CNA Survey Help

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a CNA and am working on a survey about the CNA shortage for school that will be handed out. I was wondering what do you think are the biggest causes of the CNA shortage? Also what other type of questions do you think would be best to include in this survey. Thanks.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Flight.

hmmm

cna shortage...

i would have to say that the biggest cause of a CNA shortage is because ppl don't like that job... it is a hard job and takes a lot of dedication...

it takes a person that really cares.... not someone for the money... someone that cares... it... .in my opinion.. is a much harder job than being a nurse... don't get me wrong.. being a nurse is hard too... but being a CNA.. well... that takes a lot....

i commend you.. and appriciate all the CNA'S out there that do their job.... it is a hard job and i know it... my CNA'S are treated like roayalty.... i love them....

feel free to send me a private message on any questions you may have.......

:cool:

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- Because we are loaded down with crap. Nurses are too, but I don't even make enough to support myself. My parents have to pay my health insurance and medical bills and help with utilities. I do not drive a new car (2001 Alero) and I do not live well. How is someone who is a single parent going to support their families if I can't support myself?

- It's back breaking work. Literally. Knock on wood, I haven't had any major injuries unless you count a needlestick as one. But many of my coworkers have had broken noses, torn rotator cuffs, and several hernias because our hospital believes that we are Super CNA's and can lift these pt's without assist.

- Money, money, money. Management doesn't want to pay for CNA's and then that leaves the ones that do have a job short handed. Case in point, I've been the only CNA for 27 pt's, with 4 hips, 2 circling the drain, an attempted suicide and and an OD. How's that for safety?

- We rarely receive recognition. I certainly don't expect every nurse to come up to me every shift and gush over me. Management overlooks us when it comes to recognition - "Our nurses are the best". What about the CNA's? We're there but we're invisible. I even had one RN (who previously was a CNA) tell me that aides were the dirt under her feet.

- It takes a special someone to be able to put up with the crap the pt's and their families throw at us, sometimes literally throw at us. We are waitresses, hand holders, secretaries, etc.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Here are some aspects that I believe are contributing factors to the CNA shortage.

1. Crummy pay

2. Grueling, physical work

3. Minimal recognition

4. Lack of dignity

5. Workplace stress

6. Lateral harassment (from other CNAs)

7. Horizontal bullying (from some nurses)

8. Too much work, not enough time

9. Dealing with feces, blood, urine

10. Low prestige

11. Cruel patients & family members

12. The sense of 'invisibility'

13. Treated as if you're stupid

14. Disrespect

15. The job is too demanding

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

A) Money....NOPLACE pays CNAs what we are worth.

B) Workload...we are often overlooked and asked to do tasks for the nurses because they have to do their nursing duties....I understand that, and that's part of the reason I'm going to school.....My nurses are there to be NURSES, not techs.

C) management does not communicate when you do a good job.......I get countless compliments from my patients, from co-workers and families that tell me they tell my boss what a good job I do.....and I hear NO positive feedback from it. However, let a patient complain about 1 aspect of care in 14 months of employment....management is immediately on the side of the patient and does NOT listen to your side.

D) Patient care comes LAST. some RNs are all about doing as little as possible for the patient, then letting the next shift deal with it.....same for some CNAs......

E) when you cry because your patients did NOT get the level of care that they deserved....you know that the CNA shortage is real.

Personally, I believe that EVERY nursing school should require 6 months employment as some version of CNA. It would really ground new RNs in what a CNA actually does.

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Yeah...all of that. Each one of those play off of another.

Short staffing, madatory OT to make up for that, call offs because of that, poor team work because everyone is so burned out, not getting paid enough, little recognition for the hard work that you do.

See how that goes in a circle?

All most of our staff wants is acceptable staffing, a simple Thanks from the nurses or adm and a fair wage. Do all of those and you will keep staff:twocents:

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Dealing with co-workers who think teamwork is a dirty word and they refuse to practice it.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

In my area, CNA work does not pay a living wage.

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God bless you CNAs.

The job is too physically demanding, the pay is too low, respect from management and family memers is out of the question, zero appeciation, nature of the job- cleaning dudu, and lack of team work.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Flight.

the CNA'S i work with are treated very good, paid adequatley, and for the most part... enjoy their job...

i know... this sounds like a lie...

it is the truth... one has been there for 24 years!!

many others have been there over 10 years...

we have fun @ work...

if you are not having fun... you are doing something wrong...

i think that CNA's are the backbone of healthcare....

they do things that doctors would never dream of... and some nurses too...

i can't stand a nurse that is not willing to put on some gloves and clean up someone that needs to be cleaned up....

i can do a total bed change with the best of em!!! does not phase me a bit!

:cool:

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