Are CNA's considered "Nurses"?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am a new nurse but was a CNA for 15 years before going to school. I was never referred to as a nurse when I was a CNA. I recently went to work in a Doc office where the CNA refers to herself as a Nurse and all of the office personelle refer to her as a nurse. She does everything that I do. I was suprised at this. I have since found that many Doc offices utilize CNA's as nurses. Is this a new thing? I don't want to sound caddy but it just kind of seems like my blood, sweat and tears I put into Nursing school was for nothing if a CNA can do my job. Please don't think this is a smack to CNA's because I have much respect for them as I was one myself for so many years. I would just like to hear some opinions.

I think what amazes me the most is how some people have this mentality that "this should be the educational requirement for this" or whatever, and how IRONIC that it ALSO happens to be the SAME education that THEY have!!! lol

well it would definately put out some of the "I am the RN and i know more than you" when you wouldn't want that person taking care of you or your family. cna's are not nurses and should not introduce themselves as one. all nurses go to school for extensive education, i am not saying cnas don't i am just saying they should introduce themselves as who they are. you earned the title of cna be proud of it, the nurses are proud of thiers.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I'm just proud of any education i've received. It's just sad when people don't see any education as being important unless it equates to theirs.

I'm just proud of any education i've received. It's just sad when people don't see any education as being important unless it equates to theirs.

well i'm not comparing anything to mine. i truly believe you use what you learn while your doing it. some people don't learn that way. Some RNs who graduate a 4 yr college do not recieve as much clinical experience as the adn programs. if i could do what i am doing now without having had to go to school then i would definately do it. but that is the way i learn. but people also have to remember that not every one comes out of school knowing what they need to, to take care of thier patients safely. and we also need to remember we were there at some point.

I think what amazes me the most is how some people have this mentality that "this should be the educational requirement for this" or whatever, and how IRONIC that it ALSO happens to be the SAME education that THEY have!!! lol

Sounds like I exposed a raw nerve, eh? Well, just keep studying, get your RN, maybe an MSN, and let me know how you feel then...bottom line...there is no longer room in health care today for minimally prepared providers. An RN should be the bare minimum for nursing practice, and all titles referring to a nurse less than an RN should be eliminated. Ancillary staff, preferably, would be EMT's or Paramedics, who come prepared with a broad, and expansive set of skills, most usefull IN the hospital setting. Lastly, attack the message, not the messenger, hon... :rolleyes:

Sounds like I exposed a raw nerve, eh? Well, just keep studying, get your RN, maybe an MSN, and let me know how you feel then...bottom line...there is no longer room in health care today for minimally prepared providers. An RN should be the bare minimum for nursing practice, and all titles referring to a nurse less than an RN should be eliminated. Ancillary staff, preferably, would be EMT's or Paramedics, who come prepared with a broad, and expansive set of skills, most usefull IN the hospital setting. Lastly, attack the message, not the messenger, hon... :rolleyes:

I think you did. but the truth is companies can't afford to pay for all that education. hell they can't even keep us staffed now. we need pca's and lvn's to help us deliver the quality of care people are finding harder and harder to get. the hospital i am at has different levels and the cna and lvn are required to take ce classes that deal with current stuff they may have to deal with. lvn are getting acls and tncc certification. truth be told i have worked with some lvns i would prefer to have as my nurse than some rns.

sigh....................unfortunately hon, some rns grossly lack the 'people' skills that are so crucial to superior nursing care.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Sounds like I exposed a raw nerve, eh? Well, just keep studying, get your RN, maybe an MSN, and let me know how you feel then...bottom line...there is no longer room in health care today for minimally prepared providers. An RN should be the bare minimum for nursing practice, and all titles referring to a nurse less than an RN should be eliminated. Ancillary staff, preferably, would be EMT's or Paramedics, who come prepared with a broad, and expansive set of skills, most usefull IN the hospital setting. Lastly, attack the message, not the messenger, hon... :rolleyes:

Um who said i was attacking you? Was your name in my post that you quoted? No. And do not ever refer to me as "hon", that's very patronizing.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
sigh....................unfortunately hon, some rns grossly lack the 'people' skills that are so crucial to superior nursing care.

Isn't that the truth....

I'm just proud of any education i've received. It's just sad when people don't see any education as being important unless it equates to theirs.

RNs, in general are taught in school that LPNs and CNAs are not good enough. Just becasue the LPN and CNA do not have degrees does not mean they are not quite capable of doiong the job they do.

THis whole thing just keeps reverting back to RNs thinking they are the only ones capable of caring for a pt. CNAs have been trained to be observant while bathing, pottying, etc. THey then report those findings to the nurse.

LPNs are trained to provide care which requires critical thinking and the nursing proccess. When we find something amiss? We carry it to our charge nurse or the MD. Kind of suprise any of you RNs? Yea, we are not just bathers and bedpan pushers. We actually understand A&P and ....

RNs, in general are taught in school that LPNs and CNAs are not good enough. Just becasue the LPN and CNA do not have degrees does not mean they are not quite capable of doiong the job they do.

THis whole thing just keeps reverting back to RNs thinking they are the only ones capable of caring for a pt. CNAs have been trained to be observant while bathing, pottying, etc. THey then report those findings to the nurse.

LPNs are trained to provide care which requires critical thinking and the nursing proccess. When we find something amiss? We carry it to our charge nurse or the MD. Kind of suprise any of you RNs? Yea, we are not just bathers and bedpan pushers. We actually understand A&P and ....

I didn't learn that LVN's and CNA's were not good enough when I was in nursing school - must have missed that class. :)

I worked as a medical assistant occasionally in a doc's office while in school and he and I had a contract that I could learn and perform certain tasks that he wanted to teach. I have no idea now if that was even legal but I did do alot of "nurse" type stuff.

I don't get all caught up in labels . . .when the CNA and I go into a patient's room we just introduce ourselves and get on with it.

I love my CNA's!

steph

Specializes in Emergency Room.
RNs, in general are taught in school that LPNs and CNAs are not good enough. Just becasue the LPN and CNA do not have degrees does not mean they are not quite capable of doiong the job they do.

THis whole thing just keeps reverting back to RNs thinking they are the only ones capable of caring for a pt. CNAs have been trained to be observant while bathing, pottying, etc. THey then report those findings to the nurse.

LPNs are trained to provide care which requires critical thinking and the nursing proccess. When we find something amiss? We carry it to our charge nurse or the MD. Kind of suprise any of you RNs? Yea, we are not just bathers and bedpan pushers. We actually understand A&P and ....

when i was in school for my rn i don't ever remember being taught that lpn's and cna's are "not good enough". we were taught that everyone (lpn's, cna's, physical therapists etc.,) are all part of a multidisciplinary team that work together to provide ultimate care to the patient. i think it is degrading that anyone would think such things. the funny thing about this issue is that some docs view anyone that is not a doc as "bathers and bedpan pushers". in every profession there will always be a hierarchy of people that feel that their main job in life is to make others feel inadequate. we all must be proud of what we have achieved and not look to others to validate the importance of our roles. you can only validate yourself, because as soon as you think you have achieved a higher status there is someone behind you saying "i am still better than you, i have my xxx degree or i am going for my xxx certification". it never stops. when i was a MA and a tech people put me down for not being a rn, now that i am a rn with a bsn people ask when am i going for my masters or why don't i go to school to be a doctor. for some reason i feel that people want me to apologize for being a bedside nurse and i don't. i am comfortable and confident with my career decisions and if i ever progress to something else it will be because i want to not because of the need to seek approval from others.

RNs, in general are taught in school that LPNs and CNAs are not good enough. Just becasue the LPN and CNA do not have degrees does not mean they are not quite capable of doiong the job they do.

THis whole thing just keeps reverting back to RNs thinking they are the only ones capable of caring for a pt. CNAs have been trained to be observant while bathing, pottying, etc. THey then report those findings to the nurse.

LPNs are trained to provide care which requires critical thinking and the nursing proccess. When we find something amiss? We carry it to our charge nurse or the MD. Kind of suprise any of you RNs? Yea, we are not just bathers and bedpan pushers. We actually understand A&P and ....

Where do those RNs go to school?! We were most certainly NOT taught that CNAs and LVNs were not as good as we were!! Major generalizations like that can really get under folk's craws!! I value the members of my care team regardless of their educational level -- we all have important roles and if we do them well, we make a great team!! My level of respect tends to drop when someone (rn, lvn, aide, tech, transoirter, volunteer) gets a major chip on their shoulder and "cops a tude" -- being a hard working, ethical professional is what counts and knowing the differences in the LEGAL division of labor -- YOUR SCOPE of PRACTICE -- that's what we were taught!

+ Add a Comment