Nursing Student HATES Nursing Assistant Job

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Before I started nursing school I was really freaked out because I've never worked in a hospital and I wasn't sure what to expect when we started clinicals. So, I decided to get a job as a PCT on a med-surg ortho floor (also known as CNA or nursing assistant) to gain some experience. Well, I HATE my job. The nurses treat me like crap (I don't even bother telling some of them I'm a nursing student because most of them sterotype PCT's as being stupid and uneducated), and the unit secretary is a pain in my a$$. She's always following me around telling me to go do this and that. She'll even call me (on the intercom thingy) while I'm in a patient's room to tell me to go do something else when she can clearly see that I'm busy. I hate doing Q4 vitals on 15-20 patients, I hate passing 15-20 trays, I hate being called every 5 seconds to "go do this, or go do that", I hate everything about nursing that I've experience thus far. Thing is, I only work once a week, and each week I find myself becoming physically ill at the thought of having to endure 8 hours of their crap. I'm starting to wonder, if I can't even hadle being a PCT, how the heck am I gonna be able to handle being a nurse? Sorry for the long rant. I just needed to vent.

FYI if you hate working as a pct now then nursing may not be for you. BTW I work currently as a unit secretary and I am in nursing school. I respect my fellow co-workers but letting them know that patients are in need of assistance is part of my job so DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER. If you need help doing something then you need to take it up with the nurses that are part of your team. Every night I work I have to constantly hunt down someone to do some piddly little thing that a patient needs and all I ever hear is crap about it. If you don't want to do it then look for another job--the bottom line is everyone needs to work as a team to give good patient care and everyone needs to realize they are part of that team. I also understand why nurses get fed up with pct's that are in nursing school because they try to be nurses when they're clearly not. They try to tell the nurse what he/she needs to do instead of minding their business and taking care of the patients within their scope of practice.:nono:

Whoa! I'm the OP and if you read the original post you would have seen that I clearly stated that I DO NOT tell the nurses that I am a nursing student. In no way do I think I know ANYTHING about how to do their job, so I'm not "trying to be a nurse when I'm clearly not" while I'm at work. I don't see it as shooting the messenger when I complain about my unit secretary. If she just told me to go do something that she knew was going to take some time, why would she be calling me on the intercom in the patients room to tell me to go do something else. Sorry, but I think that's rude. Just my personal opinion. I definitely think nursing is for me. I have clinical rotations that I love (and yes, I'm running around doing PCT stuff at clinicals). So, thanks for your opinion, but it is just that; your opinion.

Sorry to hear so many bad experiences. I am an aide on an oncology floor and I have to tell you that for the most part it is a wonderful experience. The nurses are great and I love my job. As a matter of fact, there are portions of my job that I will miss when I'm done with school. It seems like sometimes I actually can spend more time with patients than RNs because I have a lot less paperwork to do. My job has taught me the ins and outs of the floor, and in addition I have been cross trained as a unit secretary which has given me great experience reading charts and doctors orders. I love it and would recommend it any day;)

Specializes in geriatrics,emergency,hospice.
Whoa! I'm the OP and if you read the original post you would have seen that I clearly stated that I DO NOT tell the nurses that I am a nursing student. In no way do I think I know ANYTHING about how to do their job, so I'm not "trying to be a nurse when I'm clearly not" while I'm at work. I don't see it as shooting the messenger when I complain about my unit secretary. If she just told me to go do something that she knew was going to take some time, why would she be calling me on the intercom in the patients room to tell me to go do something else. Sorry, but I think that's rude. Just my personal opinion. I definitely think nursing is for me. I have clinical rotations that I love (and yes, I'm running around doing PCT stuff at clinicals). So, thanks for your opinion, but it is just that; your opinion.

Futurenurse-

Please do not let that person's obvious rudeness and sarcasm try to deter you. Just remember the way you were treated when you were a CNA by the nurses you work with, and make a promise not to do the same thing. You always get back what you put out there. Good luck to you!

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I will say that I NEVER try to tell the nurses how to do their job, or "this is what I learned, etc..." They have the license and I respect that. What I do not care for is when they ask me to do something I've NEVER seen/done, and I go "and that is?" and they get agitated, tell me forget it, and do it themselves....Whoa, back up the truck.

I have 1-2 really good nurses I work with who are more than willing to offer me opportunities to witness procedures I normally don't see(even in clinical), I got to watch a bolus feeding on a client with gtube, but learned how to properly measure solution, get air out, check residual, observe for problems, all in span of 2-3 mins....great time.

Low blood sugar interventions...whoa, not something you see everyday.

I use my school training in many of my common sense interventions, the patient with COPD who wants to lie flat? Not happening? I can answer questions with cavet of "I believe, but you would be better off asking the nurse as that is a question I cannot answer...." just a good way to learn how to relate to patients.

Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
i wouldn't really say that nursing is not for the original poster. this was a heavy adjustment for a newcomer. many times, schools fool us all, cna, lpn and rn schools will endorse this 'we are family-we are a team' motto, but in reality, it is a different world and the pecking order is in place. i can understand stating 'don't shoot the messenger', because in many cases, the unit clerk is doing her job...however, (not saying any one person), there are many people, period, may it be unit clerks, physicians, nurses and even other cnas etc, who make a goal to humilate others. here was a classic example; a patient rang the call bell, and in most cases, it would be a cna that may answer at my hospital. the cna answered the patient, and the request needed the intervention of the nurse (pain meds). the nurse responded and said to the client in front of the aide " i take care of the medicine, this girl just changes your diapers". how horrible and humiliating this probably was for the cna!! even though this may be true, this cna may be a mother, grandmother, a person of value to someone!!

i'm sorry, but i would have chewed this nurse's @ss right off. whether that statement is actually true or not, it was incredibly insensitive - and you're right, she's a person of value to the organization...for putting up with crap like that nurse and her elitist behavior.

to the op, i completely understand your plight. when you work in an assistive role, your contribution is downplayed and generally forgotten in the grand scheme of things. because we all know that nurses do everything..all the time.;) and don't ever need any help....whatever.

working in an assistive role can be beneficial if you have the right experience. but when you're doing vs, weights and baths on too many patients it doesn't do anything but make you crazy.

there are places where you truly are treated as a team member and respected for your contribution to the overall care of patients. you just need to find that place.

good luck.

vamedic4

I want to clarify that working as CNA will only give you a feel for the medical field..CNAs are not in a shell, they see what the RNs do..so being a CNA CAN give someone some insight into nursing..I dont think its mandatory, only that its helpful. One local nursing program started with 110 students (fall2006)..they , as of now, have lost 30 students..makes me wonder of maybe volunteering, shadowing, something would help prospective students get a better feel for the job of an RN. Being a visitor or having a relative who is in healthcare shows very little of what really goes on. The local Respiratory program has mandatory information sessions and offers shadowing with local hospitals to lay it all out, explain the program, what to expect, etc...that may help weed out students who may not be absolutely sure of their career goals.With so many prospective students applying to programs, and so few spots open, it takes more than a great GPA to make a great nurse and I personally feel as though every 4.0 doesnt necessarily mean they can be a good RN, maybe there is a 3.0 who can do better. Now before everyone starts getting defensive..there are great nurses and nursing students who walked into the career with nothing more than desire and they didnt need to be a CNA first..what I am saying is that it could be helpful and may give the nursing program seat to someone who knows what they are getting into, may not have a 4.0...just a thought..please dont start sending angry replys :sofahider..only trying to be helpful

futurnurse - do you mind saying where you do your clinicals? I start USF in May, and I think we have to choose pretty early in the semester. Did you get your first choice? Only one (TGH) is remotely close to where I live, but as long as I don't have to drive to Clearwater early in the mornings, I'll be OK I think. Is your CNA hospital one that works with USF? I just don't want to go somewhere awful. Thanks!

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I want to clarify that working as CNA will only give you a feel for the medical field..CNAs are not in a shell, they see what the RNs do..so being a CNA CAN give someone some insight into nursing..I dont think its mandatory, only that its helpful. One local nursing program started with 110 students (fall2006)..they , as of now, have lost 30 students..makes me wonder of maybe volunteering, shadowing, something would help prospective students get a better feel for the job of an RN. Being a visitor or having a relative who is in healthcare shows very little of what really goes on. The local Respiratory program has mandatory information sessions and offers shadowing with local hospitals to lay it all out, explain the program, what to expect, etc...that may help weed out students who may not be absolutely sure of their career goals.With so many prospective students applying to programs, and so few spots open, it takes more than a great GPA to make a great nurse and I personally feel as though every 4.0 doesnt necessarily mean they can be a good RN, maybe there is a 3.0 who can do better. Now before everyone starts getting defensive..there are great nurses and nursing students who walked into the career with nothing more than desire and they didnt need to be a CNA first..what I am saying is that it could be helpful and may give the nursing program seat to someone who knows what they are getting into, may not have a 4.0...just a thought..please dont start sending angry replys :sofahider..only trying to be helpful

You are correct...a 4.0 clearly does NOT guarentee a good nurse, it guarentees that the person know how to regurgitate what the school and NCLEX want to hear and has great test taking skills. In fact, NCLEX does little to guarentee that the nurse knows her stuff. I get increasingly hurt each time I read the posts of people re-taking NCLEX because you learn nothing until you are actually at the job. Most of these students can actually be great nurses, but it is that freaking exam that is holding them back from servicing our needy communities and clients.

