Why are CNAs not held to professional standards?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I came to this site to hopefully get some words of wisdom from some nurses out there...

I am a CNA who came into this job (from the recession ravaged business world) with the expectation of working with nurses, whom I have great respect for, and other healthcare professionals whom I could learn from. Well wasn't I in for a rude awakening when I learned that the LTC facility I work for has virtually no code of professional conduct when it comes to CNAs. It is neither expected nor demanded that the CNA staff behave in a professional manner, we are not required to treat each other or our nurses with respect or courtesy. When I complained about the lack of professionalism and courtesy among the nursing support staff I was told that it isn't necessary and that I should just ignore it and do my work and go home . What I am hoping to be advised on is whether this is common practice in all facilities, and are all CNAs are allowed to behave like unruly teenagers or is this exceptional to my place of employment? I need to know if I should simply move to another job in the same profession or if I should just give this up. I am not willing to spend 40+ hours a week of my life with people who behave as if they have no idea how to be polite and professional.

Each facility should have a code of conduct for every employee. It is more than likely found on your parent company's website.

However, if the management doesn't hold anyone up to any sort of standard, your issues fall on deaf ears.

Sometimes, right before a state survey, you may notice a difference--as I think that depending a "code of conduct" or practice standard has to be well defined.

It will be that or when a resident's family want to pull their relative out of the place due to this behavior that it will need to be addressed.

On your parent company website, there is usually an employee relations section. You may want to use it.

If there is a member of the administration team who is not "ignore it and go home" you may want to approach that person with a plan.

At the end of the day if the residents are happy, clean, well cared for unfortunately they let the staff just sort of "everyone for themselves" which is sad. Especially as adults who have been in the workforce at different levels for years.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Hello, and welcome to Allnurses!

To answer your main question, NO---it's not like that everywhere. I spent a lot of years in long-term care, and in most of the facilities I worked in, CNAs were held to the same professional standards as the nurses. They weren't allowed to push their work off on other staff, engage in bullying, or disrespect the residents or their nurses. That's not saying these things never happened, but usually the troublemakers found themselves written up or fired outright for repeat offenses.

As for you, be the change you want to see in the workplace. Model professional behaviors and don't let yourself get dragged down to others' level. If you need to change jobs, do it---CNA work doesn't pay enough to make it worth the stress of working with a bunch of idiots. :no:

Specializes in Provided temporary travel RN care to pat.

. Its a legal issue . you are held responsible for any injury and damages failure to provide a degree of care that others would consider reasonable under the circumstances when injury results to your patient

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Duaneconnell7..what does that have to do with the topic, I am confused, was that response meant for another post?

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I think my advice might be more specific depending on if the unprofessional behavior (that you don't really describe in detail) negatively impacts patient care or if they are boisterous and unruly in the resident's room, dining area or other public section of your facility or not.

When you say the CNAs "are not required to treat each other with respect or courtesy" I think of a vast middle ground where different individuals interpret other's behavior subjectively in different ways.

Although I've never worked in the business world I find many anecdotes here by second-career adults who complain about lack of professionalism in healthcare. There are some unique factors the healthcare systems job culture does not share with a corporate system. A while back we had someone who was upset because nobody said "good morning!" to her. Those social niceties don't always happen in nursing but I wouldn't call it disrespectful or rude

Speaking pragmatically, your management has indicated that they have no interest in changing the workplace culture and will regard any conflicts going forward as your fault most likely, so if the place becomes intolerable your only choice will be to resign.

Not all places are the same, so I think giving up your own job goals based on this one group would be premature. I would explore other options within your current job category (or related categories such as PCA or Med Tech) before abandoning ship altogether. Wishing you all the best!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Although I've never worked in the business world I find many anecdotes here by second-career adults who complain about lack of professionalism in healthcare. There are some unique factors the healthcare systems job culture does not share with a corporate system.
I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I'm going to mention some potentially controversial details that are specific to CNAs in the state where I reside.

In the state where I live, CNAs are required to have a ninth grade education and pass the state test. If the candidate is illiterate and/or cannot read well enough, he/she is allowed to be administered the state test orally.

For someone coming from a second career in the corporate world, working as a CNA in LTC can be quite a culture shock due to some of the coworkers you may end up with. In the city where I live, many of the CNAs in LTC are recruited from and trained by the state's welfare-to-workfare program. While many of the women enjoy their positions, others simply do not want to be there (and their attitudes spell it out loudly).

You might encounter less problems in an acute care hospital environment. Many of the CNAs in hospitals are students, career changers, and others who want to be there. It makes a difference when your coworkers are not part of a forced workforce of people who do not want to be there.

Good luck to you.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I'm going to mention some potentially controversial details that are specific to CNAs in the state where I reside.

In the state where I live, CNAs are required to have a ninth grade education and pass the state test. If the candidate is illiterate and/or cannot read well enough, he/she is allowed to be administered the state test orally.

For someone coming from a second career in the corporate world, working as a CNA in LTC can be quite a culture shock due to some of the coworkers you may end up with. In the city where I live, many of the CNAs in LTC are recruited from and trained by the state's welfare-to-workfare program. While many of the women enjoy their positions, others simply do not want to be there (and their attitudes spell it out loudly).

You might encounter less problems in an acute care hospital environment. Many of the CNAs in hospitals are students, career changers, and others who want to be there. It makes a difference when your coworkers are not part of a forced workforce of people who do not want to be there.

Good luck to you.

I understand what you are saying, but I don't think education has anything to do with it. Respect for the individual (and for authority) is something you should have been taught by the time your five. Maybe the problem is that they are forced into it. I became a CNA to help me get into nursing school. I already did that, but I've stayed because I truly love my job.

That being said, I'm a CNA in an LTC and I treat my nurses with the same respect they treat me. I have no problem doing anything they ask of me, and as long as they have my back I'll have theirs. I've been very fortunate to work with wonderful nurses who treat us as equals and try to work as a team. I have seen the same behavior the OP is mentioning a lot though and it irks my nerves as well. I love my residents and go way above and beyond for them. But hey, that's just me, everyone was raised differently. I don't argue with or disrespect the nurses, nor would I tolerate them or anyone trying to talk down to me. I'll put someone in their place real quick. I'll do it nicely, but I'll do it.

I'm so sorry your being treated that way. :( I promise not all of us are like that! I take a great deal of pride in my job. It sounds like you might need to go job hunting if things don't improve. My LTC facility would never allow that.

Don't let anyone mistreat you or your residents! I hope it gets better. ;)

Thank you all for your responses. It really does help me to hear different perspectives from people who are not directly invested in the situation.

I'm curious if you can give an example of the type of behavior you're referring to?

I agree with commuter. I've worked both LTD and acute care and the CNAs in acute care are way more professional. Maybe it's because they have better pay and better work conditions.

In general I think CNAs often lack professionalism because of the lack of respect given to them by the public, patients and nurse's. If CHAs can be given better pay, better work conditions and treated with respect then I think we would see a change in their attitude.

Well the LTC where I did clinical the cna's were rude and disrespectful to everyone (including the nurse managers!). The nurse would ask the cna to help with a task and they would flat out say NO! I'm not doing that! I never saw anything like it. So I would volunteer to help the nurses (with their 20-25 patients) with the tasks as much as I could. I little ole nursing student who by the way, doesn't get paid! SMH

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