Know It Alls: CNAs and Nursing Students- How To Handle?

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

I'm a nursing assistant and because my unit is short-staffed as well as having people constantly calling off, I've been working with other nursing assistants who are also nursing students. There are some that I like working with because they have great attitudes and they share so much with me- when I ask. However, the others I've worked with really irritate me to no high end. They're constantly scrutinizing anything I do. It's always "No, it's like this. . ." "No, it's that way. . ." "You need to do this. . ." "Don't forget to always. . ." "You should be doing it this way. ." "You should always remember. . ." . I either ignore them or just say, " Thanks, but I know what I'm doing!" I've been a nursing assistant for almost a year now and everything I do is routine, so I know exactly what I'm doing! It's interesting how these students put on the nurse role when they haven't even graduated, pass boards yet, or had any REAL experience.

Here's the other side of the coin. I start nursing school in a few weeks and from threads I've read on here it appears that there will be know it alls of every shape and form, especially know it all CNAs. I have no intentions on letting anyone know I already work in a hospital. I've learned to keep things to myself.

I'm just getting irritated and I wanted to know if anyone has ever had experience with know it all CNAs and nursing students and what you did to handle them.

[newbebop, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I look forward to reading answers on this. I have experienced the same things and heard horror stories of the know it alls, both who have worked in the field and those who just think they could from the go. ;-) I have been a CNA for 3 years now and also plan to go very low key. I know I have a lot to learn, and unlearn from my work experience and look forward to getting all I can out of school.

[greeniebean]

In my program it's mandatory that everyone be Cna Certified before starting courses so I guess we'll all be Cna know-it-alls! LOL. I have been a CNA for 6 years, but I'm going to try to go into nursing school with a blank mind, and really absorb the way my program wants me do things. I'm definatley not going to act like I'm any better than any of my classmates. NONE of us are nurses yet, so none of us have any right to act like other students are inferior because they don't have the same expirience.

Chocobean- I'm sorry people are trying to belittle you. I would just keep reminding them that you know how to do your job. If your classmates are know-it-alls, I would seperate myself from that group of students. Chances are they will ruffle everyone's nerves with their attitudes so you won't be alone. Good Luck to you!

[MammaNurse2Be]

I think you can look at it a different way...

Those that are RN or BSN do have more education and may have something useful to offer. Those that dismiss that right off the bat could be losing out on great learning opportunities. While you have been a CNA for a year, that isn't long and I am sure you still have many learning opportunities ahead. I am always open to learning something new or fine tuning my skills in any capacity. If you approach the thinking from a different angle, maybe it won't be so irksome but helpful. Nurses must take direction from Doctors and PAs and that is the way the rank and file go. If you want to move up in the ranks, go back to school. Yes, there is a difference in belittling and educating however it sounds if there is a proclivity to be sensitive to anything an RN says as you feel you "know it all".

[XYcsccSN]

That could get annoying...but have you stopped to look at the way you are doing things. Maybe some of this advice is relevant. A whole year of experience is not that much so maybe there is some good information they are trying to give you. You will probably have a different perspective once you get a few quarters into your nursing program. Your attitude probably isn't much better than their attitude since you seem 100% certain your way of doing things is always right!

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I think you can look at it a different way...

Those that are RN or BSN do have more education and may have something useful to offer. Those that dismiss that right off the bat could be losing out on great learning opportunities. While you have been a CNA for a year, that isn't long and I am sure you still have many learning opportunities ahead. I am always open to learning something new or fine tuning my skills in any capacity. If you approach the thinking from a different angle, maybe it won't be so irksome but helpful. Nurses must take direction from Doctors and PAs and that is the way the rank and file go. If you want to move up in the ranks, go back to school. Yes, there is a difference in belittling and educating however it sounds if there is a proclivity to be sensitive to anything an RN says as you feel you "know it all".

I agree.

Being a nursing assistant for only a year is hardly any time at all to be an expert. I was a PCT for 10+ years and I NEVER considered any part of my job 'routine'. I didn't know anything at a year out compared to what I knew at 3, 5, 7 years, etc. It's a constant learning process...

OP: When you enter nursing school, and actually start learning the why's behind what we do, and you'll understand why these students were sharing their information. And you understand what it means to be a patient advocate.

And being a pt advocate means telling or even stopping someone if they are doing something wrong.

Trust me, this is a skill that you will need to know how to do as a nurse. I've stopped plenty of Drs and told them "that's not the right way to do that'.

I think you are sensitive because you don't like being told what to do. Hey, nobody does. But if you are really doing something wrong-or just not doing it right, then you need to be told.

I'd be weary of carrying this attitude into nursing school. Just keep low, stay quiet, and do what you gotta do to pass.

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

I think you can look at it a different way...

Those that are RN or BSN do have more education and may have something useful to offer. Those that dismiss that right off the bat could be losing out on great learning opportunities. While you have been a CNA for a year, that isn't long and I am sure you still have many learning opportunities ahead. I am always open to learning something new or fine tuning my skills in any capacity. If you approach the thinking from a different angle, maybe it won't be so irksome but helpful. Nurses must take direction from Doctors and PAs and that is the way the rank and file go. If you want to move up in the ranks, go back to school. Yes, there is a difference in belittling and educating however it sounds if there is a proclivity to be sensitive to anything an RN says as you feel you "know it all".

