this is for all nurses not just Pittsburgh area nurses!!!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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So Nursing Assistants aren't considered "Nurses". If that's the case, then what are we considered? Certified ass wipers? I am a C.N.A. and am considered a "Nurse". We don't get the Respect we deserve. Just because, as some would say "we aren't Real Nurses", then who would do the "dirty" work for you?? We spend more time caring for these residents, that we know when something is wrong when they can't tell us, then we report it to the "Nurse". We know every little mark on the residents, that when they get a bed sore, we report that. I am shocked that there are still "Nurses" that feel like this towards N.A.'s. Gawd forbid that if a R.N. or LPN had to go back to doing the job as a N.A. :rolleyes:

can we not go through one week without getting into a debate of who is what?Or one day even?Onething is correct in all professions there are child molesters,rapist,murders,etc.nurses are not a exception.So I guess is everyones feeling hurt because a cna was called a nurse or because LPNs or RNs are above molesting?because we have several nurses in prison for molesting that I know of for sure and guess what their license have not been removed either!

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I just got home from class the other night, when I started to watch my favorite TV show, "ER". There was a news trailor during the credits and also at midpoint through the show about "BREAKING NEWS," -----"We have just received word that a NURSE has been caught sexually abusing a mentally ill patient in a personal care home in Robinson Township. Stay tuned as we uncover the story on News at 11 on channel 11 news."

I was interested in this. A NURSE, sexually abusing her patient!!! So I tuned in to the news!!!!! (I Typically stay away from Channel 11 news. You will to after you listen to all the inaccurate information they give day after day.)

As the breaking news came on, I kept hearing the term------"NURSE"!!!!!

When the anchor, actually started to report the story, she referred to the "NURSE" as a personal care aide. I was MAD!!! I was HOT!!!!!

Yet again, the MEDIA portrays our PROFESSION in this way!!!

I went to nursing school to become a RN and now I am presently enrolled in a BSN program, and this is the way my CAREER is projected to the public. NO wonder no one respects us!!!!

The class that I am in at present, were just talking about this very thing. How the media sees our profession and how they take our RESPECT away after reporting in this fashion!!!!!

I got the phone and called directory assistance to get the # to call the station.

I asked to speak to the news editor, to relay my feelings about this. But I only had the ear of the person answering the phone. I asked her why they used the term "NURSE" when the perpatrator was a PERSONAL CARE AIDE????????

She stated that Channel 11 news did NOT use the term NURSE. (Yet I record ER every Thursday and had the facts on tape.) I asked again, about the trailor leading up to the news at 11 after ER was over. She again stated that the news team did not report using the term NURSE. In fact, they did not, but as she stated the PROMOTIONS OFFICE was the one in charge of that.

I asked if the NEWS TEAM was affiliated with WPXI CHANNEL 11 NEWS and she answered YES. I went onto say, "And you are saying that the promotion office is not? If that is true, then you better FIX the PROBLEM or you will have some very mad NURSES out there that have worked hard to help our profession. THIS is the reason why we have a nursing shortage problem today, BECAUSE WE GET NO RECOGNITION FOR THE KNOWLEDGE and WORK WE DO!!!!"

I did not give her a chance to reply, because I was finished saying everything.

The next day, I listened to channel 11 news to see if they corrected the MISTAKE!!!!

The story did not even make BREAKING news, but was atleast 6 minutes into the news. They identified the aide as an "EMPLOYEE" and referred to the other employees as "CO WORKERS." WOW!!!

WHAT a DIFFERENCE A PHONE CALL CAN MAKE!!!!

I believe that my call did have something to do with the fact that they REALLY watched their WORDING the next time they reported the story.

Little things start to matter.

The next time something like this happens, TAKE ACTION!!!!

I KNOW I WILL!! ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

SORRy FOR ANY TYPO's

[ May 21, 2001: Message edited by: StaceRacer1 ]

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by Future LPN Sheryl:

"Nurse assistants are the members of the health care team that are responsible for giving personal care to the resident."

Members of the healthcare TEAM? Then why aren't we treated as such? I for one do not practice nursing. I don't have the training for that. And Suzy K, your reply (" until you have gone to school for your RN, and perhaps a BSN, and sat for boards, I suggest you keep quiet about the whole issue.") I noticed you didn't include LPNs in your statement, does that mean LPNs aren't nurses either.

The only thing I am against is that we are not treated as a partner in the healthcare profession.

You're right..you caught me. Red handed. I don't think LPNs are nurses - hell, what do we need them for? The only REAL nurses are RNs!

Duh! Get a clue.

:rolleyes:

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zu bin gut ut niw du bi bud und du nik das fir schon ziblieh wunt und fusch und ver boten und dy.

DON'T LAUGH, THIS MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS WHAT THE NA'S ARE SAYING!!!

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Nobody is better then anyone else. Just because you went to school/college for a piece of paper.

If I could just go around the states with a pin and pop all the NURSES with big heads......WoW, we would be in trouble in the nursing field.

