Think I could get fired for this.....

vamedic4, EMT-P · Oct 11, 2006

Franklin and cherish and others who told you that it wasn't your job are doing you a disservice. It's everyone's job to make sure that patient care gets done, and as an LVN, that doesn't change. Yes, it is "technically" what the aides are supposed to do...but you know what?? It's also your job, and that doesn't change even when you move up the ladder to RN. Unfortunately, you assume all the responsibilities of those less qualified than you when you move up.

It absolutely sucks that they made you do the aide work, given the history you described. I'm with others when I say to approach someone and explain your history...you're not trying to be difficult, but they do take an awful risk by putting you in that position IF they know of your previous injuries.

I know you're not trying to be difficult, I'd do the same thing in your shoes.

Best of luck!!

vamedic4

It's nice outside

vamedic4, EMT-P · Oct 11, 2006

I have a question about all this. I never worked as a CNA before nursing school, and while obviously I got some experience with bathbaths, I&O's, etc in school, I am not certified as a nursing assistant. So is it even legal for a nurse without CNA cert. to work as an aide?

kranken,

Nurses are at the top of the hospital ladder. Their licenses allow them to do every bit of the "basic level care" that aide's provide, but their talents and skills are geared toward the advanced nursing care of the patient - making sure they're hydrated, getting the appropriate meds for the appropriate reasons, updating medical staff about patient conditions, utilizing the nursing process to determine how best to deal with patients during their hospitalization....more, oh, so much more.

As I said before, a nurses job is all encompassing, and I hope the OP has some understanding management so she can work thru this.

All the best,

vamedic4

CHATSDALE · Oct 11, 2006

a. in a nonconforntation forum discuss with don that these duties should in

all fairness be rotated between the lpns, that you should not be

expected to take up the slack all the time. if you don't receive a

satisfactory answer i would surely consider another job

b. one facility that i worked at all lpn-rn new grads were expected to work

a week as an aide before the floor orientation

c. what would the level of care for your patients have been if there no

aides were available..if this is coming up frequently than there should

have been some hiring and firing to assure that you have people who

come in

d. don't walk out w/o notice only your pts would be hurt...but don't be the

push over . this is not a case of seniority or the experience in cna that

you may have

good luck in what ever you may decide

MedSurgeMess · Oct 11, 2006

I thought that basic pt care, as provided by the CNAs, was everyone's responsibility. I know this isn't a popular answer, but it is true. If you did have those injuries and they didn't know that upon hiring you, they can possibly fire you for falsifying your employment application-that's a standard line on just about all applications. I wish you the best of luck though.....My back is usually always hurting, and Heaven knows, transfers, lifts, and turns, etc. just about kill me. We have NO CNAs where I work, we do Team Nursing, and you always have a few "team members" who don't want to share the responsibilities evenly.....

MamaTheNurse, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2006

There are other LPNs that were hired the same time I was that have never been put on an aide assignment, I was told they like to use me because of my experience as compaired to the other LPN that never worked as an aide.

I find this part of the original post very interesting - personally, I wouldn't be thrilled to be pulled to be a CNA (making my normal $$ would sweeten the pot, however :lol2: ) but I would do it - I would also expect that ALL of the LPN's take turns - did they really tell you that you are used because of your prior CNA experience?

That's not fair - is that legal for them to actually tell you that's why you get the short end of the stick just because you were an aide in a previous life instead of something else? Can anyone else answer as to the possible legalities - could that be construed as some distorted kind of discrimination?

flashpoint · Oct 11, 2006

I guess I am sort of in the minority here. I love working as a CNA...I'm not all that good at it anymore, but I really enjoy the one on one contact, getting residents out of bed, soaking myself because I haven't given a shower in so long that I can't do it without making a mess, etc. Physically, it is a lot harder than what I do as charge...if I weren't able to do it, I think I would have spoken up when I was hired. If I were in your situation, I would have taken the assignment and explained to the other nurses and the CNAs what my limitations are...most of the time they are very accomodating. I just don't have the physical strength that I once did and if I tell our CNAs that if they will get someone in the shower chair for me I will shower them, they are usually happy to help. It's sort of like working short, but still having a little extra help...that is better than nothing.

Vanfnp · Oct 11, 2006

My advice? Choose your battles with care and don't burn bridges. As with many others, our facility uses RN's (we have no Lpn's) as CNA's, ward clerks or patient sitters if needed. It is not an ideal situation and I'm sure mgmt would prefer not to pay RN wages for these positions. You want to be a team player but certainly if the trend occurs more and more often, you will want to speak with whoever doles out the assignments to make sure that these duties are spread out amongst the staff. If its just happened this once, don't sweat it! Should you refuse the occasional CNA assignment-they may well have reason to terminate you. Fair? no -real life? yes. My feeling is that the more "hats" you can wear within the facility = job security. I have the ability to fix copier jams, therefore I'm in good shape in that department. Good luck-MVan

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2006

When you have a patient that has to pee so bad he's going to wet himself, I promise he doesn't give a damn what you went to school for.

kranken_schwester · Oct 11, 2006

When you have a patient that has to pee so bad he's going to wet himself, I promise he doesn't give a damn what you went to school for.

Absolutely, and there are plenty of circumstances in which a nurse could and should perform duties that are usually handled by CNAs. But there's a difference between toileting a patient here and there, and being expected to work solely as a CNA for eight (or more) hour shifts on a semi-regular basis!

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 11, 2006

I'm an RN in a hospital and I have no problem helping pts. go to the bathroom, eat, empty Foleys, etc...but if I was told after I came to work one day that I was ONLY to do aide work, I would be upset. You're right-you did not go through nursing school for nothing. You were hired as an LPN who does meds, assessments, treatments, AND who can/should also pitch in with basic patient care when you have the time for it. Just my two cents worth.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 11, 2006

This is interesting, because my sister in law had that same situation years ago, where she was a graduate RN, had her LPN license, but they made her work as an aide. She did it, because it gave her time to fully assess her patients, but she didn't do it again after she received her RN license.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2006

Absolutely, and there are plenty of circumstances in which a nurse could and should perform duties that are usually handled by CNAs. But there's a difference between toileting a patient here and there, and being expected to work solely as a CNA for eight (or more) hour shifts on a semi-regular basis!

I'm not talking about that kind of circumstance. Here's a for instance. A few years ago, I got called in to work, as none of the aides showed up for my floor. I wasn't able to come in. They pulled an aide from a different floor, and a LPN agreed to come in and take the other half of the hall. For 12 hours. Of course, at her LPN pay rate. The 16 residents she was responsible for that day did not care if she was a CNA, LPN, or US president.

Of course, in the OP's situation, where she is physically unable to do aide work for a whole shift, she should not be expected to. Heck, I'm in nursing school because my body won't take it for many more years. The nurse who thinks she's above aide work is what my comment was in response to. Like the OP said, they are short on CNAs right now. SOMEBODY has to do the job, and the nurse is ultimately responsible for the total care of the patients whether s/he has aides or not.