I Was Told to Say Home Tonight...

Nurses General Nursing

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OK...I was scheduled to work on the floor as a CNA last Thursday-Monday. I went to work Thursday and called in sick the rest of the days because I had strep throat. I cultured positive for strep, staph, and yeast. I got two antibiotics, an antifungal, and an antiviral. I was sick...not just calling in because I didn't want to work, not just calling in for the fun of it, not calling in because I am independently wealthy and am only working because I am bored.

So...tonight I was on my way to work (scheduled as a CNA again)...30 miles into my 35 mile drive, when my DON called my cell phone and told me they got an AGENCY CNA to work tonight, so I needed to stay home. The other nurse has more senority than I do, so she got to work.

I am not a very happy camper right now. Tomorrow, I am intensifying my job search. There is an LTC 35 miles in the other direction...and they pay mileage...and they have benefits...and they never have less than 3 nursing personel in the building.

Ooops...STAY home! Why can't we edit subject lines too?

:)

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Bummer. Did you tell them you were coming in far enough in advance before they thought to look to agency? Where I worked you had to pay the agency for a half shift if you cancelled less than 4h before the shift.

I still don't understand the concept of nurses working as CNAs.

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I faxed them my release from my doctor yesterday. I told them Tuesday morning that I would be in today. I have no idea what they were thinking unless they were planning in advance in case I was still sick.

They are sceduling nurses to work CNA shifts because they are so short of CNAs and somehow they have an extra LPN. Once the agency LPN's contract is up, they are either going to hire CNAs, get agency CNAs, or get agency LPNs. If they end up with agency LPNs, they will work as charge and the staff LPNs will continue to work the floor.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
If they end up with agency LPNs, they will work as charge and the staff LPNs will continue to work the floor.

Boy, I don't get it either.

Where is the logic in having a newly hired agency nurse take charge, while the LPNs familiar with the residents and facility do CNA work?

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Boy, I don't get it either.

Where is the logic in having a newly hired agency nurse take charge, while the LPNs familiar with the residents and facility do CNA work?

Exactly...with all of the staffing (and other) problems they have right now, one would think they would be working really hard to make staff happy. I am the second most senior nurse (other than the DON) and I have been there less than a year. They really can't afford to lose anyone right now.

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I'm stumped. How can a nurse work as a CNA? She's licensed as a nurse, and the law stipulates standards of nursing practice. Can someone explain how a mere temporary accounting department change of label and/or pay rate can legally excuse her from fulfilling all the responsibilities that go with her license when accepting a patient assignment?

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Specializes in Intensive Care and Cardiology.
I'm stumped. How can a nurse work as a CNA? She's licensed as a nurse, and the law stipulates standards of nursing practice. Can someone explain how a mere temporary accounting department change of label and/or pay rate can legally excuse her from fulfilling all the responsibilities that go with her license when accepting a patient assignment?

You work as a CNA and get paid like your working as a nurse. You can work as a CNA, but you are held accountable under your RN license and have to function with that title.

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So, when a nurse (RN? LPN?) is working as a CNA, are you really doing just the tasks of a CNA, or do you get roped into doing nursing tasks too? I could see that happening.

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Of course you get roped into doing the "nurse" things too...you get to do the dressing changes and cover for the nurse while she is on break and fill out the incident reports when a resident falls.

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Geez, Mac.........

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Specializes in LTC/SNF.

Happens at the facility where I work all the time - nurses working as CNA's - paid as nurses - functioning within your respective license as well. The reason - our facility gets a monthly bonus if no agency is called in. Perhaps your DON felt she was giving you a break - guess stranger things have happened. But you'd think she'd have called you before you were well on your way. That stinks! I've been "asked" to take the shift off after arriving & completing narc count due to low census. I don't particularly like to work as a CNA but most of the nurses take turns doing so, so it doesn't seem so bad. I travel 35 miles to work as well, so if you'd be happier elsewhere - go for it and good luck.

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