A little background on me. I'm 27, a CNA, recently going back to school. I'm from the US.
I hope this is the right place to post this, I apologize if it's not. I was a lurker of allnurses for some years. Many of you have been helpful to me in situations I've found myself in.
I've had a passion to fix the healthcare system. In particular I often feel as a CNA that the geriatric population does not get the care they deserve. I want to fix that, I'm just not sure how. How do I influence our care standards so nursing homes have adequate CNAs? How can I help CNAs get better training and pay? How can I help RNs have less paperwork so they have time to focus on their patients?
My question is, what career path should I go down to influence and help fix these things? Would being a social worker make any sense here?
For a long time I always thought I wanted to be an RN. After careful consideration, I don't think that's the right path for me. I'm concerned about the high risk of physical injury and how my body will handle the intensity of nursing as I get older. But, I think this audience would have the right kind of insight to help me navigate what I should focus on.
where are we overstaffed? why are we running around like idiots then, barely getting what we need done?The acuity is ridiculous now, and they have been increasing our patient load while eliminating techs.
I don't think we're overstaffed anywhere, that was just a response to the previous comment above mine. I get how bad it is. I was a tech for about 5.5 years, & every year it seemed I had to take more patients for the same pay and worse benefits, and it was even harder on the nurses. It's why I decided against nursing school myself. It isn't sustainable though, especially now that more and more people are getting sick of it...
I am a CNA as well and also want to make an impact in my facility and community. I am interested to learn about healthcare financial management and budget cost. Yet, I am tied between wanting to join the budget committee or code blue committee as a new grad.
I'm interested in research investigating nurse staffing and its impact on patient outcomes in LTC, nursing homes. Please give me any recommendations on best practices re:nurse staffing in skilled nursing facilities, long term care and rehab settings.
I appreciate any and all suggestions, on study methods, great journal articles, or simply how your facility staffs best!
I would put fixing health care up there with world peace, or ending poverty. You need power to do these things. A lot of it. Get a Masters in Public Health or Social Work, and run for office. Obama has a lot of power, and although he made a big impact in health care, I wouldn't call it fixed. I don't mean to be a downer but there are so many ingrained, moving pieces, that change has to be made on a mega scale.
There is a great need to help everywhere you look! You can make a difference in your little corner of the world by reaching out to those in the greatest need in your community. You need to look inside and reflect on your passions & goals. Nursing can take you in so many directions. I have worked in industry, medical writing, biotechnology, clinical research, academia/teaching and had my own consulting/coaching business. You can certainly work in advocacy or for a non-profit organization. Good luck!
"Fix the healthcare system"? I am also idealistic and like to try to make improvements. But there is no job where that would be possible. Even with power, money and influence that would be more than a little challenging, I'm sorry. I applaud your aims though. I come from a country with a government-run healthcare system and we end up with similarly stressed and over-worked nurses/CNA's, just for different reasons.
If you would like to improve things on a smaller scale then nursing leadership and nursing management would be a good aim. Maybe you are physically healthy enough for RN training and some time to gain experience before a management position? You could make some changes from within, maybe manage a nursing home, introduce certain basic levels of training, campaign for more staff, inspire, advocate and lead.
I love your response...Im thinking possibly something political/law profession/Lobbyist. However, the post I am quoting has a decent answer...Try to start from within. I believe experience in healthcare is important...and possibly having the CNA background will be enough to get you started.
I hope that this is the correct place for this post, but I am in need of help.
My brother ( black male working in a town which is 96% white, 3.8% other) who is also a nurse is currently working in the Dakotas and has been there for over a year and loves it there. He confided in me today that two of the CNA workers who work for him spit into his bottle of water when he was away from his desk. He stated that he was "wondering why they were laughing so profusely when he started to drink his water after assisting a patient on his floor". The sad thing is that the two other CNA workers who witnessed the incident did not say anything for a few days, but after careful reflection, they then told my brother and the management what they had witnessed. My brother immediately went to management and they told him to "stop making a big fuss over this". As a result, ONE of the CNA workers has been fired, but the other remains employed there. He has had testing for any possible bodily fluid diseases which he could have contracted, but is still bothered by the incident.
I am so disappointed in what happened because my brother is the one who encouraged me to become an RN to help others, but I have reservations now about possibly working in "rural areas" because of what happened to him. I am currently in a large metropolitan area and have not experienced this type of behavior (at least not yet). I treat ALL of my patients the same no matter what race, nationality, gender, or sexual preference ( I am in an area with a large"alternative" lifestyle population). In my opinion 'PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE' no matter what they look like or believe.
PLEASE let me know what avenues you may suggest for my brother to explore. He nor I want this to be "swept under the rug" because as healthcare professionals, I CAN NOT tolerate this type of behavior to no matter who it may happen.
I hope that this is the correct place for this post, but I am in need of help.
My brother ( black male working in a town which is 96% white, 3.8% other) who is also a nurse is currently working in the Dakotas and has been there for over a year and loves it there. He confided in me today that two of the CNA workers who work for him spit into his bottle of water when he was away from his desk. He stated that he was "wondering why they were laughing so profusely when he started to drink his water after assisting a patient on his floor". The sad thing is that the two other CNA workers who witnessed the incident did not say anything for a few days, but after careful reflection, they then told my brother and the management what they had witnessed. My brother immediately went to management and they told him to "stop making a big fuss over this". As a result, ONE of the CNA workers has been fired, but the other remains employed there. He has had testing for any possible bodily fluid diseases which he could have contracted, but is still bothered by the incident.
I am so disappointed in what happened because my brother is the one who encouraged me to become an RN to help others, but I have reservations now about possibly working in "rural areas" because of what happened to him. I am currently in a large metropolitan area and have not experienced this type of behavior (at least not yet). I treat ALL of my patients the same no matter what race, nationality, gender, or sexual preference ( I am in an area with a large"alternative" lifestyle population). In my opinion 'PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE' no matter what they look like or believe.
PLEASE let me know what avenues you may suggest for my brother to explore. He nor I want this to be "swept under the rug" because as healthcare professionals, I CAN NOT tolerate this type of behavior to no matter who it may happen.
Please advise.
I wish I could give some advice but not sure of what you are asking for? Is it how to deal
with harassment? How to report this issue in order to make sure something is done about ?
Yes. He needs to know how to get this issue resolved and how high to to take it. I say revoke the license of the CNA. This is something that a healthcare worker should not do... as a HCP, this behavior is not acceptable.
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
I suggest consulting an attorney. Proving what happened with witness statements and such could be difficult.
I would also suggest to him to keep a diary of every shift. He should write of any conflict with a patient, family member, hospital management, coworkers, and physicians. Just write the facts. Date, time, unit who said what with direct quotes, and what he did and said. Name all people.
He probably won't need this, but it can be used in court if he is reported to the board of nursing or is sued.
Wonderlost
46 Posts
I don't think we're overstaffed anywhere, that was just a response to the previous comment above mine. I get how bad it is. I was a tech for about 5.5 years, & every year it seemed I had to take more patients for the same pay and worse benefits, and it was even harder on the nurses. It's why I decided against nursing school myself. It isn't sustainable though, especially now that more and more people are getting sick of it...