How would you, as an LPN, feel about a CNA being YOUR supervisor? I've been a nurse for almost 20 years, and this really ticks me off. Is this even legal? I recently started a new job, at a new facility, and the staffing coordinator has the title of Nursing Coordinator. The chain of command....her then the D.O.N. I have no problem with an LPN being my supervisor, I was a nursing supervisor for a few years, but a CNA? PLEASE!!!!!! She and the D.O.N are good friends, but still she should not have the title as Nursing Coordinator AND be the direct "supervisor" of LPN's, or can she? I just don't agree with this, and it has me totally upset, ticked. That would be the samething as me supervising RN's, atleast I would think so. She is a CNA, never has been to nursing school, so how can she tell US what to do, or how to do it? Something is totally wrong with this picture. Thing is, she even acts like she's an LPN. Honestly, I thought she was until the other day when I found out different. Just wanted to know what someone else's oppinion is on this. Thanks.
This practice is unheard of where I work. I am a lead aide at my job. This means I am the aide in charge of all the other aides on my shift.
I kind of have mixed feelings. ON the one hand who am I to tell a nurse how to be a nurse when I haven't walked in their shoes. HOWEVER, how can a nurse honestly tell me as an aide how to be an aide if they haven't been there??? Maybe it SHOULD be mandatory for students to be an aide for a certain amount of time. I've had issues with nurses that weren't aides before and now I see why!
It think it all comes down to SOME nurses think they are better since they have a degree.
I couldn't agree with you more. I have always said being a cna SHOULD be a pre-requisite to nursing school, whether LPN or RN. I was a cna before and during nursing school and I truly believe it makes for a better nurse. But, regardless whether or not they were cna's to begin with, the nurse is ultamitley responsible for the cna and therefore can tell a cna what they should do. Afterall, they are the charge nurse, in LTC anyway.
Maybe it SHOULD be mandatory for students to be an aide for a certain amount of time.
Initially most nursing schools DO require their students to do the work an aide normally would. I'm speaking of during their clinical rotation.s The first six weeks of clinicals nursing students work very closely with the aides. I do have to say that is what I experieced at my school and what my friends have experienced here in Houston. My first six weeks of clinicals I made beds, gave bed baths/showers, changed diapers, provided oral care, and helped with feeding.
Initially most nursing schools DO require their students to do the work an aide normally would. I'm speaking of during their clinical rotation.s The first six weeks of clinicals nursing students work very closely with the aides. I do have to say that is what I experieced at my school and what my friends have experienced here in Houston. My first six weeks of clinicals I made beds, gave bed baths/showers, changed diapers, provided oral care, and helped with feeding.
If she let her CNA lapse, would you be more comfortable? To me, a staffing coordinator position is no different than any of the other non-nursing filled positions, like the receptionist, buisness office,administration, HR.... Sometimes I wish that all positions were filled by nurses that have done our job, because then I think there would be more cohesion, but that is just not the case. At least she would be more inclined to staff the CNAs appropriately, don't you think? On a side note, at our facility, all the department directors take turns going down the halls with a clipboard, checking that nursing is doing their job. Very annoying sometimes, especially when it's our activities director saying so and so's tube feeding isn't marked with the date when it was hung and it was of course the previous shift... But I am leaving there anyway, yay!:D:D
I am a Nurse Manager at a LCF. We have a scheduler that does the schedule for nurses and cna's. She is a cna herself and tries to tell nurses what to do but we all know that she can't. I don't care what chain of command is. I answer to my DON. The only thing she is IN CHARGE OF, is what days I work. Some one needs to remind that CNA that a CNA cannot delegate to an LPN.
I hate to say that so much of our practice is governed by what will happen legally, but that would be one of my concerns here. If you happen to listen to her advice on a matter and things go wrong, what possible defense could you have for taking medical advice from someone who has no training. And obviously, with her being a friend of the DON, if you don't listen to her, you'll be out of work. Same situation if you report them and the spit hits the fan. I say leave now and find something better and safer. I've worked in places where friends and families work together to the point of being worse cliques than in high school. You can't fit in and you better not make waves.
Unfortunately, I also see this as one more example of how little respect is shown to nurses these days. It just seems to keep getting worse.
How would you, as an LPN, feel about a CNA being YOUR supervisor? I've been a nurse for almost 20 years, and this really ticks me off. Is this even legal? I recently started a new job, at a new facility, and the staffing coordinator has the title of Nursing Coordinator. The chain of command....her then the D.O.N. I have no problem with an LPN being my supervisor, I was a nursing supervisor for a few years, but a CNA? PLEASE!!!!!! She and the D.O.N are good friends, but still she should not have the title as Nursing Coordinator AND be the direct "supervisor" of LPN's, or can she? I just don't agree with this, and it has me totally upset, ticked. That would be the samething as me supervising RN's, atleast I would think so. She is a CNA, never has been to nursing school, so how can she tell US what to do, or how to do it? Something is totally wrong with this picture. Thing is, she even acts like she's an LPN. Honestly, I thought she was until the other day when I found out different. Just wanted to know what someone else's oppinion is on this. Thanks.
Ummm, honestly I don't know who is right about this, is this position like a house supervisor? If so, then all I really know about them is that they assign beds, schedule OR times and coordinate admissions/transfefs and discharges. If the CNA understands acuity and is able to staff appropriately then I really wouldn't care.
:D:D
RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN
8,498 Posts
I work per diem at a prison and my supervisor/director is an LPN. No issues here.