Let me first start by saying that I've worked with a lot of good nurses in the past and the majority of the ones I work with now are very helpful and wonderful people to work with. But the other day, I overheard this conversation from the report room and it really upset me. This was while the night charge was giving report to the head nurse (day charge nurse).
Nurse #1: You know what pisses me off? Aides. I told that CNA (me) to change that pt's diaper 30 mins. ago and he said he would get the nurse tech to help him. I can't believe how lazy these aides are.
Night Charge Nurse: I hear ya. But if you're talking about Jared, it wasn't him. That's not like him. It sounds like the tech disappeared and he couldn't find someone to help him. Jared always does what I ask.
Head Nurse: Well, you know. They're just ****ing aides. What the hell are they good for anyway? I mean, you ask them to do something, and it's not like they have anything to do, and then it doesn't get done.
That was the most awful thing to hear, let me tell you. Aides have just as much to do as nurses at any given moment, we just don't have the knowledge and training to perform the nursing tasks that an RN or LVN does. I mean, as a nurse if you have 5 pt's and each one has 5 orders that need to be carried out before the end of the shift, just keep in mind that I will always have 15-30 pt's, each with just as many things...q2h turn, q4h vitals, mouth care, pericare, ambulation, etc. etc.
I know there are a lot of lazy CNA's out there, but I take pride in my work ethic. I asked the tech to help me clean the patient and she disappeared. I then informed the oncoming shift that the patient needed to be changed. I just can't believe what I heard...
