CNA's Humiliation

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Hi,

I Was advise to take the CNA certification so that I could work on it, While I'm going for my associate degree in nursing. However, one of my sisters who took the CNA program told me that the job is about cleaning the elderlies doodoos and lots of other nasty things. She herself after gotten her certificate never worked on it. Anoter sister of mine is currently a student in the medical field told me she saw the CNA's in

the hospital and they are not treated fairly. They have no prestige. It's a real humiliating job.

After hearing all that, it made me rethink my decision. However, I still don't know if I want to get into something like that. Can you please let me know the CNA's real job.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Originally posted by CrystalUTK:

Hang in there,

A pt asked me a question, and the nurse replied back to the pt with the response "SHE doesnt know things like that, she is JUST THE BLOOD PRESSURE AND BEDPAN GIRL!" That flew all over me, but I went on with my job. Having prestige, you will never have...In my opinion that is.

....If you think that cleaning stool is degrading, then you might want to think again about being a nurse...Just because you are a nurse does not mean you run around giving meds all day and that you dont clean up stool or emesis. I dont mean to be harsh about that, but I know too many present nurses that think like that and that is not right! ....Because as a nurse, you will do that to!!!!!!!

Originally posted by CrystalUTK:

Hang in there,

...A pt asked me a question, and the nurse replied back to the pt with the response "SHE doesnt know things like that, she is JUST THE BLOOD PRESSURE AND BEDPAN GIRL!"

Wow, I am so lucky to not have to work with people(nurses) that would say something like that to me. I am a Phlebotomist/CNA. I work in a wonderful unit, at UVa. I don't know what my response would have been if one of my "co-workers" had said that to me. But I would of had a word with her in private.

I have been upset before by a nurse or two and our attending gets a stick up her butt every now and then. But I don't take it personnally. I have been mede to feel inferior at times. When that happens, I say, "I know, I am the lowly CNA, Master." That gets a laugh and the inferiority ends. It isnt even anything that is really a big deal. But I will not be treated as someone that doesn't know what they are doing. I feel I am respected by my co-workers. I do not know the things they know. I respect the knowledge that my co-workers hold. I look up to them, But I am not inferior.

I am very good at what I do. I anticipate what is needed by my attending, Rn's and other co-workers. If something needs to be done, I usually have it done before I am asked. I guess I am one of a lucky few. My CNA job isnt as back breaking as some others.

I was just accepted to nursing school on early admission. I watch everything the RN's do and I ask questions about the things I am not sure of (diagnoses)and treatments. It has helped me working at a teaching hospital more than I could have gotten working somewhere else. I LOVE my job, through the blunders and everything I have been through.

I have been told by RN's I work with, " I wish you could hang this or do that." My reply, " I could do it, I just don't have my license yet." They laugh and say, " I know you could. Hurry up and get it."

well heck, I am totally off topic. Sorry!! wink.gif

A job as a CNA varies greatly depending on where you work. I do recommend that if you want to go into nursing that you get the experience of being a CNA before you become a nurse. If is a wonderful job that I will never regret holding. I know that being a CNA will help me to be the best nurse I can.

Sorry for rambling..

Meredith

0 Votes

Hang In There,

I have worked as a cna for over eight years. Working as a nurse aid taught me about human compassion and humility. Sure there were times when I felt helpless and inferior, mabe even less educated. I too went to college mabe in some ways out of spite. I have been asked to come and speak in a health occupations class. The students in this class are all learning to be nurse aids. The teacher wants me to talk about my nurse aid experience and how I worked my way through college by working as a cna. I feel very torn about this. Its not that I felt degraded working as a cna;I felt misplaced. I do not know why she chose me to come and speak. I never went to nursing school and I am no nurse. In college I studied criminal justice and behavioral science. This experience should be very interesting. I hope I do not scare them off.

------------------

Nursing assistant

0 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I too worked as a CNA in a nursing home while I was in Nursing school and let me tell you ther is no tougher job that I can think of. I agree in that I also think that all nurses should be required to work as a CNA befor they get their license. the Nursing home in which I worked, I cared for up to 16 total care residents with absolutely NO help from any of the LPN's or RN's. Their excuse was "I have a bad back". Well I got a bad back from lifting residents that could not bear weight. Never did a nurse at the nursing home EVER answer a call light. As a CNA, I got to know the residents better than the nurses and whenever they had a question about the resident they would always come to the CNA for the answer.

You have to deal with physical and verbal abuse from patients. I was kicked, hit, bitten, slapped even punched in the jaw and had my hair pulled and bitten in the breast by some of the residents in my care. Yes you do have to clean up poop on a daily basis.

