Am I wrong because i don't want to do CNA duites

Published

Here's the situation. I'm an LPN, and work in a hospice/acute care facility, which only holds up to 16 pts. At night (shift i work) a full staff is 1 RN charge nurse, 1 LPN, 1 CNA for less then 8 pt, 2 cna if we have more then 8 pts. The census has been low lately, which makes them call off the cna's. We still may have 5 or 6 pts, and they expect lpn and the rn, to do ALL the work. And you know that's going to fall on me the LPN, because the rn has to do all the assessments. So, here I am trying to take care of my duites which consist of treatments, like, wound care, tube feedings, iv analgesics, suctioning and things like that. Lets's not forget scheduled meds and prn, because of the fact we have hospice pts, you know there are alot of prn pain meds.

Then on top of that, i have to answer all the call lights, fill water pitchers, turn q2hr, baths, diaper change,I's and O's, empty Foley's, do vitals, reposition, need I go on. All of this is duties of a CNA. Before I was a LPN 3 years ago almost I was a CNA. If i really liked that job, I would still be doing it.

I know once you become a nurse, you don't just stop all together doing some of those things. But give me a break its like being a cna all over again. I have spoke the DON, and told her, if I going to be responsible for 2 job title's worth of work, I want 2 pay checks. She just looked at me sort of laugh, like I was joking or something, and said if we had the money for that, we would have a CNA on shift. I know that makes since, but it's at my expense that there is no CNA there. I'm the one doing all the back breaking work that I didn't sign up for. Yes the RN does some, but it's mostly me.

Well I'm looking for a new job. Had 2 interviews already. Do you think I'm wrong?:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you're free to look for another job, but doing "CNA duties" is the reality of total care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Sounds very stressful! It's not so much having to do cna work, it sounds like its more that you have so much added on to an already difficult situation. I can understand it must be tough to give good care and get your work done as well. I have no advice, but can hardly wait to get my first job now :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Here's the situation. I'm an LPN, and work in a hospice/acute care facility, which only holds up to 16 pts. At night (shift i work) a full staff is 1 RN charge nurse, 1 LPN, 1 CNA for less then 8 pt, 2 cna if we have more then 8 pts. The census has been low lately, which makes them call off the cna's. We still may have 5 or 6 pts, and they expect lpn and the rn, to do ALL the work. And you know that's going to fall on me the LPN, because the rn has to do all the assessments. So, here I am trying to take care of my duites which consist of treatments, like, wound care, tube feedings, iv analgesics, suctioning and things like that. Lets's not forget scheduled meds and prn, because of the fact we have hospice pts, you know there are alot of prn pain meds.

Then on top of that, i have to answer all the call lights, fill water pitchers, turn q2hr, baths, diaper change,I's and O's, empty Foley's, do vitals, reposition, need I go on. All of this is duties of a CNA. Before I was a LPN 3 years ago almost I was a CNA. If i really liked that job, I would still be doing it. you become a nurse, you don't just stop all together doi

I know onceng some of those things. But give me a break its like being a cna all over again. I have spoke the DON, and told her, if I going to be responsible for 2 job title's worth of work, I want 2 pay checks. She just looked at me sort of laugh, like I was joking or something, and said if we had the money for that, we would have a CNA on shift. I know that makes since, but it's at my expense that there is no CNA there. I'm the one doing all the back breaking work that I didn't sign up for. Yes the RN does some, but it's mostly me.

Well I'm looking for a new job. Had 2 interviews already. Do you think I'm wrong?:confused:

No I think you are being taking advantage of.Let them split the job in half between the RN and LPN or provide CNAs.This is trully ridiculous, I mean even hideous if you ask me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No I think you are being taking advantage of.Let them split the job in half between the RN and LPN or provide CNAs.This is trully ridiculous, I mean even hideous if you ask me.

Total patient care cannot be evenly divided between an RN and LPN because the RN has a higher level of responsibility and can do things the LPN cannot do. If an LPN and CNA were working together the work could also not be divided evenly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i think that although ultimately the CNA's duties are yours and the RN's responsibility, that this facility is cutting too many corners and allowing for burnout of it's nurses as well as setting you guys up for a patient fall, a med error, etc.. due to the volume of patients you are caring for and all the duties you are responsible for. they are squeezing as much work out of you as possible. having a CNA sure would be helpful in keeping your patients safer. maybe that would be a point to bring up to your nurse manager.

if you feel as though your license is in jeopardy, i would leave your job. but remember that there are many places that do primary care nursing due to budget constraints.

i realize you were formerly a CNA and that you feel since you've graduated that those duties can be delegated, but if you are going to stay with your job maybe if you approach it equally with the RN instead of saying "i dont want to do the CNA's work", saying "how can we more safely and effectively care for our patients without support staff", you may see a difference.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Total patient care cannot be evenly divided between an RN and LPN because the RN has a higher level of responsibility and can do things the LPN cannot do. If an LPN and CNA were working together the work could also not be divided evenly.

Oh yeah the hierachy of hospital,the LPN is at the lower bottom,I forgot,and how is the RN more responsible,it is just the IV's,a good LPN is as just good as RN,and if not often better

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

If I recall, I learned all of those so-called CNA duties in nursing school. Did you miss a class or two? When it comes down to it, the nurse, RN or LPN, are ultimately responsible for the care of the patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Heck in the ICU I work for we are lucky if we have a CNA at night. We do most nights, but there are a lot of nights we don't.

I agree with MichiganRN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not going to say whether you're right or wrong. All I'm going to say is, that in the absence of legislation, the facility is going to do what they can get away with. I'm not saying be grateful for the way things are, but I can tell you that for a lot of places, the staffing for 8 patients wouldn't be one RN, one LPN, one CNA. It would be one RN, one CNA, and one pink slip for the LPN. And then when the CNA called out, there would be the pantomime of "well we looked really, REALLY hard to find someone, but there wasn't anybody" so staffing for the night would be one RN.

I've never been an LPN, but from reading some of the posts, it seems like a lot of LPN's would be willing to cut off their right arms to be one of two nurses assigned to 8 patients.

I'm not saying your situation doesn't suck - it just doesn't suck as badly as it could. (Isn't that a slogan to get you dancing on your way to work - "my job sucks less than most!!")

Up Vote Up Vote ×

[then on top of that, i have to answer all the call lights, fill water pitchers, turn q2hr, baths, diaper change,i's and o's, empty foley's, do vitals, reposition, need i go on. all of this is duties of a cna.

i misinterpreted your thread so i'm going to edit what i wrote before. so you have no cena with even 5 or 6 patients? i think thats not fair at all. you guys should have at least one working.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

"CNA Duties" are nothing more than nursing tasks that can be delegated to the UAP. If no UAP is available, then the nurse should assume the responsibility for completing the tasks, as they are ultimately responsible for those tasks, whether it is the CNA performing them, or the nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment