it seems to me that CNA's, esp. in long term care, get treated as if they don't know how to do anything, are overworked, unappreciated, and underpaid. This one nurse about drives me up the wall. You come to her with a patient related concern and she'll look at me like I'm busy you take care of it. No I cannot hang another feeding, do a dressing change, or insert a catheter though I've been taught how. ( previous nurses training). She walks like a waddling duck. A lady accidently slipped and I was taking her to the toilet. It was an accident and I wish I fell, I felt that bad. My partner was busy at the moment and this nurse was RIGHT there! I asked her if she would mind helping me stand this lady up, she goes oh I thought so, so was going to help you!!! This is the type of nurse that would actually make a mess in the process of giving a pt their meds and say gosh that's the aides job to clean it up. I never ever expect the nurse to do my job for me but if they are in the same room and can't even help their own patients, there is something wrong with that. She doesn't like lifting either, I wonder how she passed her physical for nursing school. No other aide in sight, asked her one day to help transfer someone( would have either injured myself badly or dropped him) nurse sitting on her butt and " oh I guess so" with a sigh! The nurses are suppose to help!!! maybe as a cna I am biased and only see one side of it. Other nurses assist at times but she thinks she is too good to do anything else, but now I'm in nursing school and once I get out I hope I don't ever treat my help this way. Maybe I'm expecting to be treated with respect because I work very hard to care for my patients in skilled care, but we are always short staffed, and the fact that I have a college degree in nursing/ general studies, while I'm not a nurse in the eyes of the law I am a caregiver that continually nurtures each and every one of my patients, in a way when a patient hollers for the nurse they don't decipher between me and the LPN or RN. we are all nurses to them providing patient care.
We actually had a facility director tell us one time that if a Union was brought in the parent company had already decided they would shut the facility down. It's in the south they pretty much don't tolerate unions here, regardless of what the law says.
We actually had a facility director tell us one time that if a Union was brought in the parent company had already decided they would shut the facility down. It's in the south they pretty much don't tolerate unions here, regardless of what the law says.
Well that just aggravates the fire out of me. I don't believe that our facility could be shut down. It is fairly large and the only one in the county. We have two assisted living homes and one just a step above a nursing home. But we are the only skilled nursing home here. and the ones in adjoining counties are not up to par.
I think i may look into it ask around get some opinions of some of the nurses and cna's I don't know we may get something (as we are not quite in the south yet) ....
Specializes in ER (new), Respitory/Med Surg floor.
Why are CNA's treated as stupid and replaceable? Well, because nurses are too. As our assistants, why expect anything else?
Do I sound bitter? Well yes. But the truth hurts. Nurses are discarded when they get older, are injured, or don't support the management bottom line. And they round up the newest group of new grads and import the rest they need...to replace us.
uh oh! I've not been too cooperative with my manager lately! I was hired 2 years ago as a new grad and it's getting very catty on my floor VERY! I consistantly well not everyday but bring up issues that need fixing and at first she'd say she get around and now she's redirecting it back on me when there's nothing i can do! I get so upset it's the entire system. There is not communication with all the different departments including doctor to doctor doctors to nurses, supervisors to nurses and employee health whatever it's crazy and i've had it and worry if i move away it's just the same garbage! What i'm getting at i read your comment about not supporting management and I work my butt off but I do say what I feel is right and i guess what is right is not what management wants! Hope I dont' get fired but then they'd be too short even more!
I got really fed up with the manager because we are short so when we needed an inservice for computer charting we had to do FOUR extra hours to learn it. There was no way I was going to come in 8am to 12pm then 3-1130 more 1230am in one day too much. So thank GOODNESS I work only 4 eight hour shifts a week, live with my dad still, no kids, no school and i could squeeze it in. I did it on a day off. And she just brought it to our attention last week I SIGNED a paper and time in front of the manager. She lost the paper i signed forgot i signed for this day. I was so ticked!!! I said it's bad enough just working your shift then squeezing these 4 hours then saying I can't come in this one day after i ALREADY scheduled it WITH her!!! My manager I feel is a nice lady but it's very bad now and i see her taking easy ways out or not dealing. 2 of our common charge nurses refuse charge forcing me to be charge now. I told the manager i'd do it if we alternate like between 4-5 reg staff and now the 2 won't do it. See if i refuse then i cause turmoil with the other nurses oh boy i think about this too much. i so need exerpeince as charge but don't like getting run over.
My biggest issue was we had a r/o tb isolation pt and we all needed filtration mask. I am in charge and we take several lesser load pt's and help with admissions and d/cs so I would not take an isolation pt i went down all 4 nurses working with me and either they were not fitted at our hospital for a mask or some of the nurses forgot there size. I and 1 technician only new our size so i was forced to take the pt which yeah i was upset but i'm more upset how come on resperatory floor i'm the only nurse that knows the size. So i called infection who said employee health does the testing, call her she comes over right before med pass to fit everyone which i didn't mean to shove this on people but wanted it done i can't win. She tried to teach ME how to do the fitting to fit the others! I couldn't I had no time so she left! I tell my manager and she's like why didn't you learn from her to test. I now we are all nurses but first i told her I was busy with admissions and the others had no time either. See then if people would have to go in on there own time they'd be upset but that's doable (not 4 EXTRA hour class here though). And the manager said there's 2 size mask the person just has to put it on!!! I was so annoyed. I try to do the right thing and get cast aside. I'm debating to go up a chain because i think that's disgusting. At the same time don't want to stir commotion but it's not right.
