Code Brown

I am not a nurse yet, I am going into my 3rd semester of an ADN program the end of August. I just had to make a comment on this issue. Unfortunately, there are a lot of nursing students out there that have the impression that a RN degree, no matter what level, means they will no longer have to do "CNA work". I have the utmost respect for CNA/PCT's, they work HARD for very little pay and appreciation. I got my CNA certification, just to be sure that nursing was what I really wanted to do. In my last clinical experience, the first couple of weeks the nurses kind of ignored me, I would ask to help and I could tell they were very wary. FInally, I just kind of jumped in answering call lights, helping the CNA, etc. I got the nurses to understand that I was really there to work and help. They came to trust me and I was able to do and see a lot of things that some of the other students weren't able to see and do. In talking to them I found that a lot of students that come on the floors are unwilling to to do the CNA type work, they only want to do the med passes, IV's, etc. They even told me of situations where students would walk off the floor stating that all they were doing was CNA work and that is not what they were there to do. WHAT?!!! Heck there were floors where there was no CNA or else there was 1 CNA for 4 pods on the floor. The 1 CNA woudl rotate between the pods every couple of hours. So, a patient is supposed to wait for basic care until a CNA is available? EVERY nurse I worked with (ADN, BSN, MSN, NP) jumped in to help in basic patient care. It was such a great learning experience for me and I was so impressed with the comraderie and teamwork. They were great examples to me. So, when I become a nurse ( I do plan on getting my MSN and remaining a floor nurse) I will gladly clean poo, pee, vomit, or whatever bodily fluid I need to, so long as my patient is clean and happy. Will I ENJOY it...probably not , but that is my job. I know that that is not all that the job entails, there is so much more, but basic care is our responsibilty regardless of title or degree. Anyway, just my , based on my observations and experiences in my life thus far.

Best advice I can give is to put coffee grounds in a cup and place in the patients room to freshen up the smell :)

Vick's vapor rub is my favorite. Smudge a little right under your nose (or if you're like me, just stick some in your nostrils) and you only smell that nice, tingling smell.

:flmngmd:

I don't recall any students articulating such an attitude when I've been a clinical instructor. However, I would not tolerate it and, although I am very laid back most of the time, a student saying he/she "didn't go to school to wipe bottoms" would push my buttons. I'd take that student to my office for a nice, long, private talk about delegation and the things nurses do.

Not a student that said this... it was a nurse. Whenever I am precepting students from our local LPN program I always tell them that anything a CNA can do, a nurse can do (although maybe not as proficient....lol).

Unfortunately, there are a lot of nursing students out there that have the impression that a RN degree, no matter what level, means they will no longer have to do "CNA work".

In fact, CNAs are doing nurse work, just things for which a license is not required.

I manage a unit. I also wipe bottoms, refill coffee cups, help transfer residents - we are a team. If I have IVs or wounds to tend, administrative tasks that must be done by x for legal reasons, or (ridiculously frequent) meetings to attend, I obviously can't help. But I never walk by someone who needs help.

I'm in the OR so I don't really see too much of code browns. Have only had a couple. The worst one was a lady who was in stirrups when she coughed hard during extubation. I was across the room, but I still got caught up in that one if you know what I mean.

in fact, cnas are doing nurse work, just things for which a license is not required.

:yeah::yeah: i never thought of it this way, good point of view.

i manage a unit. i also wipe bottoms, refill coffee cups, help transfer residents - we are a team. if i have ivs or wounds to tend, administrative tasks that must be done by x for legal reasons, or (ridiculously frequent) meetings to attend, i obviously can't help. but i never walk by someone who needs help.[/quote

Did ya think we had designated poop people that came out of the ceiling on demand, then disappeared when the bm was all cleaned up?

LMAO!!!!:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Poop ninjas!!!!!

LMAO!!!!:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Poop ninjas!!!!!

wait, there are ninjas in my workplace?

:chair:

wait, there are ninjas in my workplace?

:chair:

Yes, and they is us!

During my LTC rotations in school our instructors always told us "if you find it, you clean it." Of course that backfired on one of them when she walked into a room at the wrong moment. We all offered moral support of course.

Every hospital I've worked at had it's staff sign a job description stating that you will perform patient care.

Us old timers always laugh about it because we can't figure out why people think cleaning somebody ISN'T patient care. It IS part of your job description.