LPN's to work as CNA's

[caroline205]

Have been informed that when we are short a CNA the LPN must work a section. An RN will take her cart while the LPN works as a CNA. The facility will no longer use agency because of $$.

This facility uses agency quite often, sometimes several each shift.

This is causing great concern as some of us do not feel able to do the work required of a CNA.

It's clear that we have a staffing problem.

Has anyone else encountered this?

Can this be forced upon us or is this the norm?

I have been at this facility for 11 years and this is a first.

Most of our LPSs will help our CNAs when we are needed and we can.

We have been warned that if we refused a CNA assignment we would be written up and/or fired.

Please give your opinion. If I am wrong then I need to know.

Thanks

[caliotter3]

I got hired as a CNA one time for CNA pay with the statement that at the proper time, I would move up to charge nurse. I got charge nurse after a few months. However, this place was the worst hell hole I've ever worked in and in retrospect, I would never jeopardize my nursing license again by doing what I did. When I left that place there were two lawsuits going on and the DON was stealing controlled substances. Her "favorite" nurse (the one who was making her med cart handy to the DON) was abusive to a resident. I should have left a lot sooner than I did. Won't work as a CNA anymore (job title that is). Nothing has ever stopped me from doing CNA duties because that is basic patient care. I learned my lesson the hard way and was lucky that it wasn't a harder lesson for me.

[banditrn]

At the last LTC I worked before I retired, there were a couple of really excellent CNA's on at nite - now keep in mind, when I worked at the hospital, I didn't have CNA's, and did all my own 'dirty' work - anyway, I got to noticing that anytime I left the nurses station, one of them would follow me around, and it almost seemed like she was wringing her hands. Fnally I asked her what on earth the problem was - and she told me that she was afraid that I'd go in a room and start doing cares and hurt myself because I was 'older'!!:rotfl:

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Bandit-

I had to laugh. I am 10 years older than both my ADNS and SDC. We have been working on cleaning out the closets and stocking the shelves with supplies. Every time I go to pick up a box, one of them says "Oh, don't YOU lift that heavy box" I think they think I am old and feeble!

[jj1986]

CNA, LPN, RN, does it matter? When I became a nurse I accepted the responsibility to care for someone within the scope of my practice, not pass meds do tx then sit on my butt the rest of the shift.

[Rexie68]

I'm laughing because my supervisor, an RN, worked as a CNA while I did the charge nurse/med nurse duties because, he said, he'd rather be the CNA than have to be in charge of two units. So yes, CNA work is hard, but LPN/RN work can also be difficult. I don't mind working as a CNA when needed. Our RN's do the same. Everyone helps out.

[pepperann35]

I can see them wanting to get rid of staffing agency help, and the residents would surely get better care with the facilitys own staff. It's too bad that they did not explain this to you in a positive way and ask for volunteers first. Maybe the management is the reason you have a staffing shortage in the first place.