why are cna's treated like they are stupid and replaceable?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

it seems to me that CNA's, esp. in long term care, get treated as if they don't know how to do anything, are overworked, unappreciated, and underpaid. This one nurse about drives me up the wall. You come to her with a patient related concern and she'll look at me like I'm busy you take care of it. No I cannot hang another feeding, do a dressing change, or insert a catheter though I've been taught how. ( previous nurses training). She walks like a waddling duck. A lady accidently slipped and I was taking her to the toilet. It was an accident and I wish I fell, I felt that bad. My partner was busy at the moment and this nurse was RIGHT there! I asked her if she would mind helping me stand this lady up, she goes oh I thought so, so was going to help you!!! This is the type of nurse that would actually make a mess in the process of giving a pt their meds and say gosh that's the aides job to clean it up. I never ever expect the nurse to do my job for me but if they are in the same room and can't even help their own patients, there is something wrong with that. She doesn't like lifting either, I wonder how she passed her physical for nursing school. No other aide in sight, asked her one day to help transfer someone( would have either injured myself badly or dropped him) nurse sitting on her butt and " oh I guess so" with a sigh! The nurses are suppose to help!!! maybe as a cna I am biased and only see one side of it. Other nurses assist at times but she thinks she is too good to do anything else, but now I'm in nursing school and once I get out I hope I don't ever treat my help this way. Maybe I'm expecting to be treated with respect because I work very hard to care for my patients in skilled care, but we are always short staffed, and the fact that I have a college degree in nursing/ general studies, while I'm not a nurse in the eyes of the law I am a caregiver that continually nurtures each and every one of my patients, in a way when a patient hollers for the nurse they don't decipher between me and the LPN or RN. we are all nurses to them providing patient care.

Specializes in Long Term Care.

I would like to say though that bad or good attitudes come from every direction.

For instance. At the LTC I work at our building was bought by the hospital in town. That hospital also has a long term care floor on it and we have been merged as one. The CNA's that work out on the floor (not LTC) seem to have the attitude that they are too good to work in LTC. Not long ago a friend of mine was in the hospital she and I were talking to her CNA. (CNA not knowing that I work in same facility) My friend asked her how was being a CNA that she was looking to work while she was in school and wondered if being a CNA at that hospital would be a good job or not. The girl said that it was fine. But if they were hiring that it would only be in LTC or other building and that if it were her she WOULD NOT work in LTC she didn't mind bathing kids (but most of the time the kids parent did that) but she sure in the hell ain't going to touch old people and "if I can get out of it I will not bathe any one else either". and on the main floor of the hospital they call themselves techs not aids or cna.

I asked her what did she do as a "tech" she said well I get vital signs and do I & O but that is about it. I can't feed any one that is gross and I go play with the babies. The diatery girls pass and pick up trays.

I know that one of the CMA's in my building was admitted into the hospital and she just happened to be put in the same room with one of our residents. and the CMA said that no one fed her brkfst and no one come in to feed lunch. so The cma asked the tech if they were going to feed her and the girl said her family will do it (res has no family, her and her mother came to our LTC together and her mother died 9 years ago) CMA was telling tech that the resident didn't have family and the tech turned around and walked out of the room. CMA went over and fed the resident. SHe over heard the tech saying thank god she fed that freak from other building........ CMA turned in Tech but didn't do any good.

There are several nurses that will work a double and on second shift and be a CNA if we are short.

I realize that there are so many things a CNA cannot do to help a nurse vs. a nurse helping a cna. I would never even let a nurse do more for me than just to fix a light cord or wipe a face. i apprciate everything a nurse does for the resident and for me.

Sue

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
I would like to say though that bad or good attitudes come from every direction.

For instance. At the LTC I work at our building was bought by the hospital in town. That hospital also has a long term care floor on it and we have been merged as one. The CNA's that work out on the floor (not LTC) seem to have the attitude that they are too good to work in LTC. Not long ago a friend of mine was in the hospital she and I were talking to her CNA. (CNA not knowing that I work in same facility) My friend asked her how was being a CNA that she was looking to work while she was in school and wondered if being a CNA at that hospital would be a good job or not. The girl said that it was fine. But if they were hiring that it would only be in LTC or other building and that if it were her she WOULD NOT work in LTC she didn't mind bathing kids (but most of the time the kids parent did that) but she sure in the hell ain't going to touch old people and "if I can get out of it I will not bathe any one else either". and on the main floor of the hospital they call themselves techs not aids or cna.

I asked her what did she do as a "tech" she said well I get vital signs and do I & O but that is about it. I can't feed any one that is gross and I go play with the babies. The diatery girls pass and pick up trays.

