Being trained by CNA to do procedures

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I'm a new grad LPN, and the other day, a resident where I work required a fleet enema. I have never done one yet (only on the mannequins at school :rolleyes:). The CNA there offered to show me how to do it.

Which brings me to this question: Are nurses "allowed" to be shown techniques, etc., by someone with less "education" than them?

Would I have had to call my supervisor?

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Specializes in LTC.

If the CNA has been trained and certified in a procedure and I'm a brand spankin new nurse sure I would allow her to give me some pointers. My experienced CNAs are awesome and always a good source of reference. So I don 't see a problem with it at all.

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You being a new LPN i have to say this. You talk about less education well your new LPN in a new job and new to the floor. Your aids have been there a while they know the in's and outs of their residents and are not new to the floor who's really the dumb one? Being shown are being walked through anything less education or not is not something i would question unless it's way way out of your scope of practice. CNA's may lack the "schooling" or education as you say. They get their schooling trail by fire on the floor. CNA's get tossed on to the floor and expect to preform their job at max speed and max performance after 9 weeks of class. While you are sitting in school learning drug cards and learning how to be a nurse they are being torn apart by residents and nurses and working their orifice's off. While your sitting in clinical's being protected by your teacher. They are caring for 10 people or more. I would listen to your aids as much as you can they know the floor get help and seek help when its their. There's no room for EGO in Nursing. And if something major comes up ask your fellow LPNs and RN's but you will find your Aids know more then the nursing staff they are your eyes and ears and when they tell you something listen to what they are saying. Like i said if its major get help from the license's but most CNA's can do enemas and know how to do one. These are my thoughts use them as you wish

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

if this is a competency issue then then you would need a nurse to check off the competency. Otherwise, I would learn from whomever I could, taking into consideration that anything outside her scope of practice will not be included in the teaching. Be sure to check your facility's policies to be certain you were "taught" the right method. YOU are still responsible for your actions.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

There are some CNA's on the medsurg floor where I prn that I would let teach me anything!. They are a wealth of knowledge and often know little things that make life easier. I don't care how much "education" they have or don't have. If they have a tip for me....I'm all ears!!! It's about working as a team

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Specializes in NICU/Subacute/MDS.

As long as it is within their scope of practice, there is nothing wrong with it. You can also verify information with your facilities policy and procedures manual. The CNA may not be able to answer detailed nursing questions, however. For instance, he/she may be able to show you the correct equipment and placement, but not be able to discuss possible contraindications, side effects, etc.. However, I find that you can get great skill tips from people with any level of license when they use the skill on a daily basis.

Please be sure to not talk down or brush this person off because of their license. You will find RNs that will do the same to you because of their 'advanced education'. But, in many SNF's LVN's do the brunt of teaching and orienting RN's. As long as you are teaching within your scope of practice.

As someone already pointed out, you are still responsible for insuring you are performing a skill correctly and safely. Of course, the same holds true no matter who taught you: CNA, LPN, RN or the CEO of the facility!

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This is why I put "education" in quotations....I didn't mean they knew less than me about certain things. All I'm asking is if this is legal? I have no problem at all with asking some of the CNAs for their help/opinion, etc.

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Specializes in Neuro/NSGY, critical care, med/stroke/tele.
All I'm asking is if this is legal? I have no problem at all with asking some of the CNAs for their help/opinion, etc.

As long as the skill/task in question is within their scope of practice, I would say it most definitely is. :) It's great that you have some really solid support from people who really have the skills down... and they now have you as a point of reference for any theory/background/supporting knowledge that they may not have. Everyone has a role :redpinkhe

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Sorry Ginger80 i thought you were meaning something else. I just get tired of nurses mostly new nurses who have no clue slamming Aids or other nurses and i thought you were another one so i thought i would nip it in the a**. Congrats on you being a new grad i hope your career is everything you hope it to be and then some. As someone special said to me once Live, Love, Laugh, a lot and remember you are where you are suppose to be at this moment and time. These are my thoughts use them as you wish..

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

A similar situation happened in a place I worked but it was the CNA's complaining about giving enemas and suppositories. Turns out in my state enemas and suppositories are considered medication therefore the CNA's could not perform the procedures. I believe it would be if the enema had anything besides water in it. Anyway.....you're in Canada so it may be a possibility; I really don't know.

I knew you were asking per regulations and not being snippy about the fact they it was a CNA etc... Some things get lost in translation when communication by type only. So my advice is ask your charge or DON; they should know.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.
This is why I put "education" in quotations....I didn't mean they knew less than me about certain things. All I'm asking is if this is legal? I have no problem at all with asking some of the CNAs for their help/opinion, etc.

No it isn't. Don't get me wrong. I've learned so much from CNAs, but since we're looking at the legal aspect the answer is no, because citing "this is how I was trained", when the trainer was in fact a CNA, will never hold up in a legal situation, even if the task is within the scope of a CNA, because the standards CNAs are upheld to are very different from the standards a licensed personnel is upheld to, as far as the legal system is concerned. Having said that, I cannot imagine any prudent nurse ignoring the knowledge and skills of experienced CNAs. That'd just be a waste of resources.

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Specializes in LTC.

i learned sooo much from the cnas when i started out in ltc after graduating. i trust and respect the seasoned cnas, when one came to me and said so and so's blood sugar is dropping, i grabbed my machine and checked their sugars. simple as that. they are so much more involved with the patients hands on that they are usually the first ones to notice when something's 'just not right' or whatnot. so long as its 'within scope etc etc' learn as much as you can from your cnas :)

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