CNA Job while waiting for clinicals

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 20, 2005

Hi.
I am a career change student who is looking for a flexible CNA job to supplement income while I am attending school. However, I got a bad taste in my mouth when I had an interview at a local nursing home that was holding a job fair. I had an interview with this one lady who told me that I was a "high-risk" candidate. (???!) By this she meant I would have to go through "extensive" training, on top of their regular training, because I got my certification back in OCTOBER 2004! OH MY GOD that is really a long time ago!!! (sarcasm). Has anyone else heard anything this stupid? I mean it would be different if I waited 23 months after being certified to start looking for a job, but this--this is rediculous! :angryfire
Also, she told me that there was no other way to be an RN, if you don't work as a CNA. Is this true? There are other things I can do, employment-wise, while waiting for clinicals.
Please let me know! I'd love to hear feedback on this! Thanks!

Hi. It definitely helps to be a CNA first before you are a RN, but there is no such thing whatsoever that says you HAVE to be a CNA first! I think the person who told you that is missing some marbles! If I were you, I would try to get a job as a CNA somewhere else besides that nursing home. what about local hospitals? You will learn a heck of a lot more in a hospital than you will ever in a nursing home. I was a CNA in a hospital during my sophomore and junior and senior years of school and it helped me understand things a lot better. Good luck to you!!!!! :)

pricklypear · Jun 20, 2005

I agree - try the local hospitals. The pay should be better, too. Some schools actually require CNA experience either for admission, or as part of training. But it is certainly not necessary to be a nurse. I was a CNA when I went to school, and I learned a lot. Those of us who were CNAs were a little more comfortable with patient care and the setting in general at first. I also have great empathy for our hardworking CNAs since I have walked in their shoes.

jemommyRN · Jun 20, 2005

I had a horrible experience as a CNA and it put a very sour taste in my mouth about the whole nursing experience. The hospital I worked at OVERWORKED me. There were times when I would have 16 patients (almost evertime) or so. The nurses felt like they could not do ANYTHING pertaining to CNA work. It made me sooooooo upset. I just had to quit. The only good part is that I learned how NOT to treat my CNAs when I become a nurse. I do understand that it was just this one hospital that I had my bad experience at and now I am over it and moving on. It was ridiculous.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 21, 2005

I had a horrible experience as a CNA and it put a very sour taste in my mouth about the whole nursing experience. The hospital I worked at OVERWORKED me. There were times when I would have 16 patients (almost evertime) or so. The nurses felt like they could not do ANYTHING pertaining to CNA work. It made me sooooooo upset. I just had to quit. The only good part is that I learned how NOT to treat my CNAs when I become a nurse. I do understand that it was just this one hospital that I had my bad experience at and now I am over it and moving on. It was ridiculous.

Jemommy,

Why on earth would they make you take 16 patients?! That is so unfair not to mention unsafe! How long were you in that position for? Wow...and I used to complain about having 8 patients to take care of! I just don't get why some hospitals do that to their nursing staff.

pricklypear · Jun 21, 2005

Having 16 patients as a CNA isn't really that big a deal. Depending on what your responsibilities are and how much the nurses do for themselves. My first job as a nurse was a tele floor with 27 beds. The only time we had more than 1 CNA was if there were only 2 nurses. Our CNA was only responsible for call lights, weights (and we did a lot of our own) emptying foleys, filling pitchers and blood sugars. We did our own vitals, and all our own documenting of I&O. All they had to document was weights and blood sugars. On other floors, they would expect 1 CNA to be totally responsible for 20-30 pts, doing VS, I&Os, weights, and blood sugars. Now THAT is unreasonable. I think it just all boils down to what kind of teamwork there is. And that will obviously vary from place to place. I just have to laugh when people complain about the high turnover rates for their CNAs. DUH! If they are treated badly, they'll go elsewhere. Some nurses would rather go without any help than "stoop" to help out with work they feel is beneath them - like answering a call light. Go figure.

