Hey nurses!!! WE ARE PEOPLE TOO!

[AspiringNurse23]

"Hey you" "You in the blue scrubs" or just an uncomfortable stare is how I am called when a nurse needs my help.Ive been a nurse assistant for 7 years and everyday is a learning experience. Some days their just experiences I wish I could avoid. I wish nurses could see WE CNA"s ARE THE BACKBONE OF NURSING. We are social workers,housekeeping, play parents,clerks,security you name it we do it.But this day really made me realize "Am I needed?"

7pm aka change of shift aka all hell breaks loose our patient comes back from the OR. Because my 7am nurse is leaving and giving report to the 7pm nurse I the lovely smiley CNA takes the initiative to make sure the baby vitals are in,he's dry,etc etc but unfortunately that was a huge mistake. "What are you doing to my patient? Shouldn't you be checking the trash? Aren't you housekeeping?" She yells loudly across the room. Embarrassed is an understatement of what I felt.Not only did she embarrassed me but she wasn't paying me any attention when I introduce myself to her and the parents. I never knew I could turn so red in the face until that very moment. As soon as I was about to defend myself our patient stops breathing and a code blue is called. All of a sudden she knew my occupation. Wow what a miraculous turn out I thought in my sarcastic voice. Long story short my patient lived and his parents said they were thankful I was there to help regardless of my occupation. All I could do is laugh. So to answer my question, Am I needed? Do I feel appreciated? Am I respected? 8 times of 10 yes but that doesn't bring me to work everyday. Seeing my patients up and smiling or when they give me hugs makes my day. But also respect comes a long way, at the end of the day we are all a team and we should treat each other with respect regardless of our job title or degree. So nurses give your CNA"s love and let them know they are people too. : )

[canigraduate]

Sorry the nurse was rude to you.

But, dang, you really come across as having a huge chip on your shoulder. I think you should probably check your attitude.

[Julius Seizure]

Because my 7am nurse is leaving and giving report to the 7pm nurse I the lovely smiley CNA takes the initiative to make sure the baby vitals are in,he's dry,etc etc

Its this part that gets me. You sound like you want a gold star for taking initiative to do exactly what you are supposed to be doing. And the nurses are also doing what they are supposed to do by giving shift report. So, while I am very glad that you are both lovely and smiley, I'm not sure what the air of superiority is about.

[A&OxNone, MSN, RN]

Theres a lot of issues I have with the tone of this, but I'm not going to comment on it because it's been pointed out already.

What I WILL say is.. I have done a lot of research looking at what kind of mistakes happen when a NURSES shift report is interrupted. And let me tell you - it happens. Serious mistakes can happen when nurses get interrupted and forget to mention important information to the next shift. So yes, as the previous poster said, you were doing EXACTLY what you needed to be doing at the time - get vital signs, make sure the patient is stable (and if not, let the nurse know), and allow the nurse to finish what she's giving report on. I have yet to come across any research that says anything about when a CNAs report is interrupted - because you aren't the one ultimately responsible for that patient's care. (Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here).

You have an important job. We do too. It takes a team to make it happen if it's a tough day. We appreciate you - but maybe you need to get a little dose of humility.

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

I wish nurses could see WE CNA"s ARE THE BACKBONE OF NURSING.

Em nope. Nurses do that. If CNAs were the backbone of nursing it would be called CNAing not nursing

We are social workers,housekeeping, play parents,clerks,security you name it we do it.

Last weekend. A patient fell and fractured the midshaft of their femur. This happened right on handover. My wonderful CNAs got on and dealt with sit ups and breakfast while I assessed this lady, consulted with the GP, called an ambulance. Phoned into the emergency room to give them a heads up this lady was on the way. Completed the transfer paper work, while assessing this patients vitals and trying to get on top of their pain with the minimal amount of analgesia the patient was charted. It was kind of like trying to put out a forest fire by peeing on it. Fortunately when the ambos arrived, they bought their colleague who was able to put an IV in and administer the good pain killers.

I neither want or need a gold star. The point as others have said, I can do your job. You can so about an 1/8th of mine.

But this day really made me realize "Am I needed?"

