NA's not professionals

[Jabramac]

I was the recipient of a complaint yesterday from another employee. An NA told me she had been called off before her shift and told on the phone that instead of having her work, the floor would run with "3 professionals." She took offence at the notion that she was being referred to as not being "professional." While I understand the callers true meaning was RN's and had nothing to do with "professionalism" it non-the-less offended the NA.

I then wrote an e-mail to all the people who may be calling staff off and informed them that this might be offensive and we should monitor ourselves with what we say and to whom. I got a response back from a manager stating that this is an industry term and the NA needs to be "talked to." She also asked me to provide the name of the NA.

Personally I know it that the meaning of "professionals" was not meant to be offensive and only referred to RN's. But, perhaps it's more offensive then I think? I would like to hear from some NA's if they would find it offenses that RN's are referred to as "professionals" and NA's are not.

Tonight I have to decide how to respond to the mangers e-mail with out turning it into a huge issue, but still respecting the NA.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I am a CNA. I am also an LVN. I am also a BSN student. These all took my time and effort to accomplish. CNA's are certified. They do the grunt work that the LVNs and RNs don't have time for or just plain DONT WANT TO DO. a good CNA could be a great asset to an LVN/RN. They can alert you if something isn't right right away. They deserve the respect of being called a professional.

We are forgetting how MOST nursing schools started. Their training began just like CNA training- on the floor. IT was a Certificate program, run by Hospitals, not Colleges or Universities. You don't always have to have a 2 year or 4 year degree to be a "professional".

Yes, nursing programs did not start in colleges- and nurses were not officially accepted into the professional world until they did.

The Wikipedia post explains all that.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

No one is saying CNAs are not valuable. I was a CNA myself for years. CNAs are not considered professionals in the noun sense of the word. This is a fact. Check your BON. Why is this plain and simple fact so offensive and hard to understand?

Types of nurses

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) usually have eighteen months to two years of training in anatomy and physiology, medications, and practical patient care.

Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) is a title used in some states which is roughly equivalent to Licensed practical nurse.

Registered nurses (RNs) are professional nurses who often supervise the tasks performed by LPNs, orderlies, and nursing assistants. They provide direct care and make decisions regarding plans of care for individuals and groups of healthy, ill, and injured people. RNs are the largest healthcare occupation in the U.S.

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are registered nurses with advanced education, knowledge, skills, and scope of practice. They perform primary health care, provide mental health services, diagnose and prescribe, carry out research, and educate the public and other professionals

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:yLSxQgTSKZUJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse+professional+nurse+vs+vocational+nurse&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us

[bethin]

I do not understand why you are taking offense. By definition, the nurse is a professional. No emotions connected, just fact.

I've been a CNA and was taught that from the get-go.

Could you please explain why you are offended by that?

Like I stated in my first post, professional can be the way you behave.

A few weekends ago, the nursing supervisor pulled me aside and told me that I "sure am professional". In this context, it's an adjective to describe my behavior not my education (or lack of).

Semantics, yes, but I've always been picky.

[Mulan]

I disagree. I am a Professional. I have a 4 year college degree for which I sacraficed a lot. I fully expect to be treated as such by my superiors and by physicians. I have absolutely called doctors on their behavior when it was inappropriate. I have never tolerated being spoken down to at work, nor have I ever treated anyone like less of a team member because they don't have the "title." All that being said, I do delegate when possible. Not because I am too good to wipe a dirty butt or to drain a foley, but because I am usually busy doing a med pass, or taking care of a pump. This would not be an issue in any other setting. Can you see an administrative assistant in an attorney's office protesting her boss being called a professional and not her? How about the data entry person at the accountant's office? Come on, we ARE professionals. We have earned the right to be called that and if someone don't like it, tough. I agree, the TECH needs to be spoken to, not the nurses. If she wants to be called a professional she can sacrifice 4 plus years of her life. She can give up her Saturday afternoons and nights in an anatomy lab going over and over the muscles of a cat. Lets see what she thinks about going 30 grand in the hole in student loans. We all gave up something to go to school. If she don't like being called a non-professional then she needs to go back to school. Until such time, she is what she is....a tech.

Very well said.

[Mulan]

pro-fes-sion-al

1. Of, relating to, engaged in, or suitable for a profession: lawyers, doctors, and other professional people.
   
2. Conforming to the standards of a profession: professional behavior.

[*]Engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career: a professional writer, a professional caretaker.

[*]Performed by persons receiving pay: professional football.

[*]Having or showing great skill; expert: a professional repair job.

n.

1. A person following a profession, especially a learned profession.
   
2. One who earns a living in a given or implied occupation: hired a professional to decorate the house.
   
3. A skilled practitioner; an expert.

It's like me telling a nurse their job is easy. Shrug. Why would you insist on demeaning someone's work? While many people may respect CNA's or techs, they don't respect us enough. Without CNA's nursing would grind to a halt. I have seen CNA's that are better with patients than a nurse or doctor. So when you insist that because we are not as 'educated' as you we are not professionals it is offensive.

I assure you that just because your job is more technical than ours, it is not harder. Not physically, mentally or emotionally. It is different but that's it.

I am a professional. A professional caregiver, a professional human being and soon a professional nurse.

Remember that the biggest 'facts' of the previous generations are almost always the nonsense of the next generation. Because you were taught a thing does not make it fact.

