CNA job making me almost want to give up Nursing

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2008

I was a PCT in a hospital setting for two years before becoming a nurse. CNA work is very hard work. I too, remember having some exhausting shifts. It does get better. If you need help and your nurses are not helping you, do not be afraid to speak up and say "I can't get Mr. X out of bed by myself, will you help me." As a nurse, there is so much more to my job than just passing meds and charting. I often don't stop running as I am busy calling dr's, turning pts, bathing, and more. A nurse is not immune from physical labor, so please do not think our job is more "fun."

Melinurse · Nov 17, 2008

Also, if you don't care too much for LTC, there are many other feilds to work as a nurse. But, yeah CNA work is hard physically and can be exhausting mentally. I work LTC and do help out as much as possible, I will get patients into the bathroom or help my CNAs turn pts, etc. If your nurses are not helping out at all, you should talk tot hem about it. Tell them you are running and need a little help. If they are not able to help, they may be able to pull another CNA from a slower floor to help for a bit.

AZMOMO2 · Nov 17, 2008

Lol funny how you say ask for help. I'm glad you help your girls/guys out. I don't expect someone to DO my job for me but... See below.

So I went to answer a call light only to have the Nurse standing next to the pt ( rehab side ) and she says, "Can you reposition her onto her left side so I can put her patch on when I come back?" It took me longer to walk down the hall into the Pt room than it would have taken for her to do it. Pt helps you move, just has a sore back and liked to lay on her right side. She could roll herself over if you asked. So I asked she rolled. All while Nurse standing there watching me!!

Today different Nurse, knows I was not supposed to be doing the floor yet, standing in the hall way when I said I needed someone to help me boost. She was charting the med she had just given to the patient I needed help with, I applied the TX she had to have on her bottom, and would she help? Nope, no other med open- would have taken a second to lift she was just in there with me, but no she said, "find an Aide."

Now come on!!

Melinurse · Nov 17, 2008

Lol funny how you say ask for help. I'm glad you help your girls/guys out. I don't expect someone to DO my job for me but... See below.
So I went to answer a call light only to have the Nurse standing next to the pt ( rehab side ) and she says, "Can you reposition her onto her left side so I can put her patch on when I come back?" It took me longer to walk down the hall into the Pt room than it would have taken for her to do it. Pt helps you move, just has a sore back and liked to lay on her right side. She could roll herself over if you asked. So I asked she rolled. All while Nurse standing there watching me!!
Today different Nurse, knows I was not supposed to be doing the floor yet, standing in the hall way when I said I needed someone to help me boost. She was charting the med she had just given to the patient I needed help with, I applied the TX she had to have on her bottom, and would she help? Nope, no other med open- would have taken a second to lift she was just in there with me, but no she said, "find an Aide."
Now come on!!

:no: No excuse for that kind of behavior. :nono: The only time I have ever said to find another aide was when there was a change of condition with one of my other patients. I hope the other nurses are better. When I was a CNA in LTC long ago, there were a few nurses like that, but then there were those who were awesome and very helpful. In fact, the reason I went into nursing was because of a nurse at the LTC facility named Julie. She was one of the few who went out of her way to help everyone. She had a very holistic approach to her nursing care. I decided I wanted to make a difference just like her and to be a nurse like her. ( at least that is one of the main reasons ) There are nurses out there who will step up and help but it's too bad that you are having to work with some who don't help. Lots of luck.

gillytook · Nov 18, 2008

At least as a nurse, I know I will not spend the shift doing over 100 sets of vitals and 30+ Accuchecks. It gets old after the first 50 or so! So does swinging over filled bags of soiled laundry into to the laundry bin.

It is a way to get myself through school and hopefully gaining some experience along the way. I am already way ahead of many of my fellow students as far as patient care. I just hope that I remember the lessons that I am learning both positive and negative and never become the nurse who pushes her work off on an already over burdened aide without even a "Thank you"!

I don't mind the work when I know that it is appreciated and that all are carrying their weight. A rough night when every one pitches in to get the job done and every one is praised for their role leaves me feeling that the job is more than worth it. Its the nights that I am taken for granted and abused and insulted because I cannot do the job of three people, that make me want to tell them to take this job and shove it.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2008

It is unfortunate that the nurse refused to help. The pt care responsibilities are as much the nurse's responsibilities as they are yours. As a nurse, barring an emergency, etc, I would be embarrassed to tell a PCT to "go find another PCT" to help. Please, continue to ask your nurses for assistance, and if necessary, let your management know that there is a lack of teamwork. Hopefully not all of the nurses you work with are like this.

AZMOMO2 · Nov 18, 2008

I agree with you Gilly. I just don't know if its worth it to work as a CNA right now at least not there... afraid it'll put a bad taste in my mouth if I stay there and ruin all the hard work I've done this far.

Thanks for all the feedback guys

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2008

I agree with you Gilly. I just don't know if its worth it to work as a CNA right now at least not there... afraid it'll put a bad taste in my mouth if I stay there and ruin all the hard work I've done this far.
Thanks for all the feedback guys

If it doesn't get better their are always other facilities hiring.

Gemini84 · Nov 18, 2008

I feel your pain! I worked as a CNA right out of high-school with the intentions of becoming a nurse. I thought "good experience and good hands on work".. it was great experience, but it was exhausting! I had the deal with alot of the nurses you have.. they would actually come and find us if we were on break, or in another patient's room just to answer a call light. It used to make me so mad! Alot of the LPN's I worked with back then really loved to show their authority. I have made the choice not to do CNA work again while in school. I know it will drive me away!! :no:

uscstu4lfe · Nov 18, 2008

an RN and CNA have very different roles.

an RN primarily does medications and does paperwork.

the CNA does all of the cleaning, turning, feeding, etc

gillytook · Nov 18, 2008

uscstu4lfe, not necessarily. At the hosptial where I work, most of the units do not even get aide on many of the shifts. When they do, the aide cares for 15 or more patients. The aides have to do their own charting of vital signs, I&Os and anything they do for the patient. Most shifts, all I have time for is vitals, Accuchecks and restocking. Then there are the trips to dietary, the blood bank and central supply. The nurses do the rest. They grab me if they have a patient that requires two people, or if I am busy, they grab another nurse. Just because you are a nurse does not make your job all paperwork and med passing.