NA's not professionals

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

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.

      3. [*]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.

      While I can appreciate your passion for the needed work of the CNA role, you are not in any position to assure a nurse that the CNA role is just as hard as the nurse role. You are not a nurse. On the flip side of that, every nurse knows exactly what a CNA job requires. A nurse can do the CNA's job, but the CNA cannot do the nurse's job. It is not just "different". Having said that, I do think that it is not worth the time and energy or the potential loss of a good employee to make a fuss over this. Why needlessly offend others? Nurses are professionals by many standards (though the different entry levels leave that open to debate as well), but is it necessary to slap others in the face just because you can? Use different terminology and avoid the drama. I am sure there are bigger fish to fry.

Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.

I thinkl the whole problem is disrespect. The CNA was talked down to and made to feel like she was an insignificant pee-on.

My proof.

Why does the manager need for the OP to reveil the name of the CNA.

She can't even remember who the team member was that she treated this way.

Managers are always telling us to respect eachother so why can't they.

While I can appreciate your passion for the needed work of the CNA role, you are not in any position to assure a nurse that the CNA role is just as hard as the nurse role. You are not a nurse. On the flip side of that, every nurse knows exactly what a CNA job requires. A nurse can do the CNA's job, but the CNA cannot do the nurse's job. It is not just "different". Having said that, I do think that it is not worth the time and energy or the potential loss of a good employee to make a fuss over this. Why needlessly offend others? Nurses are professionals by many standards (though the different entry levels leave that open to debate as well), but is it necessary to slap others in the face just because you can? Use different terminology and avoid the drama. I am sure there are bigger fish to fry.

While you may be certainly correct, it is the training, not the degree, that gives the nurse that boost. And the environment. There ARE places in the world where aides/tech do just what a nurse does and a new grad with a shiny BSN is absolutely less trained than a CNA and less useful. An experienced nurse is just a CNA with more technical knowledge and responsibility.

This stupid argument has been going on forever. BSN's assuming they were better than ADN's or Diploma nurses. CNA's think they are better than Home Health Aides. Doctor's think they are better than everyone. It's elitist crap.

As far as saying I shouldn't get easily offended or I would be a bad nurse. LOL. My patience extends to patients and their family. Supposed mature and 'educated' adult coworkers get only the consideration they show. Just because I am in nursing school doesn't mean I'm going to be a docile sheep. Maybe that's why male aides and nurses don't have quite the same problem with respect from male doctors as many females I know do. Shrug.

By the way, if anyone choose to be elitist to my face, I may not slap them as I am no criminal, but I would dress them down, put them in their place, shut them up and move on.

Best DON I ever had was a Diploma nurse lol. Worst one had a MSN. *Shrug*

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!

I was an LPN for more years than I've been an RN. We were taught in my LPN program that the RN is a professional nurse, and that the LPN/LVN is a vocational, technical nurse. The Texas BON delinates RNs from LVNs in this way, as well.

When I was an LPN, I was very proud of being one, and very proud of all the hard work it took to obtain my LPN licensure. I was a good LPN, and I knew it. RNs, CNAS, and patients frequently told me I was their "favorite".

As an LPN, I believed that I was a professional (adjective) nurse, but not a professional (noun) nurse.

I still feel this way today.

I do not believe that even RNs have yet obtained true professional status. We are struggling to get there, but are not there yet.

While you may be certainly correct, it is the training, not the degree, that gives the nurse that boost. And the environment. There ARE places in the world where aides/tech do just what a nurse does and a new grad with a shiny BSN is absolutely less trained than a CNA and less useful.

I think you should move there.;)

An experienced nurse is just a CNA with more technical knowledge and responsibility.

If you ever do become a nurse, you'll learn first hand how wrong this statement is. And how.

Here is a copy and paste from my own website-

"Rebadee, who originally posted this poem on the AOL LPN message board, says 'The original, that was about black not liking white and vice versa, and rich not liking poor, one religion not liking another etc., was an old poem from the early 60s, I believe, and the author was 'unknown'. I changed it up to fit the nursing arguments that have been appearing on the boards. I can't take credit for the overall theme of the poem.' "

*SEVEN NURSES*

contributed by Rebadee

Seven nurses trapped by happenstance

In the dark and bitter cold.

Each one possessed a stick of wood,

Or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,

The first nurse held hers tight.

For on the faces around the fire,

Was that's a nurse who works at night.

The night nurse looking cross the way,

Saw one not of her shift,

And wouldn't give her stick of wood

To give the fire a lift.

The third nurse noticed in the group

One that wanted to unionize,

"Why should I use my stick of wood

To warm someone I despise?"

The management nurse sat in deep thought,

(Her mind not on the fire)

Of ways to stretch this small staff

Without having to hire.

The floor nurse's face bespoke revenge

as the fire passed from sight,

For all she saw in her stick of wood

Was a chance for spite tonight.

The nurse with the BSN sat and watched

As the fire began to dim.