I know that one of the CMA's in my building was admitted into the hospital and she just happened to be put in the same room with one of our residents. and the CMA said that no one fed her brkfst and no one come in to feed lunch. so The cma asked the tech if they were going to feed her and the girl said her family will do it (res has no family, her and her mother came to our LTC together and her mother died 9 years ago) CMA was telling tech that the resident didn't have family and the tech turned around and walked out of the room. CMA went over and fed the resident. SHe over heard the tech saying thank god she fed that freak from other building........ CMA turned in Tech but didn't do any good.

There are several nurses that will work a double and on second shift and be a CNA if we are short.

I realize that there are so many things a CNA cannot do to help a nurse vs. a nurse helping a cna. I would never even let a nurse do more for me than just to fix a light cord or wipe a face. i apprciate everything a nurse does for the resident and for me.

Sue

See, that's what I don't get. Why be a CNA if you hate it? It sure as hell isn't for the money.

I'm sorry you've had that experience, and as an RN, I can honestly say that I love CNA's! You guys are such an asset in any patient care environment, where it never hurts to have as many extra sets of hands and eyes as we can get. You are also correct, that in any patient care environment, patient safety comes first and that NO ONE is above helping a patient to the bathroom, changing linen, emptying a bedpan, etc. THANK YOU for what you do!!!!

I cannot believe that you are being taught that an LPN is just a glorified CNA and even more appalled that you would actually repeat it. You have a lot to learn and it may be one of those people who are "one step above a CNA" that teaches you one of the most valuable lessons that you will ever have the opportunity to learn. I really am at a loss of words right now and so very upset that RN student are taught to look down on the LPN like that. No wonder there is such animosity and disrespect within our profession.

I am ashamed to admit that I used to hold a similar viewpoint on LPN's (that there status is somewhere between CNA and RN), until I had the opportunity at my former place of employment to work with some really OUTSTANDING LPN's who were nurses before I was even born, and had all those years of rich experiences, knowledge, and wisdom to pass on to me. My working with them was truly a blessing. No LPN's and CNA's don't get the respect they deserve, which is a tragedy, because at the end of the day, we're all on the same team.

I know exactly what your saying. I was a cna for about 9 years before becoming a RN. I have never forgot what it was like to be a cna. They are the ones that work physically the hardest. If it wasnt for them, nurses wouldnt be able to do their jobs, facilities wouldnt be open and operating. When I want to know something about a resident ... I ask a cna.

Tracy

Specializes in Inpatient Acute Rehab.

CNA's, just like any other healthcare worker, can be a dime a dozen. However..... a good CNA, or other healthcare worker, can be worth their weight in gold!!

I am an RN, and I value my CNA's as if they are gold. I love them dearly. They make my job so much easier and better. it is just like ay other profession... there are the good and the bad. The good usually outshine the bad, but people will usually remember the bad first. It is just human nature.

Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.
I know exactly what your saying. I was a cna for about 9 years before becoming a RN. I have never forgot what it was like to be a cna. They are the ones that work physically the hardest. If it wasnt for them, nurses wouldnt be able to do their jobs, facilities wouldnt be open and operating. When I want to know something about a resident ... I ask a cna.

Tracy

:twocents: I totally agree, I think CNA's have the hardest job of all, very physically demanding and a lot of times disrespected and misunderstood regarding the difficulty of their jobs. I was a CNA for a few years after high school, now I am an LPN, I could never handle working as a CNA now, it is so hard on you physically. Thanks for all you do! :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: You are all the best! :nurse:

I was a nurse aide for 12 years before going to school and have been an LPN for 2 years now. I always thought the LPN had it so easy till I actually became one. I remember 1 nurse in particular who I thought was the same way (lazy, didn't want to help out, and seemed to have a bad attitude towards the NA). Then when I became an LPN and of course stayed at the same facility guess who trained me. It was then that I realized how mentally draining her job was, how even though NA's have a physically demanding job (and yes stressful too) the nurse has the responsibilty of the entire floor. Which entails dealing with the dr., families, residents, staff disputes, lab, pharmacy, RN manager, incident reports, med pass, treatments, tube feedings, endless mountains of required paperwork, charting, etc.. that comes with that little bit of more money. I may not leave at the end of the night physically tired, but I am mentally exhausted. Then I spend the ride home trying to rememnber if I did this or that, and if I didn't how much trouble is that going to be. So then I get home and call back to work to find out if I did remember to do everything. That same nurse who I dispised became my best friend. She was the one nurse who knew all the ins and outs and knew how to dot the i and cross the t's. Many a night I called her at home and she always knew the answer to the problem, and who to call what to do. And while training me I realized that she NEVER took a break (lunch or otherwise) came in just a little bit early and left only after everything was taken care of. You never know till you walk in someone else's shoes. Yes there will always be the bad with the good. But NA's can never realize the burden of our job, and the responsibilty, until you actually do it. I always thought I would be the nurse to help the NA's out. (feed, toilet and help out) but at the end of the shift they've had all their breaks and are leaving on time. I've not had one break and am staying over to finish up my job so that I don't get in trouble. You get good nurses with the bad just as you get good NA' in the mix also. Just try to realize that even though that LPN acts like she doesn't want to help out, maybe there is more of a reason.

