Being Treated Poorly by an RN

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so today at work I had to sit or observe as shands likes to call it. anywho as I was sitting with my patient the medical team and charge nurse came in to do a patient consult upon leaving out the patient stated to them you should've at least turned out the light so the dr turned around to turn the light out when the charge nurse stated oh she can do it shes a cna and I was like exscuse me she then said I said your a cna so your capable of turning off a light I then said well that was quite rude she then said I don't think so.

I don't know if im overreacting but its crazy bc at shands cnas are the bottom of the barrel while pcas which is the same thing are treated like royalty so when she said that I got on the defensive was I wrong

HI, I feel you have the right to be upset. The doctor had reached for the light. The charge nurse should have stayed out of it. You were demeaned and that is never proper. You are not JUST a CNA, you are the eyes and ears of the other nursing staff. You make our lives not just easier but you frequently see and hear the problems of a patient or resident much sooner than the nurse does. (please note that I capitalized your license and not the word nurse. You too have a license and are owed an apology. Yes the nurse gets tired too. So do we all in this profession. When I was in a more hands on position (doing occupational medicine now) my CNAs were my saviors more than once. Ok, off my soapbox now. I hope you can forgive the charge and have a good working relationship and assume she was just having a bad day.

Every HCW should be treated with respect regardless of title. But not all states license their NAs, so while they are "certified," they have no actual "license" to lose.

The whole thing was ridiculous. Whoever was closest to the light switch should have just turned off the freaking light.

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I don't believe the story.

I can believe the story; I just can't believe anyone is spending time and effort complaining about it after the fact.

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The comment made by the nurse was extremely unprofessional. Behavior such as this is not only disrespectful, it puts the patient's health and care on the line. As a nurse myself, I am extremely embarrassed that she exhibited this behavior in front of the pt, MD, and towards you. Its nurses like this that make it difficult to perform as a team. I apologize for her condescending behavior towards you, your role in the patients treatment and care is just as important as the nurses. Hold your head up

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Specializes in Pediatrics Telemetry CCU ICU.
First thing I didn't read in any previous post where anyone told you to do something whether it's your job or not, just because a nurse told you to do it. Second thing, the RN wasn't asking you to provide patient care - she was asking you to turn off a light. This whole thing reads like you have a giant chip on your shoulder about being a CNA (ex: "CNAs are bottom of the barrel...", "PCAs are treated like royalty...", "I wish they would get rid of the CNA/PCA title..."). I'm more than certain that that is reflected in your attitude at work, whether you intend it or not.[/quote']

We weren't THERE. We do not know the TONE of the voice used when the RN was saying that. Me? I would not have been rude but I would have simply stated, "I think the Dr. (so and so) has it covered." I happen to think that it's insulting to everyone in the room to point out that a CNA can do that and Dr. so and so shouldn't have to. For GODS SAKE it was flicking a simple switch..... If I am truly busy I would ASK the CNA to do it...asking usually gets you results, no matter WHO it is you are asking. Some of these nurses also have to stop treating Dr.s like they are some kind of demi gods.

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We weren't THERE. We do not know the TONE of the voice used when the RN was saying that. Me? I would not have been rude but I would have simply stated, "I think the Dr. (so and so) has it covered." I happen to think that it's insulting to everyone in the room to point out that a CNA can do that and Dr. so and so shouldn't have to. For GODS SAKE it was flicking a simple switch..... If I am truly busy I would ASK the CNA to do it...asking usually gets you results, no matter WHO it is you are asking. Some of these nurses also have to stop treating Dr.s like they are some kind of demi gods.

The OP may have completely valid complaints in this situation. HOWEVER, she blew it when she went off on the RN for being rude in front of the patient. Two wrongs don't make a right, and her valid complaints against the RN should have been made in private. Not because the RN necessarily deserves it, but because the patient should NOT have to have a CNA/RN power struggle foisted upon them when they are sick and vulnerable.

It seems to me that all behaved in an unprofessional matter. The specifics of who did what should have been worked out in the appropriate setting. The patient's room was not that place.

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

The charge nurse is both a nurse and the charge nurse. As the title implies, they are in charge. Having the conversation in front of the patient was not appropriate. Telling you to do something was not. I have a masters degree and extensive management experience, but am a nursing student right now. Just like my friend with a doctoral degree in my program, I realize that in most situations right now I am the subordinate. You are not being treated badly when someone says that the cna can do a task that a cna can do, just like when at 3am the charge nurse says "the student can do it" after a patient poos everywhere, I am not being treated badly. It is just part of not being in charge. If you would like to change that, there is a process for going to nursing school, and one for becoming charge. However, you will always be subordinate to someone.

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

I concur on how it reads. As I said previously, I think the conversation happened in the wrong place. However, if someone is in charge, it is appropriate for them to delegate tasks. The fact that this is about flipping a light switch just screams, "giant chip."

First thing I didn't read in any previous post where anyone told you to do something whether it's your job or not, just because a nurse told you to do it. Second thing, the RN wasn't asking you to provide patient care - she was asking you to turn off a light. This whole thing reads like you have a giant chip on your shoulder about being a CNA (ex: "CNAs are bottom of the barrel...", "PCAs are treated like royalty...", "I wish they would get rid of the CNA/PCA title..."). I'm more than certain that that is reflected in your attitude at work, whether you intend it or not.[/quote']
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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I can see where this would have rankled. If you do become a nurse, you will deal with things on a daily basis that rankle. The charge nurse may have been high-handed, or maybe just misfiring. It is in your best interest to learn to let stupid stuff go, and get good at picking your battles. Coming across as though you have a chip on your shoulder will pave the way to being constantly left out, overlooked and passed over.

Previous posters are right. Only you control how you handle yourself and that will make a huge difference in what opportunities come your way or always seem just out of reach.

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Well good , you're. CNA and obviously the only one who knew how to turn off that light , I wouldn't read too much into it. She probably mentioned your designation so all present would know you belonged there. .

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First- Shands is a wonderful hospital but it's not even in the top 10 largest hospitals in the south. Nor is it the largest even in Florida.

Second- It comes down to tone of voice/intent of the nurses reply. If she was being condescending then yes, she was wrong. If she was simply letting the physician know you could help out and turn off the light as you were in there as a CNA sitting for the day & not a family member, then you're being overly sensitive. Either way it was inappropriate to discuss it at all in front of the patient. Just turn off the light as they asked. If you truly felt the nurse was out of line then take them aside privately and discuss it like adults. The patient comes first.

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