CNAs and the dining room in ALF

Only dietary is allowed to be in the kitchen at our place. There's state regulations about that sort of thing.

Do your CNA's have food hygiene and handling certificates there? Because that's what they would need here if they were asked to handle food.Also CNA's going into food prep.areas from the floor constitute a cross contamination hazard unless they are being made to change footwear and wear protective clothing.

Nonsense. Dietary is short-staffed. Well, so is every unit I've ever worked.

Considering the dirty jobs that CNAs do on a regular basis, they shouldn't be anywhere near the kitchen until it's time to take the residents down and pass out trays. That's been the extent of what I've done in the kitchen, pass out trays, make sure it goes to the right people, and take the residents back to the rooms when they're done, that's it.

That is ridiculous. In our facility the dining staff brings out a cart. The cna serves the food, puts the trays back on the cart, and cleans up. Dining comes and takes the tray back.

At a hospital I worked at, after the annual walk through by JACHO, our hospital was sited for very few pt. care issues but many cleanliness strikes. The housekeeping manager was fired/asked to leave and the new manager did something similair to this. Posted emails and sent out notices to managers that nursing (RNs and CNAs alike) would be taking on some of the duties that were formerly considered housekeeping responsibilities.
It didnt even get off the floor. Nurses laughed at it all. Some sent teasing emails back to the new housekeeping manager saying things to the like of "And to help the nursing staff, housekeeping will now be passing meds." Nurse managers at first put on mask of support for it, but found it impossible to enforce. Too many RNs and CNAs just let it be known that if that were expected of them, they would be looking for work elsewhere.
Of course, this only worked because, well........the RNs and CNAs couldnt be replaced/fired when they said "no" to the new job descriptions. If you feel safe in finding other employeement, do the same. Be tactfull and respectfull and just state it that you will not be accepting the new job description and that if it is enforced upon you, you can not continue to work for the facility. If you are not confident about finding another job fast, bite your tongue, do the duties, look for a new job and when you find it..........do your two week notice and let it be known the new responsibilities are why you are leaving. If you are a valued employee, your leaving will be considered a big hit. Its called "vote with your feet".

At my job a PCA sets the table, serves up the food, and then clears the tables. We have one person assigned to the kitchen area, one for tolieting, and another for activities.

Dietary.