Certified nursing assistants not welcome!

[Barbie8808]

So first let me say I myself am a certified nursing assistant so this will not be a blog discriminating against CNA's. But more of a venting session if I must. I was recently invited to a SECRET black nurse organization on one of the most popular social media sites on the web. I was ecstatic to be invited and love every moment of it as I saw it as a chance to receive a wealth of information and access to resources as I am a learning nursing student as well. But this quickly faded as the swarms of members joined and it turned it into a Picture gallery of single sexy nurses across the nation. I'm leading to an event that prompted the admin to make a list of rules one of them being if your not an actual NURSE (lpn or RN) or a nursing student you cannot be apart of this group. Now in my head I'm like whats the discrimination for; cna's are the back bone to nursing itself.As more and more time goes by CNA's are not just helping with toileting and feeding needs (Which to me nursing should be a holistic approach and contributes the overall treatment to the patient) we possess phlebotomy skills and more on the job more skills such ng tube feeds iv and more. It lead to comments being thrown around like "no offense to CNA's but I work hard for my nursing license" "They can join when they become an actual nurse" which never lead to my question which is "SHOULD CNA'S NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE REALM OF NURSING?"

[Alisonisayoshi, LVN]

I took an NCLEX, you did not, that's a big difference. If this little group requires having sat for, and passed, that particular exam, that's it's standard. It doesn't make a CNA not valuable and useful, it just means they aren't licensed nurses, and therfore this group of yours deems them ineligible. Period. It's not a dig, or a slight on what you do. It simply means you don't meet their standard, as you don't do the same work. Seems fairly cut and dry to me.

[ixchel]

I One even question my competence by asking weather or not a stick a 18 g needle in patients.(If you think I'm sticking a 18g needle in little old miss annie whose a hard stick to begin with then so be it lol)!

That was me, and your response indicates that you do actually use 18g needles when you can. Am I reading that right? It was legit question. There isn't an indication for using 18g needles when starting IVs. EBP indicates it is best practice to use the smallest needles you are able to use for that patient. If it is a patient who will need rapid infusions, then it does make sense to use a higher gauge, but even then, a 20g in the AC space will likely do the job.

I was curious, not questioning your competency. I would recommend finding research on this topic and perhaps approaching the unit manager/director with it.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Hang All FEEDS For NG or GJ tubes(NOT INSERT OR CHECK PLACEMENT)

Wait. How can you hang a feed without checking placement? You at least check for residuals first, right? You verify the order for what the max amount of residual allowed before you have to hold the feeding? Do you chart the amount and the nature of the residuals?

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Wait. How can you hang a feed without checking placement? You at least check for residuals first, right? You verify the order for what the max amount of residual allowed before you have to hold the feeding? Do you chart the amount and the nature of the residuals?

This is getting weirder & weirder...

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

There will probably always be a pissing contest between cnas and rns.

It sounds like you work in a pretty poisonous environment.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

There will probably always be a pissing contest between cnas and rns.

I've never seen it. The only time I've had an issue with CNAs is when they try to go above their scope of practice. Then I have issues with that!

[ixchel]

You are absolutely right UAPs and RNs have very clearly defined roles and there is no need for ruffled feathers between the two.

There just are sometimes.

You need to pick a side of the fence and stick with it.

Also, trauma is just one specialty. I will again say - you don't know what you don't know, and your response to me is evidence of that.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Ky, I think it's worth noting that "clarifying" differences between a CNA, PCT and PCA is rather futile. After all, it is up to every facility that uses nurse assistants as to what they are literally called. Beyond the "c" in CNA meaning "certified", everything else is up for grabs. Yes, you said you only knew about where you work, but then you really can't explain something as though it's a set standard when it is anything but. Might not have been your intention, but it does look that way.

One facility may refer to an aide that has XX skills as a PCT, and another aide with another set of skills as a PCA. Doesn't matter in the slightest as if that employee pops on over to another facility, the reverse description may be true. Or have NEITHER job title apply, as they use ACTs (Assistant Care Techs) who do it all.

Are there nurses who are arrogant and full of themselves? Yep. Are there aides who are arrogant and full of themselves? Yep. People are people.

But I think people are getting away from the POINT of this thread.....it is NOT about how important this job is or that one is, or who is allowed to do this or allowed to do that. Different discussion, really, and about as futile as this one, IMHO, as I think it's pretty clear that as long as you do your job well (whatever that is) it is important. Do it badly....not so much.

The point of the OP's post was to ask whether CNAs should be included in the membership for a group that is exclusively nurses and nursing students. Really very simple, and quite clear cut: NO.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

The point of the OP's post was to ask whether CNAs should be included in the membership for a group that is exclusively nurses and nursing students. Really very simple, and quite clear cut: NO.

Exactly. Professional organizations--although this "secret" organization seems more like a social pursuit (dating service?) only--have the right to only allow members of that given profession and, sometimes, only ones with certain certifications or achievements. I cannot go out and join a professional group for lawyers. I am likely not to be able to join if I were a paralegal--even if some paralegals might argue that they are the "backbone" of the profession.

[nursehaley91, BSN, RN]

Wait. How can you hang a feed without checking placement? You at least check for residuals first, right? You verify the order for what the max amount of residual allowed before you have to hold the feeding? Do you chart the amount and the nature of the residuals?

Our CNA's (techs are what they are called at our hospital like has been said before) and at a nursing home I previously worked for in another state were allowed to do tube feedings as long as the RN/LPN had checked placement prior to giving them. They are also allowed to insert IV's, Foley's, ect but they have had further training on those things. They weren't just "thrown to the wolves." To me it's sketchy to allow that to happen but hey! I don't make the rules/policies

[Kystudentrn]

I agree this topic has strayed way off course. I'll admit I became agitated when some of the rns on here called one of the aids a liar on what they were allowed to do. It was inappropriate at best. Unless you have every policy and procedure memorized for every facility in existence you're simply not in a position to make that claim.

As far as picking a side goes? Ok perhaps I'm taking this wrong but I wasn't aware there were sides. There is only one and that's the pts bedside.

[ixchel]

I agree this topic has strayed way off course. I'll admit I became agitated when some of the rns on here called one of the aids a liar on what they were allowed to do. It was inappropriate at best. Unless you have every policy and procedure memorized for every facility in existence you're simply not in a position to make that claim.

As far as picking a side goes? Ok perhaps I'm taking this wrong but I wasn't aware there were sides. There is only one and that's the pts bedside.

Good grief. I lack multi quote on my phone so I'll just say my "picking sides" comment was because you somewhat contradicted yourself, not because I was expecting you to pick "sides" in this conversation (debate? What are we even talking about anymore???).

Never mind.