What do Nurses think about CNA's

[powers2704]

I am sure everyone has a CNA at their workplace that they work closely with. What are opinions as far as CNA's and their work? In your individual environment, I know it can be different for everyone. Just curious..

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I'm the MD's eyes and ears, the CNAs are my eyes and ears. I appreciate CNAs who do their jobs without prompting, and who keep me informed about my patients.

I have very little need for CNAs who refuse to do their job, or argue endlessly about their job, or leave messes for the nurse to clean up while they go on their 6th smoke break in an 8-hour shift, or spend the entire shift on Facebook, or hide out in empty rooms to sleep, watch TV, or argue with their Baby Daddy.

The job title is Certified Nurse's Aide. They are there to assist the nurse, not vice versa. I have no problem helping out when needed, but I have my own job to do.

[RNGriffin]

I couldn't imagine my shift without a tech(CNA), although we've been forced to work without techs from time to time. They are truly a gift, even the laziest who do the bare minimum.

To go in an place the patients on the bed pan, deliver and retain information for each nurse on the unit, continuously be on the go q4 vitals and sometimes q1....managing our glucose monitors, remembering each patients transfer from shift to shift, filling in as a unit secretary after 11p, being the flight attendant to the patient, and receiving all the flack...I think there should be national CNA day.

I appreciate the work you all do! I know many nurses are short of being actual jack's, but they're appreciated!

[Working4ALiving]

I am a new nurse and love most of the CNAs with whom I work. I would have had a much more difficult time adjusting to taking care of 50+ residents if not for them. Most of them work their butts off the entire shift and do not complain! Being the only nurse on the floor, I cannot possibly be with every resident every hour. The good CNAs will let me know if anything is different with a resident and also give me tips on how to manage some of the residents' personalities.

When I can, I will help turn residents, put them on bedpans/assist with urinals, etc.

Nurses are only as good as their CNAs, and most of them at my facility are gems!

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I wish we actually had them. I worked as a CNA for a year and hated it - I looked forward to having someone else to help me with the bathing and turning when I got to be a nurse, but we don't have free-roaming CNAs on my floor. It sucks.

Technically, there are some here, but they watch the monitor, get paperwork together for the charts, and do EKGs. They don't really do actual patient care. If you want one to help you they will, but you have to find someone to sit at the desk for them, so it's just easier to grab another RN in the first place. I like them as people, but I really wish they were actually nurse's AIDES and were available to help me, as their job title implies, and not just someone who watches the monitor and answers phones.