I have a question for all nursing home nurses.

Mysti · Apr 21, 2001

I agree with raising the standards for nursing assistants. They also need to be paid more $$ and given greater respect, but the good ones get that respect from me now! The nurse aide training classes teach them what the need. When they are finished they work out in the world and most facilities will not alow them to do what they are taught. So use it or lose it comes into play. I have not seen such poor CNAs as I see today in LTC. It seems that anybody with a pulse can get a job as a CNA. I feel sorry for us when we get old. Do not get me wrong I do work with some excellent cna and I also see some that should not be working with people. I would not let them work with my dog. But if the training was there and the respect and $$$ was there I think that the quality would also be there. Sandi

tjw100 · Apr 22, 2001

Having worked many of my 26 years of nursing in long term care, I KNOW that a good nursing assistant is the backbone of a nursing home. I do believe that they need more education, that is, a longer training period with more information about the elderly and about the diseases that they will come into contact with. The CNA's are the eyes and ears of those nurses that cannot be everywhere at once. It is a very hard job, and truly underpaid. And yes, quite often, those nurses at the desk are sitting on their tails, thinking they are too good to help you, and they are not consulting about a patient, they are talking about what they did last night' I know, because I have disciplined quite a few of them in my time. The entire nursing 'profession' needs help, along with the education process, because some are graduating that should have never been accepted. And, then there are those that are fantastic. Nursing is a very hard job, and you have to love it and be dedicated to stay with it. Unfortunately, the ones who should be paid the most, are paid the least. I, for one, salute you.

ecb · Apr 26, 2001

In our facility, and organisation, we have and create CNA Specialists, who have more education in Geriatrics and dignity, and residents rights and the stuff that is not touched on when they are in their 78 hour classes. Another thing we/they do is have PreNursing exams, so that CNAs will know what, if anything they need to brush up on before they take the LPN or the RN classes.

They are starting a deal where the Facility will pay for a class, and then deduct the cost from the paychecks leading up to completion of the class. When you take in proof of an acceptable grade you get a check for the entire class cost.

that goes for CNAs, LPNs, RNs, BSNs, MSNs without limits as long as you are emplyee in good standing.

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*** May we all have the serenity to accept what we cannot change, and the determination to change what we cannot accept. ***

Stacey Tortorice · May 15, 2001

:) Yes I do agree with what has been said if the hot shot people were not saving the money for themselves us C.N.A,s would have better pay but what is ever left out of their budget is their money to keep and it should not be that way.I feel that we work harder then they do we do all the dirty work and take crap from others that they do not know what we are talking about.fell that we should have on going education like they do for the R.N and L.V.N we are apart of all the nurses and lots of people do not see us as nurses just people that clean up piss all day.as I speak for a lot of people we would like to be kept up dated on things as well.I am glad that hospitals do not treat us as bad as nursing homes do at least in a hospital setting we can use our skills and knowledge [email protected]

sing_anyway · Mar 18, 2009

i do not think that more money would hurt,

I am being paid minimum wage,

when the other aid no showed last night,

i worked alone, stayed 1/2 an hour late,

got chewed for not clocking out on time.

half an hour of extra pay

(wasn't even overtime)

to do my work, the missing aids work, and the work of the other 2 aids that should have been scheduled but werent.

I would gladly accept more educational requirements,

a little more pay, so I can get off food stamps and pay a chiroprachter,

I know that I am not a nurse, I just want the nurse to know that I know my residents!

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

Just a heads up.. this thread is originally from 2001. Maybe you would like to start a new thread?

evilolive, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

For some of my CNAs I wish they would understand more where I am coming from in terms of delegating responsibilities to them. Most of my CNAs are very good at what they do, and I know of at least one who is in NS (and another who will make an excellent nurse someday if she can find the time/money to do it). I feel as though some of the CNAs do not see me as their supervisor, and tend to roll their eyes when something changes or they need to do more.

My 11-7 shift was ON POINT when I had my one workhorse CNA, but she recently moved to weekends, so I don't get to work with her anymore. Things have declined a bit, complaining about the "get up" sheet I created on Friday, not using the same sheet through the weekend, then looking at me blankly when I said this is going to be how it is from now on "oh, they want Pt. X up... oh okay."

I feel as if more education for the CNAs would be beneficial in terms of LTC. I do not even delegate vitals to my aides anymore because I feel as if they would hold it against me in a way. I am not afraid of them, but I just don't want to deal with the hassle anymore.

With the old CNA crew I had, I used to do rounds with them, help change people up, answer call lights and put people on/off the bedpan. Now I feel like I am overstepping and getting in their way.

Oh well. I would love to see more CNAs go through nursing school and improve their skill sets, but I think a lot of motivation to learn comes with being a successful nurse. Unfortunately I don't see that too often anymore (in my workplace, definitely not speaking for ALL the CNAs I work with).