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.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Sub-Acute Rehab.
i personally am in a similar situation where i work. i have a cna who is the cna supervisor/staffing coordinator. she is not responsible for the lpn's or their scheduling but she thinks that she is the boss. i don't listen to her but i do get quite ticked off when we are short cna's and she doesn't help them. she is a waste of money in my opinion but hey to each his/her own. for you military mom, i don't think that she can clinically tell you anything. i feel that if you are telling me what to do, you should know how to do what i do and be licensed because some people swear that they know it all!! anyway dear heart, don't worry about it because if you have decisions to make, those are your nursing judgement calls and she cannot top that ever. she has no nursing judgement.
first of all, i do not have a problem with the cna. she is a sweet girl, and personally i have nothing against her. however, i do have a problem with any cna being pulled off the floor, doing resident care, and becoming a nursing supervisor. for one thing, she has been a cna for 7 yrs. she has had no previous experience in management nor is she remotely qualified to be a nursing supervisor. she is a high school graduate, nothing more, other than being a cna. don't get me wrong. i have alot of respect for cna's, especially since i was a cna while i was going to nursing school, that's not the issue here. i simply do not believe a cna should be an lpn's or rn's supervisor...period. staffing cooridnator's, in my past experience, have mostly been an lpn and only so they could fill in as an lpn if a replacement was not found. never have they been a nursing supervisor. like i said, i don't have an issue with her, but i do have an issue with her being my "immediate" supervisor. she "comes" off to people as being an lpn, that's a problem in itself.
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.
We were required to all through clinicals... Total patient care as if you had no CNA's..
No problem for me, as I was a CNA for many years...
Specializes in Pain Management, RN experience was in ER.
I would absolutely run the other way screaming if I was informed that my supervisor is a CNA. And this is NOT because of my degree, but simply I think my degree should be the bare minimum for anyone who supervises me. I have been a CNA and nurse tech for the past 2 years. When I was a CNA, I really thought I had some idea of what a nurse does. I knew a lot when I went into nursing school, but I had NO IDEA of all the responsibilities that a LVN/RN has. A supervisor is someone relatively high in the chain of command. Say a CNA had a question, it would go to the primary nurse. The primary nurse would ask the charge nurse. The charge nurse would ask the supervisor. If a supervisor was a CNA, unlicensed, and without any nursing knowledge/experience, how are they to answer these questions?
There is absolutely too much grey area in nursing these days. I am amazed everyday how management cuts corners to save costs. For example, an LVN in the hospital setting. Please tell me why there is a $10+/hr difference in pay for NEAR the same job as an RN? The two branches of nursing were originally designed as partners in healthcare, but not to do basically the same duties w/ one for a cheaper pricetag. THEN there's THIS issue. Cutting costs and placing underqualified personell to SUPERVISE nursing staff!? I mean seriously, it's becoming WAY too hard to define where the lines are anymore. they just keep getting pushed more and more over into the gray.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
If a supervisor was a CNA, unlicensed, and without any nursing knowledge/experience, how are they to answer these questions?
CNAs are not legally allowed to supervise nurses clinically. However, they can supervise nurses administratively. Anybody can supervise a nurse administratively.
For example, the administrator at a typical nursing home is usually not a nurse. The hospital administrator is normally not a nurse. However, they are permitted to be in charge of nurses in an administrative capacity.
Specializes in Pain Management, RN experience was in ER.
Administration makes rules, sets out guidelines. But they can't SUPERVISE the nurse, thus being a "nursing superviser". I wouldn't ask administration a question, I would ask my superviser. And I wouldn't be consulting with a CNA about my nursing questions.
I have worked with, and had a CNA as a Staffing Director, NEVER NEVER NEVER in "charge " of the licensed personell,but handled staffing issues, caLL off's vacation coverages, etc. ONLY a licensed nurse can supervise another licensed nurse. I'd check the state regs if you're realy concerned that the friendship with the DON got this position for the CNA.
I would be absolutely appalled if I was an LPN and a CNA was my direct floor supervisor. This should not even be legal and it needs to be reported to the proper authorities. It is putting the staff and patients at risk for medical mishaps. At the former LTC facility where I worked we had a former CNA as the secretary/staffing coordinator. She would make up the schedules, manage call-ins etc. She basically thought she ran the place and was extremely nasty and rude. I'm glad I don't have to deal with her BS anymore!
I worked in a facility in KY at one time where a CNA was "staffing coordinator" meaning she made the schedule and covered call in's by rounding up another nurse, but she was in no way in any nurses chain of command. Surely she could not supervise a nurse.
I truly worry for the patients of your facility.. Im currently a CNA myself, and would not feel comfortable in this position. It would be out of line to delegate duties to a superior. MUST BE NICE TO KNOW PEOPLE IN HIGHER PLACES!
It's a pretty common practice here in OR; as others have mentioned, in a staffing coordinator capacity. I guess I'm just used to it. I have only been accountable to CNA staffing coordinators in a staffing capacity, e.g. attendance issues and scheduling. When clinical issues come up, I have always reported to an RN manager or DNS. Like the OP, I would also take issue if I had to report to a CNA if any actual patient care issues came up.
I am in Texas, and every single nursing home where I've been employed utilizes experienced CNAs to serve as 'staffing coordinators' or 'staffing directors.' It is much more cost-effective for these healthcare facilities to pay a CNA to fill this role, as opposed to an LVN or RN. I have never had any grievances with this type of setup, because I personally wouldn't want to deal with keeping the place staffed anyway.
In addition, a CNA is permitted to supervise an LVN or RN administratively in my state, but not clinically. For example, the CNA 'staffing coordinator' can discipline nurses for not showing up to work three days in a row. However, the same CNA staffing coordinator cannot discipline nurses for medication errors, etc.
This does not make sense to me, if a CNA is working as a staffing coordinator, why not change their title to staffing coordinator to avoid the confusion.
gods_gift
18 Posts
i personally am in a similar situation where i work. i have a cna who is the cna supervisor/staffing coordinator. she is not responsible for the lpn's or their scheduling but she thinks that she is the boss. i don't listen to her but i do get quite ticked off when we are short cna's and she doesn't help them. she is a waste of money in my opinion
but hey to each his/her own. for you military mom, i don't think that she can clinically tell you anything. i feel that if you are telling me what to do, you should know how to do what i do and be licensed because some people swear that they know it all!! anyway dear heart, don't worry about it because if you have decisions to make, those are your nursing judgement calls and she cannot top that ever. she has no nursing judgement.