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?"

[VAgirl56789]

There is a particular healthcare system in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina that employs "Nursing Care Partners" who are comparable to CNAs an PCTs and receive a similar level of education. It is routine for Care Partners to take vitals, perform glucose checks, insert Foleys, perform EKGs, draw blood, discontinue IVs and I have even heard of some on other units taking blood from PIC lines and Central lines, though this required some extra training.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

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!

Right. There is no pissing match between CNAs and RNs. A CNA is a CNA, she has no license, cannot practice independently, must be supervised by a licensed nurse. If I was ever a patient somewhere and a CNA came at me with an IV or a Foley, I'd be demanding my AMA papers right then and there. CNAs are not nurses and they need to understand the limitations of their role.

And, not to be a jerk but, weather = rain, snow, sun, heat, etc; whether = a conjunction that introduces two alternatives.

[Alisonisayoshi, LVN]

Right. There is no pissing match between CNAs and RNs. A CNA is a CNA, she has no license, cannot practice independently, must be supervised by a licensed nurse. If I was ever a patient somewhere and a CNA came at me with an IV or a Foley, I'd be demanding my AMA papers right then and there. CNAs are not nurses and they need to understand the limitations of their role.

And, not to be a jerk but, weather = rain, snow, sun, heat, etc; whether = a conjunction that introduces two alternatives.

I agree, no CNA is starting my IV or inserting my foley if I'm in an ED. I wouldn't be comfortable with that. Perhaps it's okay in some parts of the country, but I'm not totally sure it should be. I'd like to see some study on hospital acquired infection in facilities that allow this. I wonder if the rates are higher, or if my fears aren't justified at all... Personally, I just couldn't do it. I'd request a licensed nurse.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Where I used to work in med surg, the "nurse techs" inserted and discontinued IVs, did EKGs, vitals, finger sticks, drew labs, and d/c foleys. The used to be able to insert foleys til a tech at a sister hospital ruptured someone's bladder. They all had CNA certification. Apparently way back when like 20 years ago, the techs were able to do bolus tube feeds as well and wound care. Where I work now in the ER, techs do labs, IV starts, foleys, EKGs, fingersticks, etc. They are not allowed to d/c IVs anymore per the BON. Dont ask.

[Kystudentrn]

I think it's going to vary by facility. The hospital I work at is a magnet hospital as well as a teaching hospital. The only non rn ( they got rid of the Lpns) staff that can insert an iv or foley are nurse externs. Now our aids, techs can d/c them. Here is why, they are taught by the hospital. The same people that teach them are teaching nursing and medical students every day. I get your fear and I wouldn't blame you but i have never seen someone out of the local Cna mills doing foley or iv insertion.

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

I'm just going to jump in here and say CNA/PCT/NA/SN/etc. work is not the backbone of nursing. It just isn't. By the very definition, CNAs assist nurses so that they can do the things that are the true backbone of nursing. CNAs are facilitators who pick up the slack. I agree that there is some strange relationship between the two for some people but I've seen when an RN respects their assistant and relies on them and the assistant stays in their lane and is reliable and respectful in turn that there is magic there.

I can sum it up like this: I recently interviewed for an assistant position (as a student nurse, not as a CNA and definitely not as some rando off the street) and the manager put it to me very poignantly as (and I'm paraphrasing), CNAs/PCTs and the like have much more up close and personal relationships with the pts than the nurses typically get to and the nurses rely on that. The aides notice things and can report to the nurse things that otherwise might have been missed. It's still up to the nurse to ultimately do the assessing/protecting part, however.

[Barbie8808]

The aides notice things and can report to the nurse things that otherwise might have been missed. It's still up to the nurse to ultimately do the assessing/protecting part, however.

When I think of a back bone I think of support..... If I'm noticing something on your patient I don't know lets say a some type of decubitus. because your essentially doing the real nurse work. what do you call that. I think we need a brief introduction on what the history of nursing is before we Have a conversation of THE TRUE BACKBONE OF NUSRING.

[jrost80RNBSN]

To the best of my knowledge, CNA's are not allowed to touch an IV or a foley/NG tube. I also work for a magnet hospital, CNA's can do blood draws, vital signs, glucose monitoring. CNA's have a hard job and they are a great asset to the healthcare team, however, there is not enough education and clinical know how to perform these tasks.

[Kystudentrn]

As I have said several times it's going to vary by facility. Here they can...there they can't. It's actually in the aids skills checklist to learn how to do these tasks. With all due respect you saying it's not allowed is just as pointless as me saying it is. Policy trumps all I guess.

[Kystudentrn]

I need to clarify before someone starts that the skill checklist is what all new hire aids must accomplish within the first 90 days. Not in their Cna course.

[jrost80RNBSN]

I've seen multiple CNA classes, not one teaches any of that. Even with hospital techs. And I've worked for two different hospitals. No one is saying you aren't compitent, but the back bone of nursing is competent nurses that use evidence-based practice daily.

[Kystudentrn]

didn't read the second post did you? I didn't think so. You're absolutely right Cna courses don't teach this. However the nurses in the floor can and do for the aids and techs HERE. Not there..HERE. It is part of the 90 day skill evaluation checklist. See here they also have an advanced Cna certificate that can be earned through a university that also teaches those skills. I'm about done with this. I'm not going to convince you you're wrong and you can't convince me that I am since I work here and have a pretty good idea what I'm talking about.