Can they do anything to me?

[christian51]

I am a CNA. I went to work yesterday, in a hospital. It had my name up

to be taking care of 24 patients. The nurses only had only 4 a piece. They

donot like to help the aides. I went to the house supervisor, and told her

that I could not take care of that many pts. I told her it was illegal to

make a CNA do all those pts by themself. Can they do anything to me for

that. I alwaysthought that if they don't have enough CNAS for the pt load

that they should put an LPN to do a list. Please write back.

[baby bluz]

Hi, I read your post, and I could really identify with you. I have had my CNA license for 4 months now. My first job is in a LTC facility, 2pm - 10pm shift, and I frequently care for 19 patients. I find it overwhelming, and after reading some of your posts, I believe I will look for another job. I would like to be able to do a really good job, but when you have so many to care for, it's impossible to give top notch care. You are just busy trying to survive your shift.

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

First off, if I were assigned that many patients I'd clock out and go home. That is a ridiculous number of patients to be responsible for...ouch.

I've read many of the posts on the CNA forum and I think it's generally the consensus that it's way too many patients for way too few CNA's. My job is similar to a CNA but I have a broader scope of practice, so I can completely feel your pain.

There are facilities out there and nurses out there who support and appreciate your work and will work with you...the trouble is that for every one facility or floor that fits that criteria, there are 20 that don't.

I got out of caring for adults years ago because it is backbreaking work - kudos to all of you who do it on a daily basis, I can not. The lack of teamwork you speak of between staff exists everywhere, unfortunately. Perhaps not on a particular floor of a hospital, like mine...or maybe a specific shift is worse than another, but it truly is everywhere.

What needs to happen is for EVERYONE to acknowledge each other and our specific contribution to the patients in our care. Too often, nurses are so overworked they don't care how hard the techs are working...or they simply can't help because they're overwhelmed with their own responsibilities.

I agree with a poster above who said "do it in teams"..excellent idea. I'm lucky in that I have nurses who work with us..if I'm busy with an IV, someone else will take a patient to radiology. Or if I'm giving a bath, another person will recheck that temp to see if Johnny's fever went down. Teamwork has to happen or nothing gets better.

Jay's post is full of good ideas. Find out the important things each nurse or patient needs. Work with the nurses, you 'd be amazed how willing they may be to work with you.

As for another post about the CNAs being turned in for "abandonment", as far as I know, CNAs aren't legally responsible for the care of the patient, so all that hype about losing your license is just that...hype. Show me proof and I'll reconsider. Until then, dispel your fear. Too much is too much, and if you're not satisfied or feel unsafe doing what you're doing - find another job at a better place.

I consider myself extremely lucky to work in a place where RNs do answer call lights...um, it's a friggin' no brainer. Who's the one who's gonna have to get up and go give them their PRN Tylenol..HELLO!! That's surely what mom's calling out for...duh. I'd go to them and express your concerns. Perhaps they don't know...or, more alarmingly...perhaps they don't think it's their job? Gotta wonder how stupid someone would have to be to think that - but lets be realistic here.

Jay is also correct on another point - communication truly IS key. If you can't get to something - let someone know...and be sure they understand. Tell them, "look, I've got 15 things to do already and you're at the back of the line"...take a number or better yet, do it yourself. Jaded and rude as that sounds, if someone doesn't realize how busy you truly are then perhaps they need that bit of "attitude" to open their eyes. The point is...YOU ARE ONE PERSON. YOU CAN ONLY DO THE REASONABLE WORK OF ONE PERSON. YOU CAN'T BE IN TWO PLACES AT THE SAME TIME. And you shouldn't have to break your back all day or night to earn what meager sum of pennies they think you'll accept.

For some lucky people, CNA is a stepping stone for a career in nursing or something else. For others, it's a career unto itself. CNAs everywhere need to band together, establish standards for things like the working conditions mentioned above. It's only through action that change is an outcome.

Sorry for the length. I'm stepping off the soapbox now.

vamedic4

I can't sleep, can you tell?