LTC/Nursing Homes do all the vitals? Do they still exist really?

[downsouthlaff]

I worked at 2 Nursing homes as a C N A and at both we did vitals and pulse ox and all of that. But I know someone who works at another facility who said the nurses do all the vitals always but every now and then the CNAs would get a temperature. I'm just intrigued about how the nurse can do all of the there work and possibly have the time to get all those vitals. With ABTs, Skills, Hospice, B/P shift. Why would a facility make the nurses do all these vitals when CNAs are high competent and trained?

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Nope downsouthlaff, CNA classes are being taught at the community college. Every CNA we have hired for the past year [and with LTC turnover that is a lot of CNA's] has said they didn't learn how to do that in school. Way back when I took my CNA class right at the LTC that hired me. They hired us and then did the training right there. None of the LTC facilities around me still teach the courses on site. Probably because it isn't cost effective. The CNA course at the community college is roughly $350.00 so training on site with the facility absorbing the cost and no guarantee that the newly trained CNA stays there doesn't make much sense for them.

[Kitsey]

CNAs don't take vitals at my facility and we did not learn to take blood pressure in my class. I asked why we would not be learning that skill and the instructor said that since we don't take vitals on the job, they don't bother teaching it any more. Every once in a while I might grab a temp, but other than that, nothing. The nurses do vitals weekly I believe.

[downsouthlaff, LPN]

That Is so strange how things differ from place to place. It couldn't be more opposite here. In the CNA classes around here, Vo Techs and Community Colleges and LTC in house, CNAs are still very much taught vitals, and s big part of our day consists of taking vitals at work. In fact here, the vast majority of the facilities the CNAs do ALL the vitals. From neuro checks, before med administration, weeklys and all. In fact in Louisiana, taking a full set vitals is one of the possible skills on the skills test. But let's say your CNA program didn't teach you vitals but you go on to work in a hospital ( I am almost certain that in some settings in your area the nurses aides will be responsible for vitals. It may not be in LTC but legs say you work for a hospital, a home health, or a hospice agency, there a good chance you will be getting vitals. I don't think in any state that it is out of the CNAs scope to get vitals I could be wrong though. In my opinion even though some facilities ( very few here) prohibit CNAs from taking vitals, I still think that every state certified nurse aide should know how to get a complete set of vitals and what's low what's high and what's norm IMO. What area are y'all In? Are y'all in an are where they utilize Medication Aides alot ? If so this may be why, like the commuter said earlier when facilities have medication aides the nurse can do alot more of his/her own work without delegating to the max!

[downsouthlaff, LPN]

And next I suppose someone's gonna tell me those states still exist where an LPN cant administer meds and is limited to vital signs, personal hygiene care, alcohol rubs and massages, simple injections, and collecting and reporting data. Even though this is the job description on every website I really hope it's still not actually like this LOL

[Kitsey]

I am in Western Wisconsin. Not sure about Medication Aides, my experience is limited to a single LTCF.

[Glycerine82, LPN]

I worked at 2 Nursing homes as a C N A and at both we did vitals and pulse ox and all of that. But I know someone who works at another facility who said the nurses do all the vitals always but every now and then the CNAs would get a temperature. I'm just intrigued about how the nurse can do all of the there work and possibly have the time to get all those vitals. With ABTs Skills, Hospice, B/P shift. Why would a facility make the nurses do all these vitals when CNAs are high competent and trained?[/quote']

I know justbas many who make them up if theyre running shirt on time or as someone else saidsome cnas dont take them properly. I believe I would rather get my own in cases for hypertention meds etc. So I get it.

[RJay25]

When I worked in LTC the nurses did all v/s on morning shift but on the night shift they asked the aides to do it. Now I work in hospital the nurses do BP and cna's are responsible for TPR.

[blwilliams10]

In my state (Missouri) we are required to know how to take V/S as part of our state exam; BP/TPR is always on our tests. It just depends on the facility on how often the CNA is the one taking V/S.

[kaydensmom01]

Everywhere around here the nurses do the vitals. Most places around here usually hire non-CNA's, and then teach them things like "how to transfer patients, how to shower, how to brush teeth", and do not teach them how to take vitals because they are not state tested or certified. This is everyplace but one that I am around.

[yugot2h8]

At my facility both CNAs and nurses will take vitals, but it is mostly the CNA's responsibility. In my class, the instructor really focused on getting accurate vital signs. She said it is one of the most important things we will do.

It is also one of the tasks on the state exam and there is little room for variance from what the instructor gets. I know blood pressure is 4 mmHg either way, and I think pulse and respirations is within 5.

[downsouthlaff, LPN]

Glycerine 82, right!! Some CNAs don't take vitals properly, some nurses don't pass medicine properly! But still, the CNA should be competent to do vitals and the Nurse should be very much competent in med pass. Instead of stereotyping all CNAs as lazy aides ego don't take vitals seriously, it should be judged by the reputation of the particular CNA and not the whole CNA population

[downsouthlaff, LPN]

For example as the charge nurse you may feel comfortable letting Mary get all your vitals, because Mary comes to work everyday, has been working at the facility 15 years and has a good reputation there and you can trust her to do it right.

On the other hand you have Stephanie who has been at the facility for 2 months, and calls in 2 or 3 days a week, and has countless write ups for carelessness and has a non caring attitude that's a different story!