CNA Question

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I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I really just had to ask :rolleyes:

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

Well Lizz,

All that you just described sounds EXACTLY like my job as an RN, except for 3 things:

1. I get paid better.

2. It's not the CNAs that are run ragged.

3. The RNs get delegated all the disrespect from patients, families, doctors, CNAs, housekeepers, dietary staff, transporters, operators, lab techs, pharmacists, RTs, supervisors, and yes even other nurses, gee I hope I left no one out.

By the way, started in a hospital as a housekeeper, then continued on as an LPN/RPN, then became a RN. Guess what? The grass isn't any greener on the other side, it's just different grass!!!

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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.

Well said..........I personally know of a CNA who did not correct a pt who constantly called them "his favorite nurse" and was terminated for "misrepresentation".

Just as a chain, in taking care of patients.....each link is just as important as the next and the entire team is only as strong was the weakest link. All team members are extremely important in caring for any one patient whether they hold the title of CNA, RN, LPN, housekeeper, unit secretary, dietician, pharmacist/tech, MD, radiologist/tech, RT, manager, director, CEO, admissions clerk, PT/tech, OT.....geez who have I left out??? We are all equally important in getting that patient well or maintaining that person's current state of health. CNAs----imagine how terrible your job would be if you didn't have the nurses giving pain meds. Nurses----imagine how terrible your job would be if you didn't have the CNAs there to make sure that they are clean and turned and their vital signs are taken. All of us---realize how terrible our jobs would be if we stuck to the floor every time we walked into a room or did not have meds to give or didn't have an old chart when we needed it.............you all see my point?

We all are critical in providing the best care possible to the patient.

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I don't know...when I was working as a CNA and people called me nurse I would correct them. There's the whole scope of practice issue to think about them, also as a CNA I did things for them that nurses didn't and I think it was important for them to know who to ask for in what situation. I mean, if there is a CNA available, I wouldn't expect a pt. to ask a nurse to bring a pitcher of ice water, and I wouldn't want a pt. asking me to bring me their medicine (I would tell them I would get the nurse). Also I had pts ask me to do things like check their apical pulse or lung sounds and I needed to make it clear that that wasn't something I was trained to do.

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All day long you are up to your elbows in diarrhea, urine, vomit, blood ....

I totally hear what you are saying with the rest of the post, but I just wanted to point out how I found this sentence amusing. :p

The RNs at my hospital have told me that I am a nurse, but I'm not sure, as I don't hold a licence, only a certification.

I think there needs to be a specific, universal definition for exactly what a nurse is.

Addendum: Whenever I identify myself, I ALWAYS call myself a nursing ASSISTANT, never a nurse.

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Specializes in LDRP.

For the record, I believe the OP was asking about if a CNA is considered a nurse, not if the CNA"s are respected, etc.

I respect the CNA"s I work with just fine, and will gladly help them if I can. I help with baths, take pt's off bedpans, etc when I have time and if they need help. I respect that they work hard. The issue is are they considered a nurse or not.

They work hard, deserve respect, etc. Just because they are with the patient all the time-how does that make them a nurse? (referring to this

quoteYou care for and interact with the patient more than anybody else yet, you're not even considered a "nurse."

Being a nurse is not just caring for and interacting with.

Just because I say they aren't nurses doesn't mean I don't respect their work.

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CNAs are an essential part of health care...there are many nights that I could not survive without the awesome CNAs we have where I work. I have a huge amount of respect for what they do and how well they do it. However...they are not nurses...they are part of the nursing team, they help with nursing duties, but they are not nurses. I don't thing anyone says they are not nurses to be degrading or disrepectful, but they simply do not have the license or education to legally call themselves nurses...some of them do what they do a lot better than nurses and a lot of them give better hands on care, but until they go to school and pass N-CLEX, they are nursing assistants...

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I am CNA as well as a nursing student. When I make rounds as a CNA at the beginning of my shift, I introduce myself as the nursing assistant, and also advise the patient of their assigned RN's name. I find for the most part these identifications help the patient in determining who is going to be repositioning them (likely me) versus who is going to be bringing in the pain pill.

As a nursing student and future RN, I have seen other CNAs refer to themselves as "the nurse." This is misrepresentation, and infuriates me.

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I'd bet the issue of who's a nurse is a little fuzzier than just LPN or RN. What about nurse interns, nurse externs, and graduate nurses? What about a previouly licensed RN who's license has expired (or been revoked)? The LTC facility where I worked used "nurse" interchangeably for LPNs and RNs but their scopes of practice are significantly different. Why should an LPN be allowed to refer to himself as a "nurse"? Is it really on the books that you can't call yourself a "nurse" unless you're a LPN or RN? If it is then sub section b should state that PhDs aren't allowed to use "doctor!"

I'd agree that it would be questionable (at best) for a CNA to tell a pt. that he was a "nurse." The illegality may occur if the CNA misrepresented as a "licensed" or "registered" nurse while employed in a health care setting or went beyond his scope of practice.

Just splitting hairs.

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.

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first i would like to aplogize if this is slightly off topic - or if my question was answered somewhere else in the forum... i just joined today and i am a bit confused/overwhelmed with the threads and all....

i am very interested in becomeng a CNA.... does anyone know of any programs in NY - Long Island area that are free, other than Winthrop Hospital and Glen Cove? I have searched online and found nothing... and some potential links do not open on my computer. i'd greatly appreciate any help. thank you!

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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:

Hi, I was a CNA for many , many years ...went on to a medical assistant and then on to my RN which i just finished. What I knew as a CNA cannot even remotely compare to what I have learned going through nursing school. As a CNA.. i made a decent wage...where else can you earn that without any college education?

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For the record, I believe the OP was asking about if a CNA is considered a nurse, not if the CNA"s are respected, etc.

The fact that CNA's aren't officially considered nurses ... even though they perform the duties upon which the profession of nursing was originally founded ... IS a sign of disrepect. It's just another example of how CNA's are dumped on every day.

:coollook:

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No disrespect intended to any CNAs.........

if you are not satisfied with your profession go to school. Spend the years studying that we all did. Pay the costs of the school. Deal with the disruption of your families.

And then, when you graduate....you can deal w/ the same stuff we deal w/.....people not doing the job that they are trained and paid to do and not getting the respect that we deserve from all angles (patients, families, docs, CNAs, ----all professionals within the hospital system).

Should we nurses be upset w/ the docs because they get more respect, money, and prestige than we do??? If we don't like it......we too, can always go back to school.

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