Replaced by Certified Medication Aide!

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Feb 3, 2013

Really!?! See an ad and become a nurse like when we were new grads? I about had my tea coming out of my nose reading that drivel. Look back in the early 1900's perhaps. Zowie but people here say all sorts of preposterous things. And a CNA XII....never heard of such a thing. You're NOT a nurse and you're NOT capable of performing as such.

OCNRN63, RN · Feb 3, 2013

Really!?! See an ad and become a nurse like when we were new grads? I about had my tea coming out of my nose reading that drivel. Look back in the early 1900's perhaps. Zowie but people here say all sorts of preposterous things. And a CNA XII....never heard of such a thing. You're NOT a nurse and you're NOT capable of performing as such.

I'm pretty sure that "CNA XII" comment was sarcasm.

allnurses Guide · Feb 4, 2013

Describing a nursing program as a finite time period is becoming less functional with each passing day, anyway. It never told you very much, especially when we include Canadian programs in the mix but there are just too many options and individual people pacing their education. It's usually used to put somebody else down, as well.

311ltc · Feb 6, 2013

In the years I have been an LPN it become increasing apparent that the nursing profession must be one of the most abuse profession. Where else does a person have so much at stake, i.e. potential to lose license, etc., yet expected to do more and more with less. Don't make an error because it's unacceptable and can cost you everything you have worked for. I feel that nurses need to unite and demand better working conditions and protection. Unfortunately, I'm not the one to orgainze such an effort, I don't have the skills, dipolmacy, etc.

Sad.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2013

I think our roles as nurses will continue to diminish unless we start to ban together and stand for something. If you start cutting costs by using med techs how long will it be before we see support staff doing weekly summaries, doc calls, and everything else we do? When I was hired at my present job, we were told flat out that if management could get away with running the hospital on just lpn's, they would definately do so. I work in a county mental health hospital so assessment skills are a must. Catching a medical condition is not easy when we focus on psych.

Most of the time we're too busy pecking on each other to realize that we are allowing our profession to be destroyed one procedure or one pill at a time. It's sad really.

hhurley · Feb 6, 2013

Yes, fellow LPNs, its happening here in Northeast Ohio! Trained and oriented CMA and was then given extreme partime hours(as were the other LPNs) while CMA gets 40hrs and benefits! And of course, they are paid less per hour. The entire program is a disaster for us LPNs as well as the patients we care for and thet dont get a choice either. No such thing as patient care...its all about money and its sickening

Don't feel bad, we got replaced just after Christmas in my SNF. Thankfully, I started PRN back in August to go back to get my RN. From the things I have personally seen this was a huge mistake on the company's part. I mostly work weekend 3rd now and come in after 2 aides and 1 LPN. The things I hear and find are shocking to me. The LPN i work behind is wonderful, she really tries to stay on top of things, but working 3 halls supervising the aides and dealing with families is tough. We are already in 2 months starting to see serious health issues arise that were 100% preventable d/t the lack of proper monitoring and care. Sadly, my residents are the ones suffering. I have also noticed a huge increase in sleeping/pain/anxiety medications on these units. It's scares me to think of my poor little ladies and gentlemen being drugged so the aide can force pills on them and not really do any care...JMO

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2013

How about hiring more nurses, decreasing the not so safe patient ratios? That would make more sense. Unfortunately it is all about saving cost for what I read here at AN, so the higher ups can get a bonus at the end of the year because they save the hospitals money.

Someone posted here that we should do what the teachers do - I agree. The public needs to be made aware that a nurse taking care of seven patients is not good for their own safety. Saddly, we do not ban together :no:

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · Feb 7, 2013

Here in OR, CMAs work under their own certification. If they screw up, it's them and the facility that gets it.

To the OP: here in OR it is similar. We have CMAs (I'm actually grateful that we do as I HATE HATE HATE passing meds), but what the state has also done in the last few years is come up with a CNA II, in which a CNA is trained in various nursing tasks such as blood sugars, G-tubes, foley caths, trachs, and minor wound care. It's made it that much easier for the hospitals to rationalize not using us. Pfffft. I feel ya.

allnurses Guide · Feb 7, 2013

I think our roles as nurses will continue to diminish unless we start to ban together and stand for something. If you start cutting costs by using med techs how long will it be before we see support staff doing weekly summaries, doc calls, and everything else we do? When I was hired at my present job, we were told flat out that if management could get away with running the hospital on just lpn's, they would definately do so. I work in a county mental health hospital so assessment skills are a must. Catching a medical condition is not easy when we focus on psych.
Most of the time we're too busy pecking on each other to realize that we are allowing our profession to be destroyed one procedure or one pill at a time. It's sad really.

I think so. It isn't so much that we're knocking CMAs or want fellow nurses to be swamped when an unlicensed person can help, it's that the swamped nurse is swamped because there's a good possibility their employer chose not to hire another nurse just to increase profit.

SailorFitness · Feb 11, 2013

i didn't realize they were in NE ohio!

pretty soon they'll spread all over,

AngelicDarkness · Feb 12, 2013

Hallo Fellow RN! 4 Years we struggled to finish this course and struggling hard with the NCLEX and now we allow our important responsibilty to Be taken by CMA? What can we do something about this? I am still here in Germany yet reading about these Updates it is very sickening. I hope I have moved you with my question?

That is a poor attitude on the topic. If that is the case RN, how do you feel on RPN/LPNs who struggle to finish their own schooling and registration testing to have us complete many of your responsibilities. It not the title that makes the nurse.

Anne36, LPN · Feb 12, 2013

Med pass is a major part of my job as an LPN in extended care. Working short a Nurse is not even an unusual occurance, it just results in 2 Nurses splitting up the work of what is supposed to belong to the third Nurse. I dont for one second think that if we had med aids it would mean we would get to spend more time with residents to provide more nursing care. I think it would just mean a Nurse is going to lose their job, those left would have double the residents to provide treatments, nursing care, chart, etc. The bottom line is money and that is the only reason I can think that managment wants to hire a med tech anyway.