Do we matter?

Purple_roses · Aug 2, 2015

I have been a CNA for over 12 years now and I'm starting to wonder if we are becoming "obsolete"? I keep hearing from nurses (rn and Lpn) that they don't need us anymore. I guess I'm just wondering what everyone's opinion of cna's are and do you think we are an essential part of the health care team?

As a fellow CNA, I think we're fabulous and needed :) I may be biased.

It's unfortunate that the nurses you encounter hold that opinion. The ones I encounter are always extremely grateful to have a hard working CNA or Tech working alongside them.

hookyarnandblanket · Aug 2, 2015

It likely varies by facility. LTCs will always need CNAs. Hospitals, rehab facilities, and the like may not need CNAs depending on their patient loads and staffing ratios. The hospital where I work could never function without CNAs; there is just too much workload without us. I'm not being arrogant about it: Our nurses have to do assessments, treatments, etc. on 8 long term care patients as well as acutes, obs, and skilled patients while also handling whatever comes in the ER doors. One of our floor nurses is also the discharge planner, and another the infection control/quality assurance head. If they had only the acute patients for whom to care, it would be a totally different story.

Jules A, MSN · Aug 2, 2015

I love my excellent techs! You are our eyes and ears and do the heavy lifting both literally and figuratively. Thank you so much for all you do.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Aug 2, 2015

We don't use CNAs on the LDRP unit I work at as an RN, because we only do maybe 250 births a month so we don't need support staff. But at my CNM job, I rely SO HEAVILY on my clinic assistants (most are formally trained CNAs and MAs, some are not). Never, ever could I give the kind of quality care I want to give without the support of my incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and organized care team.

I don't see how CNAs/MAs/techs could ever become obsolete. I'd probably quit my job if I didn't have them for support. Could never, ever do this job without them. And while I haven't worked directly with many CNAs/techs in the hospital, I have seen them at work in the ER and on the floor, and I honestly don't know how busy acute care nurses can manage without them(and I know there are more than a few units who expect their RNs to do total care).

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Aug 2, 2015

Depends on the setting. In LTC yes, CNA's are a vital part of the team. The CNA's are my eyes and ears, you better believe I pay attention to what they tell me. A good team of CNA's and the nurse can make a shift feel easy, a not so good team can make a shift seem to last forever. Also in home health, maybe not as vital but just financially why would a patient pay for a RN when ADL assistance is all that is needed?

Now in a clinic setting, I don't think I've seen or heard of CNA's being utilized on staff. Hospitals I guess it would depend on the needs and nurse to patient ratio of the floor on how vital a CNA would be. Helpful always, but maybe not vital.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2015

New account? First post a controversial one? Getting old, but I'll bite.When I do my "side job", the CNA's I work with set the tone for the day. An awesome team means we're going to have an awesome day. I KNOW they will get shizz done, they will keep me in the loop regarding any changes going on with residents and make my life far easier than I deserve =) CNA's are the hardest working people in the building and LTC's would literally be crippled without them

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Aug 2, 2015

I can never see this happening. Even in acute care, I've seen their use increasing. If a nurse has a CNA working with them, the facility can justify a higher patient ratio for each nurse. A long time ago, I worked primary care on a med/surg/tele floor and usually had 4 patients to start. Then the hospital gave two nurses a CNA to share and the ratio increased to 8 patients for each nurse. The payroll for two nurses and a CNA was less than 3 nurses, this is how the change was explained to me by management.

Kystudentrn · Aug 2, 2015

I don't think cnas will ever be obsolete especially in ltc. They don't use as many in a hospital setting but they are still there. As the number of elderly is increasing I would say the need for more aids will as well.

Amistad, RN · Aug 2, 2015

In my short time working in the hospital I felt like we needed MORE of you! But we were of course understaffed

all-k · Aug 2, 2015

I can't imagine work life without CNAs or techs...

They are front line in the health care process.

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2015

We don't use CNAs on the LDRP unit I work at as an RN, because we only do maybe 250 births a month so we don't need support staff. But at my CNM job, I rely SO HEAVILY on my clinic assistants (most are formally trained CNAs and MAs, some are not). Never, ever could I give the kind of quality care I want to give without the support of my incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and organized care team.
I don't see how CNAs/MAs/techs could ever become obsolete. I'd probably quit my job if I didn't have them for support. Could never, ever do this job without them. And while I haven't worked directly with many CNAs/techs in the hospital, I have seen them at work in the ER and on the floor, and I honestly don't know how busy acute care nurses can manage without them(and I know there are more than a few units who expect their RNs to do total care).

This is what I was going to post ver batim.