Did the title catch your attention? Good, I was hoping it would.
I've seen people talk about this attitude on allnurses quite a bit, and I find the reactions fascinating. I'm amazed at the passion, care and professionalism of the nurses on this board and really about every nurse I've ever met.
BUT, everyone-from the most seasoned nurse to the student- knows that nursing is changing and will probably continue to change dramatically over the years to come. There are CNAs and MAs who seem to have an increasing role in the healthcare system and nurses themselves have more responsibility (all the charting etc.) and demanding jobs as new diseases, new medicines and standards of care make their way into our lives.
My question is, do you think their should be a change in what nurses do? Will there come a time when basic hygiene and certain other tasks often done by nurses in the past will be the responsibility of CNAs and others in similar roles? Would this be a good thing for nurses? Is there really anything wrong with nurses who feel that four years of education + all of their other demands and responsibilities should mean that they shouldn't have to do these tasks?
I haven't read thru all of the responses, but from being in clinicals my first semester, the CNA's do a whole lot of work. They do ALL a.m. care, including vitals.
I didn't see nurses dealing with anything crappy, ever. No pun intended. :)
Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.
To me it's a shame that people are going into nursing now with the attitude of "I don't want to wipe butts.". They only want to work with the technical things not the bedside things. I think it's sad that many nurses will go out of their way to avoid wiping up a bm or answering a call light. My dream to become a nurse has always been due to the idea that taking care of someone else is the biggest privlege allowed. I don't know... Maybe I'm just archaic with my thinking and am wrong :stone
Wow! I was sharpening my claws and rolling up my sleeves when I saw the title!!
My feeling is that there is no task that belongs to the CNA's. All the tasks are actually ours and they are our assistants. They work under our licenses, their tasks are ultimately our responsibility.
Yeah! someone finally said it!
I so agree.
I view my role as the nurse's assistant, and rely on the nurse to delegate task that are within my scope. I actually have seen NAs trying to run the show so to speak in LTC. I like to work with nurses that take a real leadership role, make expectations clear, draw clear connections between our responsibilities and patient goals, demand high standards in care, and are realistic about what can and can't be done. I am happy to do the "dirty work" as part of a team that shows mutual respect, and puts patient care and well being ahead of personal "stuff".
Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.
I try to know my patients well and there are no call lights ringing forever in my hall. Wiping butts is part of my job and I like my job. Yes I will delegate when I have someone to delegate to, but patients will not sit in a mess if the nursing assistant is busy or we only have one for the unit. It takes only a few minutes to clean someone up and can be utilized as my patient assessment which I have to do every 4 hours anyhow.
To me it's a shame that people are going into nursing now with the attitude of "I don't want to wipe butts.". They only want to work with the technical things not the bedside things. I think it's sad that many nurses will go out of their way to avoid wiping up a bm or answering a call light. My dream to become a nurse has always been due to the idea that taking care of someone else is the biggest privlege allowed. I don't know... Maybe I'm just archaic with my thinking and am wrong :stone
I'm going to step into the line of fire and admit that I don't like wiping butts! Today, I was admitting a new patient to home health. I was filling out the OASIS form and the private duty LPN was right across from me filling out her private duty papers. The woman said, "I think I need the bedpan."
I glanced up at the LPN who kept writing like she didn't hear a thing.
I hoped maybe she would put her pen and paper down and help this woman but she just kept on with her papers. I looked at the woman who was looking back and forth like "uh oh, I need the bedpan really soon."
I said, "you want it now?"
She nodded.
So I put down my papers and helped her on the bedpan. I hurried through the rest of the paperwork and sure enough I weasled out of the scene before she was ready to get taken off the bedpan. I gladly left it to her private duty nurse (who acted like she was running the show, anyway :gandalf: )
I would never let someone lay in a mess, but I sure won't push anyone out of the way to clean up BM, either.
Yes I will delegate when I have someone to delegate to, but patients will not sit in a mess if the nursing assistant is busy or we only have one for the unit.