"My degree is more important than his

I'll put mine in after him."

The last nurse of this forlorn group

Did naught except for gain

Giving only to those who gave

Was how he played the game.

The logs held tight in death's still hands

Was proof of how we sin.

They didn't die from the cold without,

They died from--THE COLD WITHIN.

Specializes in Skilled Nursing.

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.

While I thank you for your miltary service... regarding this statement..I worked as a CNA also, and now am an RN. Youve got a lot , a whole lot to learn ref to RN's job is not harder. You just wait and see. You've got a rude awakening coming if you think this.

CNA, RN, LPN....to be are all professions in my eye, because its a career, but some are not professional acting.

Where I work TALKING DOWN to someone is not tolerated. ;) When I was a CNA, we ALL worked together..titles seemed to go out the window.

Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.
While you may be certainly correct, it is the training, not the degree, that gives the nurse that boost. And the environment. There ARE places in the world where aides/tech do just what a nurse does and a new grad with a shiny BSN is absolutely less trained than a CNA and less useful. An experienced nurse is just a CNA with more technical knowledge and responsibility.

This stupid argument has been going on forever. BSN's assuming they were better than ADN's or Diploma nurses. CNA's think they are better than Home Health Aides. Doctor's think they are better than everyone. It's elitist crap.

As far as saying I shouldn't get easily offended or I would be a bad nurse. LOL. My patience extends to patients and their family. Supposed mature and 'educated' adult coworkers get only the consideration they show. Just because I am in nursing school doesn't mean I'm going to be a docile sheep. Maybe that's why male aides and nurses don't have quite the same problem with respect from male doctors as many females I know do. Shrug.

By the way, if anyone choose to be elitist to my face, I may not slap them as I am no criminal, but I would dress them down, put them in their place, shut them up and move on.

Best DON I ever had was a Diploma nurse lol. Worst one had a MSN. *Shrug*

I am very, very surprised by this attitude from a military man. My brother is a Lt. Col. in the Air Force. Should he consider an enlisted man his superior officer? There is hierarchy in every work setting. You have people you must answer to no matter where you work.

Also, sorry to tell you this but...You do owe your co-workers some consideration. Like it or not they will be the ones that will be there to bail your butt out on the nights when you just can't think straight. More than one night I have told another nurse or aide to just leave the floor while I pass their meds or clean a patient for them. Some nights they have done it for me. I don't think you will completely understand until your there.

There ARE places in the world where aides/tech do just what a nurse does and a new grad with a shiny BSN is absolutely less trained than a CNA and less useful. *Shrug*

and where exactly are these places?

Specializes in Skilled Nursing.
Maybe that's why male aides and nurses don't have quite the same problem with respect from male doctors as many females I know do. Shrug.

I have no problem getting respect from male doctors nor do any of the other female RNs I know.

Im sorry but I have a feeling you just think your superior over a lot of people you work with. Not a real healthy attitude for a military person.

Well someday when you do become an RN, I hope you lose that mindset, because someone will put ya in your place.

Specializes in Cardiac.
. There ARE places in the world where aides/tech do just what a nurse does and a new grad with a shiny BSN is absolutely less trained than a CNA and less useful. An experienced nurse is just a CNA with more technical knowledge and responsibility.

Hahaha:lol2:

I just had to laugh out loud. An experienced cna is more useful than a nurse??? If you really believe this, then you are FAR more naive than we have originally thought.

I was a PCT for 10 years. Did all kinds of stuff. Intrepreted EKGs, phlebotomy, ambulated pts with epicardial pacers/chest tubes..... Thought I was the best tech ever. I thought, really thought, that I was better than most of the nurses that I worked with. I was wrong beyond any comprehension. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Boy, I cringe at the thought of how I behaved as a tech. I am embarrased beyond belief that I thought this way.

How sad. I can only be humble now in my position as a nurse.

But you will never in a million years convince anyone that a CNA is better than a nurse...well, you might convince a few CNAs.

If you DO ever become a nurse (although I'd love to see how your attitiude goes over in Nursing school) then you will surely be eating your words. That is, if you can survive your first year as a nurse.

And my husband is a veteran from the first Gulf war, and most of my family are vets, so I can say how disgusted I am that you chose to say the things you say on this website (like using violence when someone says something you don't agree with) How disrespectful...

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.

Ok "talking to" someone because they were offended!! What does she hope to accomplish? (putting her in her place?) We are talking about tender feelings a tender ego. "talking to" her is not going to make her anymore receptive.

Management need to take the high road. Use another term. RN is an industry term. Use it. For that matter RN is a more accurate term. Professional could mean a lot of things. The business world love to obscure things with its language. Plain simple straight forward language is the best. Say exactly what you mean rather than the latest popular "industry" jargon.

If it is not easily understood by everyone (not just everyone in the industry) it is jargon and does not even belong in the professional's vocab. (in this case it is not understood by everyone in the industry)

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