In long term care we would be deeply screwed without our CNAs.

In acute care, if there is no CNA on duty, we get on and look after our patients, do all the nursing stuff and the CNA stuff as well. You draw the conclusions

7pm aka change of shift aka all hell breaks loose our patient comes back from the OR. Because my 7am nurse is leaving and giving report to the 7pm nurse I the lovely smiley CNA takes the initiative to make sure the baby vitals are in,he's dry,etc etc but unfortunately that was a huge mistake. "What are you doing to my patient? Shouldn't you be checking the trash? Aren't you housekeeping?" She yells loudly across the room. Embarrassed is an understatement of what I felt.Not only did she embarrassed me but she wasn't paying me any attention when I introduce myself to her and the parents. I never knew I could turn so red in the face until that very moment. As soon as I was about to defend myself our patient stops breathing and a code blue is called. All of a sudden she knew my occupation. Wow what a miraculous turn out I thought in my sarcastic voice.

Do you want a gold star for doing your job? My CNAs know they are appreciated. I take the opportunity to let them know that as often as possible. As a result they give me 110% and are truly awesome people who without my job would be alot harder. Drop the attitude seriously

You think being mistaken for house keeping is bad? I was working in a med surg ward. Because I'm on the pool I wear a white uniform the other nurses wear blue. The consultant mistook me for a student nurse, despite wearing one of these

I sucked it up, made a joke to the consultant and got on with it. At the end of the day its about patient care, and doing the best I can for my patients. Not my ego

Do I feel appreciated? Am I respected? 8 times of 10 yes but that doesn't bring me to work everyday. Seeing my patients up and smiling or when they give me hugs makes my day. But also respect comes a long way, at the end of the day we are all a team and we should treat each other with respect regardless of our job title or degree. So nurses give your CNA"s love and let them know they are people too. : )

CNAs, love your nurses and let them know they are people too

Because despite the stereotypes, we arent angels or matyrs or some sort of ray of sunshine, we are human beings with much the same hangups as everyone else and certainly no less imperfect

[Salisburysteak, BSN, RN]

So much for being "the backbone of nursing"!

I see what you did there!! :):thumbup:

[SmilingBluEyes]

You feel appreciated "8 out of 10" times? Well good for you. Many of us do excellent, consistent work UNCOMPLAININGLY with a heck of a lot less appreciation. Where I work, our manager is always telling us what needs improvement, what we do wrong, and what "will change or else" with little positive feedback. I would say, about 80 percent of what we hear is negative, not positive, which is the exact inverse of what you claim is true where you work.

All that does not ever stop me from expressing my appreciation to the technicians that work with me because I think it's the right thing to do for people who are so talented and professional. I know positive feedback encourages excellence in others. But I am not going to see it from my boss; it's just not who she is. So be it.

Somehow, I don't lose my sense of self and value all that. I don't need to rise up, beat my chest and demand others take note of me and over-state my importance in what I do. I sure don't need someone to give me a gold star for showing up and doing a job, well done.

Sometimes, the best we can do is pat ourselves on the back, knowing, at the end of the day, we did damn good work and people are better for it. Sometimes, some days that is the ONLY thanks you may get. Do a good job, anyway.

Quit looking for approval from without and look within.

And quit complaining so much. Bloom where you are planted.

Then watch things get better. Quickly.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You feel appreciated "8 out of 10" times? Well good for you.

For most of my nursing career, my only extrinsic form of appreciation was the steady paycheck I received every two weeks. My career would have ended many moons ago if I depended on others to appreciate my workplace existence or provide me with validation.

This is one of many reasons why people must cultivate a somewhat interesting life outside their jobs. Those who ruminate over the lack of appreciation seem to have wrapped too much of their identities into their careers. At the end of the day, a career is nothing more than a job. Jobs are filled with people who are replaceable cogs. None of us is that special.

We're all replaceable. Remember that...

[LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN]

Woah, I get super tired of nurses coming onto bash CNAs when they vent. We do the same thing -- it may be unreasonable or irrational but when a nurse vents on here it's "hey get it out, it's how we keep sane" but when the CNAs vent its "You don't know what we do, stop complaining". Jesus they aren't the enemy, they are our co-workers -- they can vent as well, even if you do not agree with the point of view. I am not saying I agree with everything OP said but she is entitled to a good vent once in a while. We are ALL the back bone of nursing, I couldn't do half a good as a job without the CNA. And it also goes for the CNAs OP, we are your co workers, not the enemy, you will run into nasty people no matter their title. You can't let others dictate your worth. I used to do this - not anymore. I do a good job for me, not for my employer or co-workers, but because I feel its a trait I value as a person - being a hard worker. I don't let other unhappy people invade on that anymore, I am also a naturally cheery person and refuse to be made bitter/pissy when others do not appreciate me the way I think I should be.

[CBlover, BSN, RN]

Only the CNAs who are nursing students are flexible, available, and don't cop an attitude when a nurse delegates something to them.

GOOD observation. I never thought about that. But that's very true. Hmm. Interesting.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Woah, I get super tired of nurses coming onto bash CNAs when they vent. We do the same thing -- it may be unreasonable or irrational but when a nurse vents on here it's "hey get it out, it's how we keep sane" but when the CNAs vent its "You don't know what we do, stop complaining". Jesus they aren't the enemy, they are our co-workers -- they can vent as well, even if you do not agree with the point of view. I am not saying I agree with everything OP said but she is entitled to a good vent once in a while. We are ALL the back bone of nursing, I couldn't do half a good as a job without the CNA. And it also goes for the CNAs OP, we are your co workers, not the enemy, you will run into nasty people no matter their title. You can't let others dictate your worth. I used to do this - not anymore. I do a good job for me, not for my employer or co-workers, but because I feel its a trait I value as a person - being a hard worker. I don't let other unhappy people invade on that anymore, I am also a naturally cheery person and refuse to be made bitter/pissy when others do not appreciate me the way I think I should be.

She vented. But she made some statements that to me, seem to convey an attitude that won't help her SOLVE the problem of feeling treated less than" or treated poorly; she herself said she feels validated 80% of the time. One thing that concerned some of us: She seems to have an inflated sense of her own self-importance and that won't help her case. We all could use a bit of time to step back in humility and remember why we are here.

She got it off her chest.

Good. Now what?

Move on, that's what.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Woah, I get super tired of nurses coming onto bash CNAs when they vent. We do the same thing -- it may be unreasonable or irrational but when a nurse vents on here it's "hey get it out, it's how we keep sane" but when the CNAs vent its "You don't know what we do, stop complaining". Jesus they aren't the enemy, they are our co-workers -- they can vent as well, even if you do not agree with the point of view. I am not saying I agree with everything OP said but she is entitled to a good vent once in a while. We are ALL the back bone of nursing, I couldn't do half a good as a job without the CNA. And it also goes for the CNAs OP, we are your co workers, not the enemy, you will run into nasty people no matter their title. You can't let others dictate your worth. I used to do this - not anymore. I do a good job for me, not for my employer or co-workers, but because I feel its a trait I value as a person - being a hard worker. I don't let other unhappy people invade on that anymore, I am also a naturally cheery person and refuse to be made bitter/pissy when others do not appreciate me the way I think I should be.

There's a difference between venting and having a chip on one's shoulder that has the "venter" inflating their role on the team. CNAs are not the backbone of nursing as the OP stated; nurses are the backbone of nursing. Everyone on the team is important, but the attitude displayed by the OP goes beyond just venting.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

While there are no doubt issues with how this was presented I won't pile on the negativity toward the statement that CNA's are the backbone of nursing. For me at least they kind of are. I work in LTC and the wonderful CNA's I work with are my eyes and ears. They are much faster at catching skin issues than I am, after all they see the residents skin much more than I do. They have caught frequent toileting issues that resulted in much faster treatment for a UTI than would have been provided were it left to me to wait until the symptoms were severe enough for me to notice. They are also very good at catching subtle changes and reporting anything a little off. I can't count the number of times a CNA reported something that resulted in much needed interventions before the situation got worse.

So regardless of the chest thumping nature of the post, I still say thanks CNA for doing your job and doing it well.