LVN's working with CNA's

What a shame that you aren't being treated with respect because being a CNA is hard work! I guess the positive is that it sounds as if you are taking this in stride and will use it to guide your relationships when you start working as a nurse. Personally I love my techs especially the really sharp ones. Just in general I try to treat everyone with respect and I never lose sight of the thought that I wouldn't want to do the CNA's job for my pay.

Well, I can't say that you are reporting anything that is out of the ordinary. It is unfortunate and I hope that you are able to convince some of your future co-workers to change their behavior if they need to. Good luck in your new career.

The people who are are the bottom of the interdisciplinary food chain are typically treated poorly and, unfortunately, this includes CNAs. Since many people associate being a CNA with cleaning poop and other so-called 'dirty work,' this job tends to be one with extremely low prestige. CNAs are enormously important to heathcare, but they tend to not be treated as such. Being an aide involves virtually no prestige, a lack of respect, low pay, and the knowledge that you are replaceable. Some people might be offended by my comments, but I stand by them because I was once an aide.

I am an LVN and have never been rude to my CNAs, but many of my coworkers have self-esteem issues and, therefore, try to berate and belittle the aides to boost their own pitiful egos. A few of my nurse coworkers try to control every single aspect of the CNA's day, without consideration that the aide is a person with feelings. I value my CNAs and always thank them for their help, but countless people don't place a great deal of value on the aide's work.

My former director of staff development stated that CNAs were "undereducated and poor."

Here's one more thought. The nurses at the various facilities will probably treat you better if they knew you had completed an LVN program and were waiting to take NCLEX. CNAs who are nursing students, GNs, and GVNs tend to be treated a little more respectably than the career CNAs, because there's some hidden social and cultural capital involved in ascending the career ladder.

My former director of staff development stated that CNAs were "undereducated and poor."

That is disgraceful. Sounds to me like your former director was an idiot. Just because someone is a CNA does not mean they are undereducated and if facilities paid CNAs what they are actually worth for the miserable hard job they do they'd be very wealthy! :angryfire

Sort of the same topic but one thing I will never understand is the stories about a float person coming to the unit and geting treated poorly or geting the worst assignment. Sheesh when we are short handed I'm totally thankful for someone who is willing to come pitch in to help and they definitely get all the assistance I can offer. Not only is that just good manners, imo, its also safer for the patient. How can it make sense for a nurse unfamiliar with the unit to be stuck with the most challenging patients?