All you do is pass meds and chart....I do everything else........

Nurses General Nursing

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how can a tech who has been a CNA for 20 years be so clueless?????????

Gee, I didn't realize my job was so easy. Why was I one hour late getting home tonight?

Not to slam techs. I'm having a bad day.

I used to have that same attitude when I started working as a PCA at the hospital. After just graduating from nusing school, my attitude changed drastically. As a nurse I realize that it's a whole lot of responsiblity involved. I'm going to be responsible for up to seven patients lives in my hands, communicate to the MDs, patient teaching, passing meds, making sure I have the right meds and the right patient, checking for allergies, having to restart Ivs', talking with discharge planners, dealing with family members, and checking to make sure that whatever I delegate to the PCA is done correctly. Yes Nurses do more than chart and pass meds!!!!!

Specializes in Pediatrics.

And actually, everything the CNA does is your responsibility too; you've just delegated it-one more thing hanging over your head. As everyone has pointed out, that kind of comment is stupid and out of line. But speaking from the cushy seat of a student nurse, I'd say when someone says that an RN should probably use those wonderful interpersonal skills we have all supposedly also developed as a job skill and ask what is the person really saying? The CNA is saying: I am overworked. I am having trouble handling it. That's what that person really wants addressed.

And I do thing it is important to remember those CNAs are performing the most fundamental nursing care: taking vitals, bathing, linen changes, repositioning. Those functions can make the difference between a patient recovering quickly and developing many new probs and going downhill. I wish nurses had the time to work together with CNAs to get all these things done, going patient to patient together. That would be wonderful. Because the reality is that as a student I see many (most?) patients are not being cared for as they should as far as bathing, linen, positioning, even getting accurate vitals recorded.

Specializes in ICU,ER.
An aide's job IS NOT FAVOR they do for the nurses, their job is to take care of the patients in the capacity that they were hired as.

Amen to that!

You know, I don't ask CNA's/techs to do any of my unsavory tasks...(dig out impactions, enemas, etc) I only ask them to do their JOB. Yes, I will help CNA's with cleaning/turning pts, but MY job is my priority.

When doctors give an order, they don't say "pretty please with a cherry on top".... I am expected to do my JOB.

Hey, my biggest problem with the CNA's as of late is if someone has an emesis at like 1600h they wont tell me till like 2100h when we are charting. I"m like u need to tell me earlier and they are like we had no idea where u were... umm i was near the med cart passing out meds... Also someone with an open wound on their coccyx iam told about it at like 2200h, it's like why not call me when your changing them so i can come then... it's like they really dont care or dont understand.

Specializes in Oncology, Home Health, Psychiatry.

Dusktildawn....Sad to say, but I guess because this is a female oriented field, there will always be this problem.

I, too, have worked with aides who thought they knew more than the nurses...and they make it miserable for even the other aides!

I do hope that my complete dislike for such activities will help me that my job revolves around the patient, and helps me to do a better job.

Maybe nurses like us will maintain the majority...and those bad apples will eventually be squeezed out!!! :lol_hitti

I hope to run into more nurses like you!

Dusktildawn....Sad to say, but I guess because this is a female oriented field, there will always be this problem.

I, too, have worked with aides who thought they knew more than the nurses...and they make it miserable for even the other aides!

I do hope that my complete dislike for such activities will help me that my job revolves around the patient, and helps me to do a better job.

Maybe nurses like us will maintain the majority...and those bad apples will eventually be squeezed out!!! :lol_hitti

I hope to run into more nurses like you!

Squeezed out or made into....applesauce:D

Specializes in Home care, assisted living.
Thanks again for the support.

I'm still having a bit of PTSD fromt he last two days. It's more than likely a personality clash. I was irritated because after her breakfast break, she had to give the sitter a breakfast break (I've never had a breakfast break in 13 years mind you) and was off the floor for a long time. No problem there, but then she said "I'm going to do so and so's bath and he's going to buy me lunch". I said "I really need you with me for a while because I've been running around while you've been away."..........."You ain't been doing nothing, all you do is pass meds and chart and I do everything else, so don't you go saying you been running around." I just turned and walked away. What can you do with a tech that's been an institution for 20 years doing things her way.

I get irritated being judged and bossed around. I emptied bedpans, wiped butts, fetched coffee and juice, turned patients, in addition to juggling a critical patient that I waited five hours for an ICU bed, sent a patient to the OR and recieved the patient, did discharge teaching, and gave pain medicine to everyone, (we're a trauma unit) etc. on and on and on. I had 8 patients (don't get me started on the ratio.)

We ended the day with me asking "can you bring me something to empty this foley, I gave lasix and it's about to bust."........."I'm going home now, it can wait, it don't have to be done right now........."........me: "I'm not leaving this full foley for the next shift......."

She ended the day saying she would refuse to work with me every again. She arrives early each day to scope out the assignment, so I'm sure she'll maked that a reality.

I know there are awsome techs around and I know there are lazy nurses around. I'm only talking about my one day and not judging anyone's job description.

Anyway, thanks for listening and thanks for letting me vent.

Um, Tweety, who's in charge here? :nono: That would be you, right? I thought techs were supposed to TAKE orders from the nurse, not GIVE them. Sounds like Miss Thang needs a little smack upside the head...but of course that's not professional. Ah, well. Time to bring out the secret weapon...the little write-up slip.

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