Duh! Get the Point

:rolleyes:

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"Nobody is better then anyone else. Just because you went to school/college for a piece of paper.

If I could just go around the states with a pin and pop all the NURSES with big heads......WoW, we would be in trouble in the nursing field"

Obviously, you are not a goal oriented person. You think that anyone going to school or college just gets a "piece of paper"? This "piece of paper" documents that this person has more knowledge and training. This "piece of paper" shows that this person has continued their education so that they might be able to care for a patient in a better (yes I used the word "better") more competent manner than someone who does not have that "piece of paper".

That is why there are laws (ie. nurse practice acts) limiting what someone without that "piece of paper" can do. These laws set parameters on every aspect of patient care and who can do what!

You state "Did you know this, that N.A's can pass meds and do LPN's work in a personal care home? I wouldn't be doing that if it wasn't legal." I don't know what state you live in, but in every state I have lived in a CNA is not allowed to do dressings, give narcotics (in some states they are not even allowed to give aspirin) or anything that has to do with treatments except for ADL's (bathing, ROM, etc). And this is in home health care. You need a "piece of paper" to do what an LPN does!

So....I would suggest that you look up the nurse practice act in your state and see exactly what you can do as a CNA/Home Health Aid and see exactly how far over the line you have gone! If your agency is allowing you to do this then they are very wrong and should be investigated!

Better yet, maybe you should go get "a piece of paper" so you are properly trained and LISCENSED to do these things!!!! :eek:

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Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

I'm an RN. I went to school to become an RN. I passed state boards to become an RN. As an RN in Intensive Care, I frequently am required to make the judgments and start the treatment that a PHYSICIAN should be doing (if there were on there at the moment). Shouldn't I then harangue about being called a DOCTOR? Shouldn't I then become all riled up because I'm doing a PHYSICIAN'S work with the designation of NURSE? How many times do I have to remind the physician what to do? Countless!

Same story as N.A. insisting she is a nurse. Well, then, I am a physician. You want the designation, go to school, take state boards.

I have the utmost respect for nurses' aides. They have a tough job and aren't paid a fraction of what they are worth. But they are not nurses. They are assistants. And a good aide can make your day. But she/he is not a nurse. She is an assistant.

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essarge, I have to correct you, in Boston Ma @ Mass General Hospital the CNAs ARE allowed to do dressings. But they have an extra 6 week training, they are also allowed to draw blood, do EKGs and many other things not listed in the "Nurses Aide Job Description".Mass General Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Boston, and is also a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard.

The point I was trying to make is that CNAs should be treated as more than "employees" "gophers" and "ass wipers" Nurses are upset because they feel they don't get the respect they deserve, why should CNAs be any different? We do a lot (most) of the hands on work, don't we deserve some respect as well? Or is respect just for the college graduate? And Level2Trauma's reply "zu bin gut ut niw du bi bud und du nik das fir schon ziblieh wunt und fusch und ver boten und dy.

DON'T LAUGH, THIS MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS WHAT THE NA'S ARE SAYING!!!" proves the point that we don't get respect!!

Susy K, I am only stating what YOU said, no where did you include the title LPN, so "Duh! Get a clue." yourself.

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Sheryl,

Let me clarify that I was speaking about Home Health Aids. I know that in a hospital setting where there are nurses available at a seconds notice that CNA's are allowed to legally do those things with the proper certification and training. But in a home setting where there is not a liscensed professional present (at least in this state)a CNA is only allowed to do ADL's.

I do agree that CNA's are an essential part of the health care team and do most of the hand's on work with the residents/patients, but that is very limited in the home care setting.

You mentioned that it takes 6 more weeks of training to do these extra duties, which was exactly my point. The more EDUCATION you have the more RESPONSIBILITIES you can legally accept. That it is not just "a piece of paper" as sWolfie has stated.

Keep up the good work Sheryl, and good luck in school!!! :cool:

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I think we are missing the point related to the original post.

For whatever the reasons, the TV station changed its wording to employee, and this is to the good. No profession, plumbing, electricians, doctors, nurses or aides need negative publicity. Unfortunately, plenty of people are going to relate this story as another failure of the healthcare system. We can "split hairs" over which profession or job title is at fault, however, we are not going to solve or resolve what is done.

Every profession has its share of good and bad people. We all share either directly or indirectly in the poor performance of others associated with our chosen work, providing care to those that need care.

We should remember that "anything" that goes wrong in the healthcare profession looks poorly on all of us. We are all on the same boat when viewed by society.

I am glad the TV station changed the wording to employee for all of us, CNA, PCT, LVN, LPN, RN, BSN, RT or MD, etc.

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PLEASE READ THE TOPIC----

U CAN HELP THE SHORTAGE--READ THIS! :eek:

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WPXI's "partner" The Pittsburgh Tribune Review ran a story last week about the Survivor CNA referring to her as "nurse" three times. There is very little if anything around here in the local media about the nursing crisis. Some of us sent letters to the editor and were never published.

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