I have worked with CNA's in the hospital, home health and LTC's. Without them I would have to stay at least 5 extra hours a day to do all the vitals, getting them to meals, changing them and their beds. I have always valued my CNA's and LPN's. As most have said you have bad and good in both, just like in humans :p . I give hand written thank you notes to those who have stayed over, come in early, or done an extraordinary job. It let's them know I notice what they do. It takes 2 sec. to write it and they have saved me more time than that. At my LTC the CNA's make the most in our metropolitan area and we have a low turn over rate. God bless the one's who do the day to day cares we don't have time to do. :yeah:

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
I was a nurse aide for 12 years before going to school and have been an LPN for 2 years now. I always thought the LPN had it so easy till I actually became one. I remember 1 nurse in particular who I thought was the same way (lazy, didn't want to help out, and seemed to have a bad attitude towards the NA). Then when I became an LPN and of course stayed at the same facility guess who trained me. It was then that I realized how mentally draining her job was, how even though NA's have a physically demanding job (and yes stressful too) the nurse has the responsibilty of the entire floor. Which entails dealing with the dr., families, residents, staff disputes, lab, pharmacy, RN manager, incident reports, med pass, treatments, tube feedings, endless mountains of required paperwork, charting, etc.. that comes with that little bit of more money. I may not leave at the end of the night physically tired, but I am mentally exhausted. Then I spend the ride home trying to rememnber if I did this or that, and if I didn't how much trouble is that going to be. So then I get home and call back to work to find out if I did remember to do everything. That same nurse who I dispised became my best friend. She was the one nurse who knew all the ins and outs and knew how to dot the i and cross the t's. Many a night I called her at home and she always knew the answer to the problem, and who to call what to do. And while training me I realized that she NEVER took a break (lunch or otherwise) came in just a little bit early and left only after everything was taken care of. You never know till you walk in someone else's shoes. Yes there will always be the bad with the good. But NA's can never realize the burden of our job, and the responsibilty, until you actually do it. I always thought I would be the nurse to help the NA's out. (feed, toilet and help out) but at the end of the shift they've had all their breaks and are leaving on time. I've not had one break and am staying over to finish up my job so that I don't get in trouble. You get good nurses with the bad just as you get good NA' in the mix also. Just try to realize that even though that LPN acts like she doesn't want to help out, maybe there is more of a reason.

I totally agree with you. But then there's the nurse who when you beg "Could you please stay with my HUGE fall risk that I just put on the toilet for just a minute so I can go break up the fistfight down the hall?" And said nurse looks me in the eye and says, "No. I'm not an aide, that's why I went to nursing school." And trots down the hall.

So screw the residents.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
"No. I'm not an aide, that's why I went to nursing school."

Boy i heard a LOT of that!

why are cna's treated like they are stupid and replaceable?

Well, I'm going to be honest here. It's simple. Because some, not all, are stupid and replaceable. There have been quite a few changes going on at my facility and it's about time. It seems the ones who decide they aren't coming to work, you know, those who are a no call/no show more than once or twice? They're being replaced. The ones who seem to disappear for more than an hour or so and never let anyone know where they're going incase we need them? They're being replaced. The ones who never come in on the weekends they're supposed to? They're being replaced. The ones who refuse to do their assignments like take vitals or do showers, they're going. They forget they came to us looking for a job, we didn't go looking for them. Then they get there and refuse to do it... more than a few times and then argue about what assignments they're given. They come with this attitude like I've never seen before. It's just amazing how they want to run the place according to their liking. We've even had NA's come to work, but because they had to float to another unit, decided they didn't like that. So they went home. The good ones, God bless them, do an awesome job and I wouldn't trade them for the world! They are polite, respectful, responsible and down right nice to be around. You don't have to remind them to do anything, and when you ask them to do something they don't become angry and find 101 excuses why they don't have to do it. I guess management got tired of the games people play and are finally putting their feet down and growing a spine. I was a NA for a few years before going to school. I came to work, did my job, never thought to give anyone lip service about my assignments and just did them because that's what I was hired to do. So why the problems today? Because they have gotten away with it for way too long. It should have been nipped in the butt long ago when it first started to occur. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone, but this is the way it is at my facility.

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