Anyway back to this thread, I've worked with several awesome techs and cnas and unfortunately they all ended up leaving or get burned out b/c there is not enough and it is too much work. And i find it weird how the one's i feel should not be here stay the longest time (talking about a technician removing a call light b/c the pt kept ringing then she couldn't call for help got caught told previous manager and was not fired after pt tried to call for help due to resp distress!! This was one person just showing a pattern where i work). I have a serious staff problem on my floor rules are not enforced and it's a problem with technicians and nurses. My biggest issue and it's not really the techs fault at all it's just myself and how other nurses are and i know of some techs that do this as well but several techs on my shift ALLWAYS get there lunch break and 15 min break or at least a 30 lunch break but usually extend it to 45 min. It's fine just i feel so helpless trying to do everything then the people we work with get to leave exactly on time or get lunch regaurdless if there work is done or not. It's like the nurse is to pick up what they can't do but can't do what we got to do it's awful I mean for everyone. See and of course they need there break but just speaking from my point of view. Our manager is suposedly working with our techs. There is a girl that I will tell her something she says I know and continues reading a magazine at the desk not charting a real magazine. We have our technicians telling us what to do so no one is cooperating with one another. I do what i can to help them, my pt's, and my cowokers but there's just not enough people period. When other techs from other floors come to ours it's like night and day so it all depends on who is there. I also know of other nurses that don't want to lift a finger with pt care.
Jeepers i've never worked in any profession with such diversity with just people and there behavior, views, personality as this job!!! It makes it interesting but what a challenge!
Well forst of all thiat nurse should be fired!!!! I am a RN, previous LPN, previous aid!! I think all nurses should have t be a aid at some point because there are nurses who think it is not there job to clean up messes, or give baths etc... It is sad to me that htey think they are above having to do these tasks!! I would report her to the DON!!! Jennifer
I am sorry you feel that way. I work with some fantastic CNAs who make me a better nurse! I also work with some stinky CNAs, but I can say the same about some of the nurses I work with too!!
Ok how would I go about contacting a UNION rep in my area. As far as I know I have never heard of any even close to here. I live between Nashville TN and Paducah Ky.
Sue
Your best bet would be to do an online search for nurse aide unions or Teamsters ---- isnt KY a right to work state? If so, (as most southern states are), they are against unions, but try.
We actually had a facility director tell us one time that if a Union was brought in the parent company had already decided they would shut the facility down. It's in the south they pretty much don't tolerate unions here, regardless of what the law says.
It sounds like the facility director is trying to scare the snot out of you. A business doesnt open up to lose money or shut down. These nursing homes get between 3k and 5 k per month per resident. Your director needs to take a basic business class, it sounds like. I highly doubt the facility would shut down, but they would be fighting you tooth and nail. The biggest downside to union is, unfortunately, it is hard to get rid of the piece of crap workers.
Well forst of all thiat nurse should be fired!!!! I am a RN, previous LPN, previous aid!! I think all nurses should have t be a aid at some point because there are nurses who think it is not there job to clean up messes, or give baths etc... It is sad to me that htey think they are above having to do these tasks!! I would report her to the DON!!! Jennifer
When I applied for nursing school (RN) when I lived in NC, a REQUIREMENT for acceptance into the program is you must have a CNA certification. If you use it, that is your business, but you must possess it and not a HHA certification in order to apply for an RN program. I think its a good idea. Gives the future RNs an idea of what their aides go through.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
it seems to me that CNA's, esp. in long term care, get treated as if they don't know how to do anything, are overworked, unappreciated, and underpaid. . .Maybe I'm expecting to be treated with respect because I work very hard to care for my patients in skilled care.
We are all role models. It is sad that the one you work with is such a bad one. Her purpose, however, is to show you how NOT to be.
I am an LPN and I work my tail off. I could never survive without my aides and PCP's. The PCP's are CNA's with phlebotomy and EKG skills. They are my right hands. I tell them everyday how much I appreciate them. I definitely think that CNA's are underpaid. Just as I think LPN stands for "low paid nurse". Hehe. 4 more semesters till my BSN, but just more headaches as someone said.
A nurse, LPN/RN is only as good as the CNA that cares for the resident. CNAs have the hardest and the lowest paying position. I don't know anyone that works in LTC for the money. CNAs are awsome. I would choose many a CNA to care for me over several LPN/RNs I know.
"The Journey Is The Reward"
Thank You! Thank You! this is an understatement but, You are absolutely correct about the foundation that the RN/LPN stands on the compentancey/performance of their [subordinates] us CNA's
Just want to say.. probably like a lot of u out there.. i was a CNA before I went to school for my LPN. I worked as an aide for 3 yrs and got SO frustrated at LPN's who acted like I was stupid and totally ignored me when I thought something was going on with a res. I vowed to never be like that when I became a nurse and proud to say that so far I havent.. I think the problem with some nurses is that they havent had to be out there doing the dirty work and gettin paid crap for it. I personally loved being a CNA and would have made it a life time career if it wasnt for the pay, back pain, and the fact that you arent heard. I love being a nurse and advocating for my patients and actually feeling like I can do something! as a CNA i felt my hands were tied and all I could do was report my findings and if the nurse didnt address it then nothing would get done. I am now getting ready to go for my RN and hope to be the DON someday at the same facility i work out now.. I want to make a difference in people's lives.. I love CNA's (the good ones of course) it's great to see ones that care and LTC facilities and hospitals couldnt function without them.. I just wish that they got more for all they do! Here they make like 7/hr and get all the icky work... well, for the most part, but I must say I do help them when i get done with my stuff, i give them a hand cuz I remember what it was like!
Lanceman
49 Posts
We actually had a facility director tell us one time that if a Union was brought in the parent company had already decided they would shut the facility down. It's in the south they pretty much don't tolerate unions here, regardless of what the law says.