Doing all of those things before I became an RN made me a better nurse. I always help put the CNA's on my floor at the hospital and I even answer call lights when I'm not busy doing my job. Some RN's I work with NEVER answer call bells. Good luck with what ever it is that you decide

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Originally posted by CrystalUTK:

Hang in there,

Yes, your sister was right, CNAs do clean up stool and stuff, but that is not all! I am currently going to nursing school as well...I am a junior working on my BSN...I also working in a hospital as a nursing student (but am referred to as an aid). There are times that you will be humiliated, but you have to remember, you are there for the patients and not yourself. About a month ago I ran into a situation that you might want to think about...A pt asked me a question, and the nurse replied back to the pt with the response "SHE doesnt know things like that, she is JUST THE BLOOD PRESSURE AND BEDPAN GIRL!" That flew all over me, but I went on with my job. Having prestige, you will never have...In my opinion that is. You just have to remember, whether you have an associates, diploma, bsn, etc...You are should be there for the pts and not for this so called prestige. The patients need someone who will listen and who will help them willingly.

I will admit, cleaning incont. pts all day can get a little overwhelming and nasty at times, but it is worth it when you see the smile on the pts face...Especially when you let them no that it is ok and they are not a burden.

Besides cleaning stool, where I work, I also: do EKGs, draw blood, give baths, backrubs...Basically anything I can do for the pts that is within the limits.

I know I have rambled on, so one last word before I go...If you think that cleaning stool is degrading, then you might want to think again about being a nurse...Just because you are a nurse does not mean you run around giving meds all day and that you dont clean up stool or emesis. I dont mean to be harsh about that, but I know too many present nurses that think like that and that is not right! THE PATIENTS need you and that is why you should do this not because it is a job or you think it will bring in the money! If you dont want to clean up stool, then you better think about another career...Because as a nurse, you will do that to!!!!!!!

I have a similar story to tell. I knew a RN who was dateing a married doctor at the time and when he finally left her for another woman her reply was.....and to think he would leave me for a non-professtional! She had the nerve to say such a thing in front of the nurse's aids. What utter gall!!!!
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hanginthere

If you are not sure about becoming a CNA you try to find a facility in your area that will allow you to do an 8 hour observance. When i became a CNA it was through a facility training program and they required that i follow a CNA during an 8 hour shift. It definitely is not a glamorous job and you will not get alot of prestige from anyone other than your patients and their family members but that in its self can be rewarding. I am now an LPN and i feel that being a CNA then CMA first helped make me a better nurse and if you are in a position in wich you will supervise Cna's it will make you a better supervisor because you know and understand their job. Not that you can't be without it i worked with some nurses who were never CNA's and they were great Whatever you decide best of luck.

0 Votes
Specializes in LDRP; Education.

B/

I agree in that I also think that all nurses should be required to work as a CNA befor they get their license. B/

I don't know if I agree with this....

I didn't work as a CNA through college, I was a physician answering service. I made more money sitting on my duff paging physicians than my friends who were running their butts off. Sometimes NOT being a CNA has more to do with money than anything else.

My floor only RECENTLY started having aides - until then we as nurses did it all. I don't think I would have to work as a CNA in order to appreciate them more or treat them better. If I were just a plain out MEAN person, I would treat them badly whether I was a CNA or not. Just some food for thought....

smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Susy K (edited April 03, 2001).]

0 Votes
Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by catherine milam:

Originally posted by CrystalUTK:

Hang in there,

Yes, your sister was right, CNAs do clean up stool and stuff, but that is not all! I am currently going to nursing school as well...I am a junior working on my BSN...I also working in a hospital as a nursing student (but am referred to as an aid). There are times that you will be humiliated, but you have to remember, you are there for the patients and not yourself. About a month ago I ran into a situation that you might want to think about...A pt asked me a question, and the nurse replied back to the pt with the response "SHE doesnt know things like that, she is JUST THE BLOOD PRESSURE AND BEDPAN GIRL!" That flew all over me, but I went on with my job. Having prestige, you will never have...In my opinion that is. You just have to remember, whether you have an associates, diploma, bsn, etc...You are should be there for the pts and not for this so called prestige. The patients need someone who will listen and who will help them willingly.

I will admit, cleaning incont. pts all day can get a little overwhelming and nasty at times, but it is worth it when you see the smile on the pts face...Especially when you let them no that it is ok and they are not a burden.

Besides cleaning stool, where I work, I also: do EKGs, draw blood, give baths, backrubs...Basically anything I can do for the pts that is within the limits.

I know I have rambled on, so one last word before I go...If you think that cleaning stool is degrading, then you might want to think again about being a nurse...Just because you are a nurse does not mean you run around giving meds all day and that you dont clean up stool or emesis. I dont mean to be harsh about that, but I know too many present nurses that think like that and that is not right! THE PATIENTS need you and that is why you should do this not because it is a job or you think it will bring in the money! If you dont want to clean up stool, then you better think about another career...Because as a nurse, you will do that to!!!!!!!

I have a similar story to tell. I knew a RN who was dateing a married doctor at the time and when he finally left her for another woman her reply was.....and to think he would leave me for a non-professtional! She had the nerve to say such a thing in front of the nurse's aids. What utter gall!!!!

I had to read that nurses response to the pt., concerning you three times, as I couldn't believe I was reading it right! I mean eyes are falling me in my old age, and I just couldn't believe it! Also, you never have expect any other response out of person, who carries on an affair with a married man. She didn't even respect herself, the man she was with, and last of all his wife, or family. So why expect her to respect anyone else?

Brownie

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