Do the CNAs or RNs do personal care

Nurses Relations

Published

And bathe patients.

I always thought it was the RNs but someone else told me it was the CNAs who primarily did that?

Specializes in hospice.
Yes, I wipe butts as an icu RN. If you're in the room, are you really going to walk out, sit your butt down and tell the cna to go do it?

You'd be amazed how many nurses do just that. I'm grateful to now work in a place where that doesn't really ever happen, but in the hospital where I used to work? Par for the course, never mind the poor patients forced to wait because the nurse wouldn't put them on the commode herself but would instead look for one of us for ten or more minutes. Still burns me up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I actually understand were the op is coming from. As noted here, RN's do everything that CNAs do. But as also noted, some RN's work in situations, were they feel that it is the CNAs job 100% of the time. And it sounds like it's basically the LTC situations.

For those not int the medical field, we don't spend alot of time in the hospital environment to truly know what all a RN does. But if we are visiting love ones in LTC situations, over time we get a chance to observe and get to know the staff. That is were I formed my opinion that it was a CNA's job, or an LPNs job.

Not that I took it as RN's were lazy, etc. But the work was divided up that way.

But now, it seems that this is the pivot point of what makes a LTC a good place, or a trashy place. This attitude that RN's are above it. If I ever again have a family member in such a place, I now know what questions to be asking of the staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've told the story before where the DON, who was following an RN from room to room (checking his work performance as part of a disciplinary action), fired the RN, after he cleaned a resident, because he did not call a CNA to do the task. She used this as an excuse to get rid of him. Even so, her action made the rest of us licensed nurses wonder if she really intended for us not to engage in providing care for our residents alongside the nursing assistants. We all came to the conclusion that she just needed an excuse to 'final straw' the hapless RN. Nobody took that as an edict that nurses should not clean residents.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If it's a deal breaker, don't go into nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My 88 year old grandmother is in a nursing home. If she is soiled and everyone is busy I take care of her needs. Most of the time they don't even know I've done it. I would feel like an idiot looking for a nurse or aid to clean her up.

Trust me, there are A LOT of people who feel no qualms whatsoever about trying to get someone's attention for 20 minutes to clean up a mess. And, honestly, many people just don't feel comfortable doing it, or think they'll do it "wrong" (like you need a PhD for this??).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have even seen doctors wipe butts; an MD pitched in to help today, as a matter of fact.

I think I'd pay money for that viewing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Trust me, there are A LOT of people who feel no qualms whatsoever about trying to get someone's attention for 20 minutes to clean up a mess. And, honestly, many people just don't feel comfortable doing it, or think they'll do it "wrong" (like you need a PhD for this??).

As of yet, I do not work in the medical field. But I have had a neighbor call me to help with her Mother, who had an accident. And no, the woman did not help. I helped the poor aging Mother get cleaned up. Then I talked with the GROWN daughter about placing her Mother elsewhere, with people willing to help her when she needs help.

On the flip side, those people feel like they are tracking down people who are being paid to do it, experienced at doing it, hence can do it quicker, easier, and less embarrassing then anyone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As of yet, I do not work in the medical field. But I have had a neighbor call me to help with her Mother, who had an accident. And no, the woman did not help. I helped the poor aging Mother get cleaned up. Then I talked with the GROWN daughter about placing her Mother elsewhere, with people willing to help her when she needs help.

On the flip side, those people feel like they are tracking down people who are being paid to do it, experienced at doing it, hence can do it quicker, easier, and less embarrassing then anyone else.

I think it's different when it's your own parent. A lot of people can't handle seeing their parent like that. It would be hard, I'd imagine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
I think it's different when it's your own parent. A lot of people can't handle seeing their parent like that. It would be hard, I'd imagine.

Maybe so for some people but I can't imagine asking a neighbor to help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think it's different when it's your own parent. A lot of people can't handle seeing their parent like that. It would be hard, I'd imagine.

Or the parent allowing/wanting the child to do it. Some feel shame about something they can not control.

My Mother took care of my Grandfather for many years, until finally my Father made her put him in a home. He was full care, and he felt she needed more help. She started working at the LTC where he was admitted.

When my father began to have end of life issues, he demanded that we find a Navy LTC place for him. He did not want his kids doing for him, what he seen Mom do for her Father. There was no amount of talking him out of this plan, we tried. He passed before he was ever admitted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I don't ask family members to help me with a patient. I have been told not to, with the rationale being that they can claim they "hurt their back" or something, and try to sue. Now, I am not a lawyer or a judge; I just follow the rules and don't ask them to help. If they help out on their own accord, then that is on them. That said, I rarely have a family member offer to do anything; usually, they are asking ME for something, like drinks and ice. Something I have witnessed many times is the family member who loudly proclaims that "nobody has wiped Mother's face" and you see a tiny little bit of food on Mother's chin. Family member claims "it has been there for 5 hours!" Far be if for said family member to grab a washcloth and jump right in. Clean poop? I don't think I have ever had a family member even offer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
but are we to believe that was a real question?

It could be. True story here--at this SNF I used to work at, following an interview w/ a CNA, the manager came back to the floor laughing and saying "We'll pass on that one!" You know that part of the interview where they ask if you have any questions about the job, company, etc.? This guy asked...

"Do we have to do...peri care?" As he hovered his hand over his nether regions and made a washing motion. :roflmao:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment