Interesting Phenomenon

[Vito Andolini]

Do your aides, techs, UAP's, whatever your facility calls them seem like they are interested in learning about things such as meds and side effects to watch for and to tell you about? Or about pathophysiology, reasons for doing things we do to patients who have a certain diagnosis, or other medical and nursing topics? I guess we can't generalize. Some are interested, some aren't, I guess.

I have UAP's who seem to only want to do their work and then leave. They don't seem interested in learning new things. One is planning on RN school and another on OR tech school, although neither seems to be doing anything to move ahead with their stated goals at this time. I try to be encouraging, I take Nursing journals and books to them, I try to post interesting info on the bulletin board where they can see them. But mostly it seems like they are not interested.

I feel frustrated by what I perceive (misperceive?) as not much interest in learning. Maybe they feel stuck due to finances and responsibilities for children, aging parents, etc. I try to help them get scholarships, too, and try to be encouraging, if they are at all interested.

[RNMeg]

I'm in nursing school. If I could get a job as a tech at your hospital, I would follow you around like a little puppy dog, trying to absorb all the info you could throw at me Those techs don't know what they're missing. As it is now, I try to learn every little thing I can from the optometrists I work for! :redpinkhe

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

Talk is cheap and it is easy to say " I want to go to nursing school" Hopefully you will find a tech/CNA what ever they are called who is passionate about learning and will be eager to absorb what you give. Until then keep your passion, it is contagious. You never know you may inspire someone to enter the profession who never thought they could.

[GilaRRT]

Some people are simply happy doing what they do. If you come to work, do a good job, then go home when you are done, you do what is required. Some people do not want to learn pathophysiology, medicine, or obtain additional nursing education. I can respect that and in a way understand where they are comming from. It is similar when people tell me I should get a premed degree and go to medical school or advance my nursing education. I am happy doing what I do however. (Well, for the moment.)

[shelly304]

Wow, are they lucky! When I was a CNA (at the LTC from hell!) I was told by the nurses they did not have time to teach or explain things to me. I was there to do my job and that is all they wanted from me. I, too would have followed you around like a puppy!

Find the aide that is most receptive. Someone will be grateful to have you as a mentor!

[EmBeMap]

I agree I would love to have a nurse mentor like that.

[justme1972]

I'll be honest....I don't think they should be expected to.

First, is the hospital planning on paying them more money for taking the time to learn these extra skills?

Most likely not....if you want someone to do more, you need to pay them more.

They can easily say, and be 100% accurate in, "That's not my job, that's a nursing responsibility."

And it is.

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

I have worked with maybe a handful of CNA's and mental health techs that were interested in nursing issues and asked about meds or procedures, but they were either in school or planning on going soon.

I'm more than willing to impart some of my limited knowledge to them, but I don't necessarily expect UAP's to ask questions about things outside of their scope of practice. If someone wants to be a CNA all of their life, I don't really see a problem with it. If they do their job and they do it well, more power to them.

I'm not in the business of projecting my personal aspirations, goals, and dreams onto other folk. Where do you draw the line? Should all CNA's go on to be nurses? Should all LPN's go on to be RN's? Should all RN's go on to be APRN's? Should all APRN's go on to be MD's? Should all MD's go on to be God? :chuckle

[DebRN06]

Perhaps it is not disinterest in learning, but rather being focused on doing the job they there to do and a desire to do that well.

I know there are plenty of times when I would like to "pick the docs brain" or find out what's going on with a co-worker's "interesting" pt, but just do not have the time because I need to remain focused on my own duties/pts... even though I might be missing out on a learning experience.

I have also had the opposite experience with a tech that was "too interested" (for lack of better phrase). She was always asking a lot of questions and talking to every nurse about their pts...but not getting her work done in a timely manner.

Perhaps they are also not at a place in their life to go back to school. I would have liked to have gone back long before I did, but could not.

You have been caring towards them...but I would leave it at that for now. If they need/want any advice from you, I am sure they know they can count on you. As frustrating as it is for you to see them not working towards their dreams/goals, it is not your place to push the issue.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I worked as a CNA during NS, and I did not have time for anything but patient care. I was too busy running my butt off to be picking the nurses' brains.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I was given a girl who had failed boards 3 times and was hired as a CNA. I love to teach, and I love to give out warm fuzzies. And yes that can be irritating.

When we started she was almost hostile toward me. I gave her a tiny teddy bear pin.

When she helped me set up an autotransufsion (I did the work) but she had to tell me each step.Why, how, what comes next etc. She got another bear.

Pleurevac- same. We learned from experience she was NOT dumb she just needed to learn the why of doing things in proper order. Next task, next bear. We were literally joined at the hip for 5 weeks. I did nothing until she told me why or how.

I had to go to NY for a family meeting for 3 days and my NM told me while I was gone, she didn't understand how this CNA knew so much........I knew We'd won.

We had 3 days til NCLEX and each day a bear. She began to look like she had a fur patch on her collar.

NCLEX was on a SAT. Monday morning I was off, but I got a call at 0645......sheesh was I scheduled and forgot? No it was baby bear reporting to Mama Bear that she was an RN!!!!!!!!! Guess who they chose as her RN preceptor?

After 6 weeks she could have run the floor (with only a shadow).

Some CNAs want to learn, but they are either afraid to ask, don't know how to prioritize or are intimidated by some nurses and just say forget about it.

See if you can see a spark of interest in one of your CNAs and ask your NM if you can pre-precept. "H" MY nurse was one of the needy ones. Oh she got a BIG WHITE TEDDY from her secret pal next day I worked. She named it P**.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I have a different perspective. It's the aide who already believes she is at least as knowledgable as the nurses (and probably moreso because she's been there longer). Or the aide who tells a patient what meds they should take, or shouldn't take, or whatever, and the poor schnook in the bed thinks she IS a nurse. And she doesn't correct that misconception.

I love teaching when the opportunity presents itself, and I LOVE the aide who asks questions and wants reasons to go with what they're asked to do. I too wish there were more of them, and less of the ones who are already darned sure they're 'mostly' nurses already