CNA Question

acw · Aug 19, 2005

CNA's are valuable members of the healthcare team, but they are not nurses. Remember, nurses can perform CNA duties, but CNA's cannot perform many nurse duties (like giving meds, taking orders from docs, etc.) And CNA's do not have the legal responsibility that nurses have.

Laurie Kay · Aug 19, 2005

Tonight on the unit I addressed this very issue with the CNA'S I was working with. Although I am licenced by the state, They too must be state certified to preform the basis of what is nursing care. There is much debate about whether a CNA is a nurse or not, but I told each of them they are. Because as far as I am concerned, they are doing excellent nusing care, and Florence would be proud. There are many levels and degrees that are learned, and you must stay within your scope of practice. Some institutions allow CNA'S to pass meds, do chemstrips, instill foley caths, any number of things.

I consider CNA'S to be nurses too. :nurse:

I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I really just had to ask
Can a CNA be considered a nurse?
I mean, I have always been led to believe that CNA stood for certified nursing assistant. An assistant to a nurse and not a nurse.
The reason why I ask is because I've ran into quite a few people that say they are nurses, then when I try to go into it more (seeing as I have interest in the nursing field), they say they are CNA's.
But then when I was in the brief period of LVN school and was talking to a CNA, she had no clue about some of the things LVN's did much less RN's.
:stone

Soon2BNurse · Aug 19, 2005

I forgot to mention that I meant no offence :) I've seen how hard CNA's do/can work and know that everyone has their roles in the medical field.

Silly, I know. It just bugs me that they are saying they are nurses, yet technically they "aren't."

:imbar

Soon2BNurse · Aug 19, 2005

Some institutions allow CNA'S to pass meds, do chemstrips, instill foley caths, any number of things.

I've been taught (so far, since I really don't know much yet to begin with) that none of that would be in a CNA's "scope of practice." Could be my state though :rolleyes:

DusktilDawn · Aug 19, 2005

Tonight on the unit I addressed this very issue with the CNA'S I was working with. Although I am licenced by the state, They too must be state certified to preform the basis of what is nursing care. There is much debate about whether a CNA is a nurse or not, but I told each of them they are. Because as far as I am concerned, they are doing excellent nusing care, and Florence would be proud. There are many levels and degrees that are learned, and you must stay within your scope of practice. Some institutions allow CNA'S to pass meds, do chemstrips, instill foley caths, any number of things.
I consider CNA'S to be nurses too.

Hi Laurie Kay,

Unfortunately a CNA cannot legally represent themselves as a nurse. Actually there is no debate on whether CNAs are nurses or not. In fact it is a crime for anyone with is not a licensed LPN or RN to represent themselves as a nurse.

I'm not posting to agrue with you, just stating facts.

I agree that CNAs may embody the spirit of a nurse, just be careful how you word things with your CNA colleagues. If they were overheard by a patient, visitor, manager, or other personel referring to themselves as nurses, they can be in a heap of hot water.

I also think your response is misleading to the OP.

krob0729 · Aug 19, 2005

I've been taught (so far, since I really don't know much yet to begin with) that none of that would be in a CNA's "scope of practice." Could be my state though

I believe it's our state. I know their not even supposed to turn off a feeding pump here.

Cute_CNA, CNA · Aug 19, 2005

I work at a psych hospital, and they call CNAs "nurses" because we work with patients.

I don't really consider myself a nurse, though.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Aug 19, 2005

No. Plain and simple.

No offense to the CNA's, b/c I have some good ones. A CNA can be wonderful, caring, helpful, and even licensed by the state to be a CNA.....but they do not have a nursing license, they are not a RN or LPN. They are not a nurse and should not call themselves one. Refer to previous post about how that is illegal.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Aug 19, 2005

They too must be state certified to preform the basis of what is nursing care. There is much debate about whether a CNA is a nurse or not, but I told each of them they are. Because as far as I am concerned, they are doing excellent nusing care, and Florence would be proud

See, I disagree. The basis of nursing care to me is thorough assessment, appropriate interventions, teaching, etc.

The CNA's help with the ADL's is great and good, and I'm sure Florence would be proud. and it may be nursing care, but that does not make them a nurse.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 19, 2005

I don't think it is a stupid or silly question. I too used to think that CNA's and nurses were the same thing. Until an interest sparked to become one that I learned.

You see, there is such a lack of education to the public. Most people I know think that you can just go take a course and become an RN (meaning a few weeks course). There is a huge misconception and lots of these people think that it is the same thing just different title.

I know this may not be the case in your area or so, but in the area I grew up with the young and old had this misconception. I belive that is why SOME don't have much repect for one because they think that the Dr. is the only one that went through actual schooling etc.

CNA's are part of the back bone of the medical field and are extremely valuable but there is a difference in job roles and schooling. Some have mentioned that a CNA does all these sorts of things, but then again I am sure their program wasn't at least 3 yrs long. I know here it is illegal to call yourself of even imply that you are a nurse if you have not earned that license upon taking the boards.

I just wish that the public were more educated in what nurses really do and the schooling they go through as well as the other roles held by different health care professionals (aside from just the Dr.'s). I too am aware that things may be changing now, but at least when I graduated from HS (2001) we were educated into all these fields and occupations but not once did I see nursing as a possibility.

Sheri257 · Aug 19, 2005

The CNA's help with the ADL's is great and good, and I'm sure Florence would be proud. and it may be nursing care, but that does not make them a nurse.

This is yet another reason why I will be quitting my job as a CNA ... this is typical of the disrespect CNA's have to endure day after day. You care for and interact with the patient more than anybody else yet, you're not even considered a "nurse."

The hospital/facility assigns you too many patients where it's impossible give adequate care. Nevertheless, you run yourself ragged trying to satisfy the patients, the families, the RNs, the doctors, etc. ... all for a measily wage.

All day long you are up to your elbows in diarrhea, urine, vomit, blood .... all of the nasty things that nobody else wants to deal with ...

Yet, at the end of the day, you're rewarded with complaints that you didn't work hard enough and people who constantly remind you that you deserve no respect because you're not a real "nurse."

In my home state of California 80 percent of CNA's quit within the first few weeks on the job. Well ... I certainly understand why and I'll be joining them.

I am in nursing school and will be an RN one day. But I will never forget the abuse and disrespect I have experienced as a CNA. I find these kinds of attitudes toward CNA's appalling.

:coollook: