Do CNA's do ANYTHING other than bedpan work?

[northmississippi]

I"m starting a CNA program, They say i need a get a stethoscope, bp cuff, etc,,,but I heard all cna's do is change diapers/clean vomit. I"m not saying i wont do that as I think its good to start from the "bottom" up in a business,,,,but surely if its a 12 week course there will be other things you get to do as well. I"m male by the way if that will matter.

I am also in prenursing at local college hoping to get in RN program in fall.

Thanks guys....oh,,got my first pair of scrubs today!!

[JDZ344]

Just had to say that I always appreciate it when an RN/LPN actually listens to the CNAs! We may not have the training to deal with the problem, but we do know when something is wrong with the residents we spend so much time (yes mostly dealing with bodily fluids) with.

.

Agreed. Some of the nurses in our place didn't use to listen to us...one in particular! I said to her "Nurse, theres something wrong with Mrs Y"- no vitals out of normal ranges but she just looked "off". Well, the RN just looked at me and said something like "how would you know when someone is sick you're just a CNA". I swear, 15 minutes later, she coded. Sometimes I am wrong, but the nurse should at least go have a look (at the time she was not busy, she was flirting with one of the docs and talking about her dog whilst eating chocolate!).

But on the most part our nurses are good and they do listen to us, and I have been lucky enoug to work with some brilliant nurses who have really helped me to learn and develop, and I will do as much as I can to help them, that I am able to do.

[heLpoHoLic]

I have been a cna for four years. I started out working in a LTC and it gets a little getting used to but eventually I learned to love it...it is mostly toileting/feeding/bathing but you make relationships with alert residents and it made coming to work fun because i knew just being there made someone's day. But after two years, i got restless and bored with the same old routine so I applied at a local hospital...what a difference!!! More fast paced plus more responsibilities...depending on what unit. Now I am in tampa, fl and i went the same route...LTC then hospital. The hospitals down here are going to teach me how to draw blood, insert foleys, ng tubes and foley caths!!!! I am super excited for that opportunity especially for a future nursing student...what a great experience to already have under my belt!!! In conclusion, its not ALL wiping butts...just depends on where u work and how much you want to learn.