 years later) and is a great aide...

I respect them both, and value what each can offer OUR patients...

my point?

don't know, other than there has been too much drama here, please, let's respect ALL of our co-workers...

sean

Originally posted by hogan4736

oh, and mattsmom81, you quoted me as saying: "NONEXISTANT" HIPAA policy"

reread my post on page 7...I said "nonexistant HIPAA POLICE"...I was referring to the fact that HIPAA undercover police won't be hiding behind the chart rack waiting for a CNA to pick up a chart

get it right

you even quoted my post, to which you could have referred whilst typing your post...

Gee sorry...thought it might have been another typo.

Seriously about a half dozen nurses in MY facility have been let go recently because the 'HIPAA police' WERE watching/listening....so forgive us if we choose to take it to heart in my acute care hospital.

I believe the same law applies to LTC...whether LTC takes it seriously or not is up to LTC. Time will tell.

You and a few others have twisted this thread into an ugly 'them against us' fight, not what the OP intended.

My new tagline may have to be ' please don't feed the trolls'.

Goodnight all.

takes a troll to know one...

Seriously though, I willingly ate crow over my typo, so if you chose to hang it over my head, so be it...I can live w/ that...

BUT, saying CNAs "all want to be nurses but aren't smart enough," or "stick to bedpans and transport" (look it up mommy) can be taken only ONE way in my book.

Elitist and nothing more, nothing less...Sorry you disagree...I suppose we'll just agree to disagree...

Though I agree that it's DEFINITELY not what the OP intented, but do us a favor and re-read how it came down...

Tory made a comment, and sleep deprived made a deragatory one about CNAs that sparked the "twist" as you call it, not me, not lpn2b, not RN2b, not anyone else...It IS that simple, and it IS in print earlier in the thread.

sean

Specializes in ER.

This thread needs a cool down period.

I'm locking it, and anyone who has something further to add is welcome to take a fresh start on a new thread.

canoe

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