KnarfKS · Jun 21, 2005

My hospital is changing staffing assignments per patient ratios. It is now possible to have 2 aides and 5 nurses for 28 patients. This is of course in a critical care unit with 40% vents and quite a few wounds. This happened a week ago, I had 14 patients, 10 of the 14 were incontinent, 5 with c-diff. Policy says everyone gets a bath every day and it was also a saturday so I had to help get the patients up without the assistance of PT at least once each for 8 of them. I also have wts, BS, vitals and other duties also. The nurses were as busy if not more so trying to get meds and treatments done, so they were unable to help me most of the time. After this 12 hours of hell I wrote a formal complaint to the administrators, but have yet to hear back.

The families didn't complain about the staff because they saw me and the nurses literally sweating from running from room to room. We nicely asked them to complain to the administrators about the lack of staff also. They were lied to about nurse to patient ratios.

I was not angry because of working hard, I was angry because patient care severely suffered to the point of being dangerous.

BTW, CNA class as far as I'm concerned is worthless anyway. Anyone with any common sense at all can pass that certification (at least in KS). It taught nothing that was important to me as a current CNA. Working as a CNA is good if you are becoming an RN because you know what the people you are in charge of do and it teaches humility.

jemommyRN · Jun 21, 2005

Having 16 patients as a CNA isn't really that big a deal. Depending on what your responsibilities are and how much the nurses do for themselves. My first job as a nurse was a tele floor with 27 beds. The only time we had more than 1 CNA was if there were only 2 nurses. Our CNA was only responsible for call lights, weights (and we did a lot of our own) emptying foleys, filling pitchers and blood sugars. We did our own vitals, and all our own documenting of I&O. All they had to document was weights and blood sugars. On other floors, they would expect 1 CNA to be totally responsible for 20-30 pts, doing VS, I&Os, weights, and blood sugars. Now THAT is unreasonable. I think it just all boils down to what kind of teamwork there is. And that will obviously vary from place to place. I just have to laugh when people complain about the high turnover rates for their CNAs. DUH! If they are treated badly, they'll go elsewhere. Some nurses would rather go without any help than "stoop" to help out with work they feel is beneath them - like answering a call light. Go figure.

With 16 patients, I was responsible for VS q4h, I&Os, weights, blood sugars, baths, call lights, etc. Like I said the nurses weren't doing anything they felt their CNAs could do. It was totally ridiculous and unreasonable and I only worked there for about a month. It stumbled how I felt about nursing in general and it took away alot of my enthusiasm about the career. The nurses really weren't mean, they would just say (in a really nice voice) "oh, ms. so and so just pulled her IV out and there is blood everywhere, could you get that for me?" and then they would go sit down. Keep in mind, between all of my patients I was responsible for charting VS, I&Os etc. I would never wish the experience on anyone.

pricklypear · Jun 21, 2005

With 16 patients, I was responsible for VS q4h, I&Os, weights, blood sugars, baths, call lights, etc. Like I said the nurses weren't doing anything they felt their CNAs could do. It was totally ridiculous and unreasonable and I only worked there for about a month. It stumbled how I felt about nursing in general and it took away alot of my enthusiasm about the career. The nurses really weren't mean, they would just say (in a really nice voice) "oh, ms. so and so just pulled her IV out and there is blood everywhere, could you get that for me?" and then they would go sit down. Keep in mind, between all of my patients I was responsible for charting VS, I&Os etc. I would never wish the experience on anyone.

That sounds pretty bad. I just don't understand why places are allowed to treat support staff like that. It's amazing how much can get done, in a short amount of time when everybody pitches in. LIke I said before, my experiences as a CNA have taught me invaluable lessons on teamwork. I can't imagine sitting on my butt while the CNAs are still running around. We will frequently get our own I&Os and VS if the aides are busy with messes or confused pts. From what I've heard, it doesn't work that way on the floors or on dayshift ususally at my place.

speedykicks · Jun 21, 2005

That sounds pretty bad. I just don't understand why places are allowed to treat support staff like that. It's amazing how much can get done, in a short amount of time when everybody pitches in. LIke I said before, my experiences as a CNA have taught me invaluable lessons on teamwork. I can't imagine sitting on my butt while the CNAs are still running around. We will frequently get our own I&Os and VS if the aides are busy with messes or confused pts. From what I've heard, it doesn't work that way on the floors or on dayshift ususally at my place.

Prickly - where in Kansas are you? You can respond via private message if you wish.