I agree! My previous ft job, now my prn job is a 7p-7a. There are NO uap's at nite on our floor. Now, do I like wiping butts...NO...I didn't particularly love changing my children either, but I do it...and not begrudgingly either. It is part of being a nurse, and I truly think that there are very few people in this world that would rather have a stranger taking care of their personal hygiene. I think they would much prefer to do it themselves, I know I would.
I'm going to step into the line of fire and admit that I don't like wiping butts! Today, I was admitting a new patient to home health. I was filling out the OASIS form and the private duty LPN was right across from me filling out her private duty papers. The woman said, "I think I need the bedpan."
I glanced up at the LPN who kept writing like she didn't hear a thing.
I hoped maybe she would put her pen and paper down and help this woman but she just kept on with her papers. I looked at the woman who was looking back and forth like "uh oh, I need the bedpan really soon."
I said, "you want it now?"
She nodded.
So I put down my papers and helped her on the bedpan. I hurried through the rest of the paperwork and sure enough I weasled out of the scene before she was ready to get taken off the bedpan. I gladly left it to her private duty nurse (who acted like she was running the show, anyway :gandalf: )
I would never let someone lay in a mess, but I sure won't push anyone out of the way to clean up BM, either.
Ya know, you can call me if this ever comes up, and Ill gladly run and do this for the patient for you. But, and this is a big but, why would you not want to help her off the bed pan?
oh, and also, no one likes doing this. That is not the point, but it is part of keeping the patient healthy, comfortable, maintaining dignity etc, etc,
Specializes in Geriatrics and Quality Improvement,.
Did the title catch your attention? Good, I was hoping it would.
I've seen people talk about this attitude on allnurses quite a bit, and I find the reactions fascinating. I'm amazed at the passion, care and professionalism of the nurses on this board and really about every nurse I've ever met.
BUT, everyone-from the most seasoned nurse to the student- knows that nursing is changing and will probably continue to change dramatically over the years to come. There are CNAs and MAs who seem to have an increasing role in the healthcare system and nurses themselves have more responsibility (all the charting etc.) and demanding jobs as new diseases, new medicines and standards of care make their way into our lives.
My question is, do you think their should be a change in what nurses do? Will there come a time when basic hygiene and certain other tasks often done by nurses in the past will be the responsibility of CNAs and others in similar roles? Would this be a good thing for nurses? Is there really anything wrong with nurses who feel that four years of education + all of their other demands and responsibilities should mean that they shouldn't have to do these tasks?
In the nursing home I work in, we have CNA's that preform the majority of these personal care/direct patient care duties. We started a breakfast ready team, and have increased staff during feeding hours to asisst those with less independence. As the charge nurse on the unit, I assist when I see that a staff member who does her share is falling behind, and I admit, I am not as ready for those who shove work off or manipulate the other CNA's. I have 3 CNA's who wor magic together, and the unit runs so smoothly, that my little assists are appreciated, to come out of a shower and see the bed already made, or shower a resident who needs to go out early, and the aid is 'occupied' by another resident with greater need. CNA's are the backbone of what we do. But I do it all with them, from changing diapers to showers to transporting. As nursing changes, we need to change with it, all for the betterment of our patients.
I agree that wiping butts is part of my job. I knew that was what i was getting into when I went to college.
I don't have the initals RN after my name to lord them over people and have others do my dirty work for my pts. It always burns my butt:angryfire when a nurse will walk clear across a building to find a cna to clean a bum rather than take two minutes to do it herself.
I like to use it as an opportunity to assess my pt. Are they developing bed sores? do they have blood in the stool? what is the general condtion of their skin? How is their mobility?
Not to mention that helping pts with their needs ( what ever they may be) helps to build trust. If they think i'm trust worthy enough and caring enough to help them when they are feeling vulnerable. I hope that will make them feel more at ease when I am providing care that is more technical.
Not saying I love cleaning poop or anything but if It needs to get done. Gett'er Dun!:trout:
luciesmom
3 Posts
Families are going to have to pitch in as there is not enough of us to go around.