LPN working CNA shifts??

BrandonLPN, LPN · Aug 27, 2012

What's wrong with working the floor as a CNA as long as you're paid as a LPN? I do this on a weekly basis where I work. If you start acting like working the floor is beneath you, you're going to lose some respect from your aides. Wiping butt and feeding people is 100% as much a part of nursing as passing meds or noting orders.

Karla_isela · Aug 30, 2012

I agree wholeheartedly with BrandonLPN. However, I can also understand how frustrating it might feel to work as a CNA especially after working your butt off in becoming an LPN. It also sounds like you're spreading yourself thin. Maybe you should prioritize a little more; you may need the money and the extra work, but always think of yourself because this kind of workload could really hit you hard. I know when I work double shifts back to back I eventually burn out and/or get sick.

Maybe the younger LPN can't pick up those extra shifts. You should start the conversation with your DON by simply stating that you would like to cut back on the shifts as CNA, but also keep in mind that as a team player of such a facility it is probably under your job expectations to not only do the required tasks of an LPN but to also abide by whatever the DON assigns you to do.

When I worked at Kalahari Resorts even the life guards would come down to help with the housekeeping.

JRMLPN · Aug 30, 2012

I am an LPN that works in a long term care facility. We are short staffed of CNA's and 3 of the 4 LPN's (me included) were assigned to "fill in" CNA shifts "temporarily" almost a year ago. Am I being ungrateful and selfish for being resentful of these shifts and of the newer, younger LPN who does not get the shift?
I really don't think so at all. The facility is using you to fill in for CNA's, and I agree with the previous poster that there's nothing wrong with filling in on the floor. It's all part of nursing. BUT, remember, they now have an extra nurse or two on the floor, because even tho you're filling in as a CNA, you are held accountable to the highest level of your licensure, which means that if a mistake is accidentally made, you're liable. Also, the facility is never going to hire more CNA's if you keep allowing them to use you in the way they have been. To them, the problem is solved as long as they have the staffing they need, which you are providing. I've been in this position, and refused the CNA shifts, because frankly, I'm a nurse for a reason, and as much as I loved being a CNA for the twenty years it took to finally go and become a nurse, I'm now a NURSE, and expect to be taken seriously and treated with respect. I'd let the DON know that it's wearing you out physically and mentally, and you will NOT work when you're not at the best of your ability to function and think clearly. Risk Management should also be made aware of the potential for accidents with the facility expecting so much of you. Last word of advice,,,, look for a job at a facility where you will be valued and treated with respect, because you're certainly not getting either currently! Good luck, and know that someone else feels your pain!

Julie1963 · Aug 30, 2012

I posted this thread not because I think being a CNA is beneath me. I was just frustrated at being moved around so much..between units, shifts, positions...I have no sense of continuity. Please forgive me if the impression I gave was that I thought the work of a CNA is beneath me...that is far from the truth. When I'm working as a nurse I do CNA duties if there is a need for it. Nothing would be accomplished if it wasn't for the wonderful skilled CNA's on my team.

IdianaCNA1993 · Aug 30, 2012

:redbeathe I dont even know you and I love you! I have worked with many nurses that thought helping me was beneath them. There was one time when it was all male CNAs in the building and there was a few residents that didnt want a male cleaning them up. and the nurses said they can either take you guys or nothing until the next shift let me remind you that it was 12 hour shifts too!! I thought How rediculas! then there was some nurses that didnt mind and the nurses that help me I help in return like geting the stuff ready to do treatments and helping them turn a resident. I used to worke with one nurse that was an aide for a long time and she even helped do bed checks with out even being asked to help. I love all nurses that arent afraid to get there hands dirty and whipe a little butt or answer a few call lights. I know that I cant wait to be done with nursing school and I havent even started yet because I want to be one of those nurses that arent afraid to do aide work. you give me hope and I dont blame you either for feeling like you could be doing somthing better with your training also and that the young LPN gets treated like the experienced one I think it should be shared equally.

walkingon, CNA, LPN · Aug 30, 2012

I am in the same boat as the OP,LPN with a part-time position as an aide every other weekend. I do aide work when I'm a nurse and nurse work when I'm an aide. Don't mind wiping butt with the best of 'em, but I do it as little as possible because I am paid aide wages for aide work, but am expected to help with nursing tasks while an aide. Feel like I put my license on the line for less than $9 an hour, no thanks.

txwildflower57 · Aug 30, 2012

As a DON in a LTC I think they are really doing you an injustice - it would have to be really an emergency before I would put one of my nurses on the unit as an aide. Do I expect my nurses to be helpful & assist the aides when needed - absolutely - it's a part of their job. However, they are right when they say that you are held accountable for everything under your licensure when on the unit even as an aide. Be very careful. I think these facilities are taking advantage of the situation and not trying to hire more aides. Cut back on your hours but make sure they are the CNA hours. For the aide who wanted to know how to approach the DON - you might start out with "Do you know when we may have more CNAs hired? I don't mind helping out occasionally but it has been almost a year and I really want to work more as a nurse." Maybe that would help. I do know that sometimes we in management get busy and forget we have things going on that we need to work on so they may need a little "reminder" of how long this has been going on.

And for all of You that are working as CNAs YOU should Never be paid CNA WAGES when you are a nurse even when you are working as an AIDE -it's against the law! If they want to use you on the unit as a CNA that's fine but they have to pay you your nursing pay!!! Good luck to all!

BrandonLPN, LPN · Aug 30, 2012

I've always been a little puzzled when people cite the fact that they will be held to their nursing license as a reason not to work the floor in an aide role. When I work the floor doing member care I still get paid LPN wages. Therefore I feel I *should* have more responsibility

than the CNAs doing the same job but making way less.

And I also look at it as I'm *still* working as a nurse. This shift I just

happen to be doing the part of nursing that happens to overlap with the aides' scope of practice. Shouldn't I *always* be held to my license when practicing nursing? And it seems to me that feeding and bathing people is "nurse work" just as much as medicating or assessing them. Again, it's simply a part of nursing practice that we usually delegate to UAP.

walkingon, CNA, LPN · Aug 31, 2012

Brandon...I get that *all* care falls under the nursing umbrella; I can and do provide that kind of care every time I work in either role, and am not in the least allergic to wiping poop or cleaning up puke. But if, as you say, I am still working as a nurse when I provide basic care, should I not be paid as one? If I am held to the highest standard of practice while I'm providing that care, do I not deserve to be paid at the rate of highest standard of practice? Something tells me that if you had to take an over $5/hr pay cut to work as an aide, you wouldn't want to do it any more than I do.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Aug 31, 2012

I missed the part about you not making nurse wages. That's all together different. I was talking about people who get hired and paid as nurses, but occasionally get "pulled to the floor" to do an aide assignment. They have no right to expect you to do nurse duties if they're paying you as an aide.

anniv91106 · Sep 1, 2012

I missed the part about you not making nurse wages. That's all together different. I was talking about people who get hired and paid as nurses, but occasionally get "pulled to the floor" to do an aide assignment. They have no right to expect you to do nurse duties if they're paying you as an aide.

"on a weekly basis" (see comment #1) is not occasionally. Those aides should file a grievance because you take their work and get paid a lot more. That would also help protect the number of union jobs. Do job bids, classifications and content not count for anything anymore?