I have to disagree that without CNA's nursing would grind to a halt. Some places do not employ aides, primary care is done, with all aspects of the patient's care being done by the RN. The RN can do whatever the CNA and the LPN can do, but the CNA and the LPN can not do what the RN can do. Some places staff with all licensed staff only, either LPN or RN.

[jlcole45]

When I was tramping around the desert interpreting Arabic and avoiding IEDs if a nurse told me she was a professional because she went to school and I wasn't I would've smacked the hell out of her.

So far this is not only the most unprofessional quote in this thread but the most disturbing ....

Nursing is a profession that requires patience, tolerance, empathy, and the ability to keep ones emotions in check. Perhaps you should re think your choice to enter this line of work.

What this profession doesn't need is a nurse who becomes verbally abusive when offended. Because guess what it will happen on a regular basis, especially if you are easily offended.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am a proud LPN, and we have not been considered as professionals, either, although we are nurses as well (something that the world tends to forget every now and then). I do understand why they consider Registered Nurses as professionals without much of a fight. The issue I have is that we are not always considered to be NURSES. I have seen many times where I have heard the comment "Nurses and LPNs"...etc... I would rather hear RNs and LPNs than to have the higher more acknowledged as nurses yet, we are not.

To answer the question of the CNA, I think that I would have been offended too, in their position, and we should be a bit more sensitive to their point of view. She may have perceived it as though she has no value to the team.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

The only true "professionals" in nursing at are the practitioners, regardless of whether it says "registered professional nurse." Professionals do not punch time clocks. Professionals do not need to obtain orders to exercise their judgment. They do not need a pretend taxonomy to create a bogus sphere of their own "practice." In this very thread we have a BSN implying that she's professional because she has FOUR years of schooling even though ADN's are registed professional nurses.

And the RN's need to get over looking down on the LPN's who need to respect the CNA's. And everyone needs to quit playing this stupid semantics game.

Get offended where offense is intended. Life's to short to look for reasons.

Applauses to you, Sue!!!!

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

I disagree. I am a Professional. I have a 4 year college degree for which I sacraficed a lot. I fully expect to be treated as such by my superiors and by physicians. I have absolutely called doctors on their behavior when it was inappropriate. I have never tolerated being spoken down to at work, nor have I ever treated anyone like less of a team member because they don't have the "title." All that being said, I do delegate when possible. Not because I am too good to wipe a dirty butt or to drain a foley, but because I am usually busy doing a med pass, or taking care of a pump. This would not be an issue in any other setting. Can you see an administrative assistant in an attorney's office protesting her boss being called a professional and not her? How about the data entry person at the accountant's office? Come on, we ARE professionals. We have earned the right to be called that and if someone don't like it, tough. I agree, the TECH needs to be spoken to, not the nurses. If she wants to be called a professional she can sacrifice 4 plus years of her life. She can give up her Saturday afternoons and nights in an anatomy lab going over and over the muscles of a cat. Lets see what she thinks about going 30 grand in the hole in student loans. We all gave up something to go to school. If she don't like being called a non-professional then she needs to go back to school. Until such time, she is what she is....a tech.

i disagree with you and am actually kinda offended at your post.

i am a paramedic with an associate's degree. i worked as a tech/PCT/whatever term you guys use in an ER for many years. i can push drugs, start IVs, intubate and cardiovert. but i will be happier than a clam to clean vomit, change diapers and sit at the how may i help you desk for 12 hours. i am no better than anyone else.

i put myself through college by waiting tables all day and working as an EMTB on the weekends. i have managed to pay off my loans by continuing to work two jobs. i slept in my car and ate easy mac for 3 years. i graduated with honors. i took anatomy, statistics, microbiology, physics and calculus. i am BCLS, PHTLS, ACLS and PALS certified. are you going to tell me that because i am a "tech" i am not as educated or professional?

you dont know this girl. you havent walked in her shoes. you dont know she about her personal life. maybe she doesnt want to become an RN. she still deserves respect, regardless of whether or not she has a bachelor's degree. you cant downplay someones life, experience or knowledge because they dont have the almightly alphabet letters. just because you are well educated, doesnt mean you are a professional.

i am back in school to become an RN not because i want to be officially recognized as a "professional"... but because i love people and i love nursing. ive worked with many a EMT, LPN or CNA who are much more professional than the MD or RN. i am engaged to a bachelor degree educated RN who will be more than happy to tell you that as well.

professionalism comes from within. not from a peice of paper.

[Mulan]

It may be different if one has a BSN or higher degree, but otherwise nursing really is a blue collar or pink collar job, though some people will argue to the death otherwise.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

It may be different if one has a BSN or higher degree, but otherwise nursing really is a blue collar or pink collar job, though some people will argue to the death otherwise.

Master's, and as a practitioner. Otherwise we're middle management drones or floor nurses.

[KimmieKoo72]

I myself am an LPN, and I am a little bit offended that one of the posters to this thread referred to an LPN being a part of a vocation.... I'm not a nun. I'm a Lisenced Practical NURSE. Last I checked, a NURSE is a professional! I went to school too.. as did all the other LPN's out there. RN's do have more schooling and more skills, etc. But don't discount the role of the LPN. WE ARE PROFESSIONALS!