CNA vs RN

[liono]

I am wondering what work is like for an RN vs CNA. Obviously there is a huge difference in responsibility and knowledge ect, that's not what I'm wondering. I worked as a CNA on a TCU for about 10 months. Partly because I needed a job at the time, and partly because I wanted some experience before I was committed to the schooling. The job was mostly horrible. Toward the end of my employment I was given 9-13 residents a shift. One night I was floated to the long term care floor and I had 13/ 5 2-assists. My co-workers were mostly terrible. They would disappear, skip cares, yell at me in swahili when confronted, refuse to help with 2 assists, do 2 assist by themselves, lie on charts ect. On top of all that management cut our staff to NLN recommended minimums and eliminated O.T. This made my job immpossible. When I brought it up to management, they ignored me. Really, that is the "tip of the iceberg". It became so bad that most nights I couldn't complete my responsibilities correctly, and in the interest of the residents. However, I was the favorite among most of the residents because they knew if they got me, they would get the right care. Eventually I had disciplinary meeting about charting. When they cut our staff, the aides started charting when they had time. This meant they did all the charts that weren't time/ number dependant at the beginning of the shift. On the long term care floor they had one aide do all the charts while the others finished the cares. It was madness. Somehow I was the only one being talked to about it. When I pleaded my case they lied and said I was the only one doing it. I asked them to give me time on my shift to do my charting properly, they said no. I very clearly outlined all the neglect I had witnessed while working there, and the bad habits of my co-workers, and how it all stemmed from lack of time/staff. One of my residents had dentures. She had been on my floor for a week before she rotated to my team. No one knew she had dentures until I tried to brush her teeth. It wasn't even on the nurse's charts. She was dimented. This is a minor example. I quit that job in the middle of the disciplinary meeting. I tried to talk to management logically and point out what was happening on the floor. All they wanted to do was yell at me. It was one of the craziest things I have ever experienced in the work place. After I quit one of my residents hired my on in her home when she was discharged. I was/am a great aide.

So, my question is, does it get better as an RN? I'm about to commit to a nursing program at school, but I don't want to make a carear of losing my hair. I don't have much left on top as it is. I want to work for Doctors Without Borders. But it seems like the medical profession in the USA is kinda broken. When I do a job, I do correctly, and I do it well. I do NOT neglect my residents, but it seems like the companies that hire nurses almost force us to.

[PurpleLover]

Hi, I worked as a CNA before. It was a hard job. It was stressful as well. I worked for about a year and a half. I was at a LTC facility and most of my 8 patients were fully dependent on me to feed, bathe and change them. The nurses at the LTC I worked for only passed meds. The other times they were at their nurses station which was a different station than the CNA station.

I think the same stressors that I found as a CNA, I will encounter as a nurse, except there will be more legal responsibility on my shoulders.

Part of being a nurse is learning to juggle and prioritize. So the stress I felt as a CNA i assume I can multiply that by 10 and that is what i will feel as a nurse.

[jackiei3]

It really depends on where you work. Currently I am in a very similar situation right now. I work for the a group home ran by a poorly managed company. These group homes are for the mentally challenged. Although I typically only work with four "consumers" at a time it is very stressful and I spend a lot of time contemplating quitting. I administer medication under a charge nurses "MAC certification" and I am responsible for all narcotics. I cook, clean, change diapers, do long charts, help shower, transport, and try to keep patients calm for a long 12 hours three days in a row. It is mentally exhausting working with patients that are very demanding and need you 24/7, and trying to keep them calm and happy is also very exhausting. My coworkers sleep on the job, steal narcotics by trying to administer "placebos" instead, they are always late, we are short handed on staff, and they do not follow proper protocol. Among numerous other things, I even went to the DOCTOR who OWNS the company and still these things are happening. So I can sympathize with you. What it boils down to is the company you work for. I have found a new job and I will be leaving this one. One that is organized and you can tell will not tolerate the BS. Also as a nurse there are many different settings you can work at and during clinical's you can shop around for what best fits you. I still love what I do, and I feel I make a difference. If you feel that nursing is what will make you happy don't give up because of one lousy job. Nursing is not an easy career, but it is very rewarding to help others.

[pixiestudent2]

It very much depends on where you work. I have never experienced anything like this, in clinicals or as my job as a NA in a psychiatric hospital.