I think a couple of you are misunderstanding or not thoroughly reading my post. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT RNS. I"m talking about NURSING STUDENTS WHO ARE NURSING ASSISTANTS. There's a difference between acknowleding something you're doing wrong and accepting feedback and recieving constant unwarranted advice from someone even though there is no RIGHT OR WRONG way. If I wasn't open to learning I wouldn't be going back to school for nursing and I wouldn't have become a nursing assistant in the first place. I ask nurses and other nursing assistants questions ALL THE TIME and I am open to suggestions. You're not getting the gist of what I'm talking about.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I think a couple of you are misunderstanding or not thoroughly reading my post. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT RNS. I"m talking about NURSING STUDENTS WHO ARE NURSING ASSISTANTS. There's a difference between acknowleding something you're doing wrong and accepting feedback and recieving constant unwarranted advice from someone even though there is no RIGHT OR WRONG way..

2 Things...

1-Yes, I was talking about nursing students with my post. Unfortunately for you, a CNA who is also in nursing school does know more than you. They are actively studying these very things.

2-Yes there is a right or wrong way. That kind of attitude may be where the problem lies. If you are resistant to learning the proper way to do something, because doing so implies that you didn't do it correctly in the first place, then you will have a very hard time in your nursing career.

Many, MANY things change. There is an evolving thing called evidence based practice. That means, many things I learned how to do will change because we are learning the best way to do them.

This is called Best Practice, and what we all strive to do.

So, what I'm getting at is, you better be ready to accept that you don't do everything perfectly, and be ready to adapt to change.

Otherwise, you'll come off as the bitter CNA who hates nursing students and treats new grads poorly.

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

That could get annoying...but have you stopped to look at the way you are doing things. Maybe some of this advice is relevant. A whole year of experience is not that much so maybe there is some good information they are trying to give you. You will probably have a different perspective once you get a few quarters into your nursing program. Your attitude probably isn't much better than their attitude since you seem 100% certain your way of doing things is always right!

The question actually should have been, "Has the CNA/student stopped to observe the way the information s/he sharing is received by the other co-worker? Are they presenting it in a helpful manner? Or is it presented in a authoritarian, judgemental manner?" Yes, I have looked at the way I do things and I can judge for myself whether the information I receive is relevant or not. What works for you may not work for me and vice versa. So it's not about being "right." The information isn't "good information" if it all eventually leads to the same result. And I'm sure if I was doing something wrong my co-workers- RNs and nursing assistants- would tell me so.

[mrsshifflette09]

I understand exactly what you are talking about. I am the type of person that likes to learn from people who know what they are doing. I just recently graduated from nursing school and I also worked as a CNA at a large hospital. Also, many of the girls from my nursing class were "know it alls" except they really had no more experience than me. It bothers me when people tell me that I am doing things wrong, when I am just doing them my own way. I'm not saying I don't appreciate advice, I just don't like getting it from someone who knows no more than I do.

Another thing that bothered me was in nursing school when some girls would try to say and do certain things that they learned in the hospital, when the book and the teachers say to do otherwise. You would be doing yourself A LOT of good if you could just wipe your slate clean before school, and don't pipe up in class and say, "But when I work at the hospital I do this..." it is super annoying, and can be confusing to other students.

Hope everything works out for you and I hope that you do great in nursing school!!

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

. I'm not saying I don't appreciate advice, I just don't like getting it from someone who knows no more than I do.

You know, I've learned from new grads, our unit clerk, the dietition, the PT students, any and everybody.

I've taken advice from students, as they are armed with really recent information. I've taken advice from nurses with 30 years of experience, and those with less than one.

I don't really care if they know "more" than I do. I care if their advice is applicable. I've been a nurse for 3.5 years. People take advice from me. Are they fools for doing so, since some of them know more than I do?

Quite the opposite.

So, you shouldn't limit yourself because you judge someone as being on the same level as you. Nursing is a team sport, and we all need each other.

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

1) "A CNA who is also in nursing school does know more than you. They are actively studying these very things."- No kidding!

2) "Yes there is a right or wrong way. That kind of attitude may be where the problem lies. If you are resistant to learning the proper way to do something, because doing so implies that you didn't do it correctly in the first place, then you will have a very hard time in your nursing career."

As I said before, I took on this job so I could LEARN, OBSERVE, and ASK QUESTIONS.

3) "So, what I'm getting at is, you better be ready to accept that you don't do everything perfectly, and be ready to adapt to change."

I never mentioned that I was perfect. It goes BOTH WAYS.

4) "Otherwise, you'll come off as the bitter CNA who hates nursing students and treats new grads poorly"

That's funny because there were 13 graduate nurses hired on my floor a couple months ago and there were 3 summer externs who I've enjoyed working with. Then there are the other nursing assistants I work with who are also students and we get along great too. A *few* know-it-all CNAs want to "help" me out and all of a sudden I'm considered ignorant and ungrateful.