Let me start off by saying that a Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) are the backbones of every Nursing home. Without our assistance, the Nurses job would be way more difficult than it is. Apparently CNA's have it so easy and our job is 100% stress free according to some Nurses that I work with. If our job is so easy then why are we in such high demand? Also if that were to be true, then why can't the Nurses (RN and LPN) handle their work plus ours in a 12 hour shift?
Responsibilities of a CNA;
1. Get residents dressed for the day.
2. Shower and or bathe residents.
3. Toilet residents.
4. Assist residents with eating if applicable.
5. Assist residents with Physical Therapy needs such as restorative walking or passive range of motion.
6. Provide emotional support to residents and residents family members.
7. Answer each and every call light as soon as it is noticed and accomodate resident with their requests.
Although the responsibilities of a CNA versus a Nurse differ vastly, and the nurses resposibilities listed look noticeably longer - a CNA encounters much more physical and mental stress in an eight hour work day than a nurse does in a twelve hour day.
Nurses want to *****, moan, and complain about how they have it so hard. To be quite honest, a nurse in a nursing home setting mostly does the following;
1. Pass medications when a QMA (Qualified Medications Aide) is not on staff for that shift. 5% physical work*
3. Check blood sugars (when a QMA is not on staff for the shift) 2% physical work*
4. Deliver insulins. 1% physical work
5. Resident charting. (medications, behaviors, vital signs, etc.) NO PHYSICAL WORK REQUIRED
6. Resident assesments. NO PHYSICAL WORK REQUIRED
For the most part, the above list is about all a Nurse has to do in a nursing home setting. The CNA has to lift heavy people in and out of bed, on and off the toilet, up and down out of a wheelchair...and get around 11 or more residents ready for bed each day. We only have eight hours to take care of 11+ people and have to provide accurate care following every step correctly according to nursing guidelines with no leway whatsoever at all.
I'm sorry but our job definitely involves way MORE physical and mentally stressful work than a nurses does, and whoever disagrees with me, so be it. I know first hand.
*Estimated percentage of physical work
**Estimated percentage with the assistance of a CNA or QMA
