Let me start by saying I am a CNA and I'm not talking about all CNAs. I have a problem with some coworkers and even some CNAs in the forums here that just complain all day about how hard our jobs are and how the RNs don't do any thing, we do all the hard work they just pass meds, sit, and chart. Even heard someone say we should get paid as much as the nurses smh
1. We all work hard, CNA, LPN, RN, etc
2. There's more to being a nurse then passing meds and charting, and they do their fair share of work doing things we as CNAs don't have the knowledge and skill to comprehend and do
3. CNAs are paid horribly and deserve more, but to say as much as a RN is ridiculous, c'mon lets get real
4. If you feel this way shut up and find away to get more education and move on like I am
Again I'm a CNA, I'm overworked, and sometimes there are lazy nurses but all the whining and ridiculous comments are annoying. Sorry for the little vent.
I agree the facilities would not hire the number of nurses it would take to do total pt care. Aids are important and I certainly didn't mean to come off as hostile towards CNAs I was one for many years and it is very rewarding but if u find yourself getting burned out its time to move up or move out :) for the sake of the patients
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I got paid barely above minimum wage to be a CNA. It's true, that was wrong and I think CNAs should be paid more than fast food workers.
At the same time, as a CNA, you don't share the same level of liability as the RN. You're not the one who's going to be hauled into court for failure to rescue. So, I think some level of differential in pay is totally reasonable.
It's like child care. Child care workers in this country earn little less than minimum wage. People entrusted with the care of our vulnerable populations should earn more. But, they should also be held accountable to perform to a certain level. Some of the CNAs I've seen in my day should not be entrusted to take care of anyone's pet rat let alone anyone's Grandma.
Please, if you are a CNA and you do a good job, I'm not talking about you!!!
I worked as an aide ~30 years ago, back when we were just "nurse's aides." I remember making $2.50/hr. Every year at the holidays we got a bonus. Since I worked limited hours because I was in high school, I got $5.00--I thought it was great. I learned a lot about being a nurse when I was there: from the other aides as well as the charge LPN. When I left that job to go to nursing school they were all happy for me and wished me the best.
Good aides can make a bad shift better. Bad aides can make a good shift go sour before you're even done getting report.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I'm a CNA and an LPN student. I had a different career previously in a totally different (non-health related) field. I wanted a change and started working as a CNA to see if healthcare was for me. And yes, I have seen lazy, useless CNAs. And I've seen very good ones. Usually good ones. However, even the good ones have a very high turn over rate because of how poorly they are treated. Much higher it seems than nurses. In general, I have been shocked at how grossly over-worked they are and how little they are paid. Yes it is "unskilled" labor in the sense that if it only takes about 2.5 weeks to get certified. However, to be a good CNA, it takes innate caring, good intuition and *very* hard work (both physically and emotionally). My response to this whole thing that comes up often (CNAs complaining about nurses or vice versa) is that I think there would be less complaining about CNAs if they were treated better and paid better. No, not as much as nurses. But goodness, they are the ones who spend most of the time with patients who are in any type of LTC or rehab type setting. It seems that since they are entrusted with so much responsibility (and they are) they should be better compensated. I think in that case the job would become more desirable, the competition more stiff, and ergo the quality of worker much better. Otherwise, yeah, you might end up with a lazy, bitter, obese tech who ignores granny and spends too much time complaining. In essence, a facility gets what it pays for.
Just because the aide may spend more hands-on time with the patient doesn't mean she/he does more patient care. Their work enables the nurses to give the patients the meds they need, take calls from the physicians, assess critical situations, etc. We all give patient care, just in different ways. Just because a nurse doesn't spend all days wiping bottoms doesn't mean the nurse doesn't give patient care.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
So much hostility towards aides...yeesh.
Many of you are sitting here complaining about so-called lazy aides...yet what are you doing to remedy the situation besides posting on the internet? Have any of you confront these lazy aides about their behavior or talk with management?
In the amount of time I see nurses complaining about aides, he/she could have done it themselves or talk to the aide about their behavior.
Several previous posters have noted that they complained to mgmt., but their complaints fell on deaf ears. At least one poster stated she had to leave her job because of aides who were slackers. Nurses have their own work to do; they can't keep picking up the slack from aides who won't do their jobs. We have enough on our plate as it is.
not acute care....geri psych. The nurses on my floor are unbelievably competent. I was not saying otherwise. I know they are responsible for so much, and they do a LOT of work. Besides that, they NEVER make us CA's feel like we are invisible. I am grateful to work on a unit where the nurses appreciate us and include us in report and other patient care. I feel like a valued part of the health care team every single day. I guess that is a rarity.
I was speaking more in general terms...considering my fellow clinical associates complaints. (not people I work with)
Some people are just lazy regardless of their title. But man. Lazy coworkers are the worst. I feel like all of the other techs spend more time trying to not do work than actually just doing it. I don't mind working hard, I got into health care because I love taking care of people. I'm not going to let someone sit in a wet bed while the other aide is hiding in an empty room just because they're not on my assignment. There have been days when I've felt being a CNA is harder on the body, at least on the floor I work on. But its a part of the job description, and like others have said nurses do a lot of the stuff that the CNAs do too. I'd like to think everyone who works in health care deserves to be paid more with all of the garbage and abuse we deal with.
I am a nurse aide that will be RN soon. I used to feel that way. Now that I am transitioning, I see just how much nurses have to do. Now, I DESPISE when someone says, "all nurses do is pass meds". Boy, I think that nurses jobs would be easier if that was the only thing in the job description. I work at a hospital so we don't have many LPNs but nurse aids do complain. It is what it is. Let's move on lol !
When I was a CNA I respected all the nurses.. I just didn't really care for the ones who would be in a patient's room, asked for a bedpan and come out of the room and get me. There's a line between doing your job and relying on techs to do theirs, and then running the techs ragged. Now I am a nurse and I help the CNAs as much as I can but they do their jobs while I do mine. Luckily I do not work with any CNAs who whine about their jobs they all seem to love it
NurseNanci1
63 Posts
I agree the facilities would not hire the number of nurses it would take to do total pt care. Aids are important and I certainly didn't mean to come off as hostile towards CNAs I was one for many years and it is very rewarding but if u find yourself getting burned out its time to move up or move out :) for the sake of the patients