I was not present when this nurse made that comment to the aide, I heard about it later, and was embarassed for the aide. So many times, people say "go to school"...but, as we all know, getting into any nursing program is hell, and it doesn't matter how much money you pay...there is no guarentee that you will actually become one. We need to value the nursing assistants because they are our eyes and ears. Also, they do a great portion of the implementation part of the nursing process, so, we need to respect them so that our patients can be safe.

LOL almost sounds like last night. I'm an extern on a renal med-surg floor and due to my education I am constantly abused ie:nurses know what I can do so they know I'll volunteer to do it. Last night the nurses had me doing their dressing changes because they didn't have the time, I assisted in a wound vac install, did post-mortem care, had to run to lab and central supply several times. Out of my 15 pts I had seven completes that were either on vents, had trachs and all had feeding tubes, foleys, rectal tubes, etc. that had to be repositioned q2h on top of doing vitals, food tray passing, etc. Before I left the aid said the nursing manager wanted to make sure that we emptied all of our garbages and made sure the rooms were clean before we reported off. I'm like sure I'll add it to my other hundred jobs. :lol2:

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Due to my education I am constantly abused. . .nurses know what I can do so they know I'll volunteer to do it. . .the nurses had me doing their dressing changes because they didn't have the time. . .I assisted in a wound vac install, did post-mortem care, had to run to lab and central supply several times. Out of my 15 pts I had seven completes that were either on vents, had trachs and all had feeding tubes, foleys, rectal tubes, etc. that had to be repositioned q2h on top of doing vitals, food tray passing, etc. Before I left the aid said the nursing manager wanted to make sure that we emptied all of our garbages and made sure the rooms were clean before we reported off. I'm like sure I'll add it to my other hundred jobs.

Let me correct some cockeyed thinking that I think might going on here. . .part of being a licensed nurse involves assessing the educational levels and skills of the people who are assigned to work with you. I take that into account along with the work that has to get accomplished during my shift every time I make work assignments. Being in charge carries a great responsibility to delegate and prioritize the tasks that need to be carried out, something that I don't think all of you understand just yet. When a charge nurse, or other nurses who supervise you, are aware of your skills and know what the parameters of your job description are, they are perfectly justified to have you do things in addition to your regular duties that, perhaps, others in your same job classification may not be able to do. THAT'S just a fact of the way things work in the nursing world. The nursing personnel with more education and experience get the harder patients and more responsibility. There are lots of times that we are envious of others without this training who may only empty trash bags and change ice water. What we sometimes wouldn't give to go back to doing jobs like that! But, it's not going to happen. With education and training comes greater responsibility and expected work performance. It has nothing to do with getting "dumped on" and everything to do with utilizing resources and spreading out the tasks that have to get done. This is what you're signing on for as LPNs and RNs. If you're finding out now as nursing assistants that you don't like the way this works, then you really ought to consider doing some other kind of thinkless work (fast food?) or making a promise to yourselves to learn better delegation and prioritizing than you think you're being subjected to as well as better interpersonal skills (since some of the incidents cited here involve people just not treating other people nicely and respectfully) because I guarantee you that come post graduation, you are going to be making those job task decisions that others are making for you now (and some of you are volunteering to do). And if you turn soft and based on your own experience think your subordinates need "a break", one of two things is going to happen: (1) you're going to go home in tears because you've had to run around trying (and failing) to get all the work accomplished yourself that you were too chicken to delegate to others on your team, or (2) stuff isn't going to get done and disciplinary actions are going to start coming your way because as the licensed nurse you are ultimately responsible.

Specializes in Cardiac/Med Surg.

I just graduated and have a job at the end of the month as a RN. I have worked in the lab 30 years but I think I would of been better off having some experience with vitals, flow charts and documentation if I had worked as a PCA or LPN first. I would keep with it if possible and tell them you are a nursing student...can't hurt might help

good luck, rse

I think that it is important to delagate, but there is a line that can be crossed at times. As an aide, I've had nurses search for me down a different hall (my unit has four different halls) just to tell me that a patient needs put on a bed pan. Now I can respect that the RN can do things that I can't, and I believe that if you ask anyone that I work with they will tell you that I don't have a problem assisting in any way...but, it takes more time to search patient rooms for an aide than it does just to put someone on a bed pan....Not to mention the poor patient has to wait for someone to return...I think that is really poor!!! Fortunately, I can say that this type of RN is the exception not the rule on my floor, and I just make myself a promise that when I'm an RN I will not do such things. To me, as an RN you don't "educate yourself out" of doing these types of tasks, but you "educate youself into" additional tasks as well. I truely believe that everyone (house keeping, dietary, nursing etc) working in healthcare can feel overwhelmed at times and I think that we should all take a minute to pat ourselves on the back that we care enough to continue to report for work each day...GOOD JOB EVERYONE!!!

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