Not willing to do the dirty work?

Kimynurse · Aug 28, 2012

I'm a LPN, and in nursing school all

But our med pass rotation, we did patient care or "CNA" work. I never complained. I was just happy to be in school others complained a lot.

It taught me to be a good nurse.

I try and help the cna's where I work whenever I can.

I find that attitude appalling, and embarrassing to Other nurses and nursing students.

Nurses do patient care!

Suck it up buttercup, or please find another profession.

KatieJ91 · Aug 28, 2012

I work in the hospital as an extern so I see the work and help both RNs and CNAs with skills. I find that some nurses on certain units refuse to but someone on a bed pan or wipe someone up. Other nurses will answer call lights and help as needed. I would hope that when I graduate I won't refuse to take a BS or help a patient to the commode. I work on the ICU right now and almost every nurse does all of their own CNA skills because they don't always have a CNA and if they do it is usually one CNA for 15-20 patients.

SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP · Aug 28, 2012

A new grad at work just told me "aren't you glad you only have to do that kind of work another year"? well I wasn't planning on stopping when I got my RN, but apparently she won't be doing anything to break a nail.

nik415 · Aug 28, 2012

That is very frustrating, but I've learned to not let what others do or don't do bother me. I don't have to time to care what other's do. I do everything to the best of my ability, and do exactly what I think should be done for the time I'm there. I will always treat patients like they are a family member, and do what I would want done for myself. That being said, I think it's completely unacceptable to ever say you are above doing something.

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2012

A friend of mine is in her second year of the BSN program and said that in clinicals her and her student RN classmates yell for the RPN/LPN students to do all the "grunt" work...because they're RN students and "wont be doing those things"

KatieJ91 · Aug 28, 2012

A friend of mine is in her second year of the BSN program and said that in clinicals her and her student RN classmates yell for the RPN/LPN students to do all the "grunt" work...because they're RN students and "wont be doing those things"

I cannot even imagine what my clinical instructors would do if they saw me having other people do the "grunt" work!!!

Abigail612 · Aug 28, 2012

I think that it is very important as a nurse to learn what your CNAs learn. You never know when you may have to pitch in and help. Also you are their suppervisor you have to be able to observe what they are doing and that they a doing it correctly. If not then it is your job to instruct them how to do it properly and how can you do that if you do not learn it yourself? Also as an RN if you discharge a patient to the care of their family or are a home health nurse you may need to instruct the patient and or the family on how to do proper bathing, toileting and other important techniques.

mistydbuffa · Aug 28, 2012

Wow, appalling. I think learning to be a nurse should be from the ground up so to speak. No person ever won a spelling bee without first learning the alphabet. What happens if your CNA calls in sick, or the patients on your floor catch the flu and make a larger mess than normal. What if your laboring patient poops a bit from contractions etc. There are things that just can't wait for a CNA to be there for. It is scary that some people think that way. Nursing is caring for a person, in its essence. Kinda like marriage . For better or for worse, in vomit and in poop, til your good health does us part, or death, grander, etc. Making someone wait, because a diaper change isn't in your job description is cruel and anyone who does that should be tossed out of the job. JMO

xxJaqsxx · Aug 28, 2012

I dislike working under people like that. I had to work under 2 at a job that I worked a lot of doubles on and had a few different charge nurses, it does make work a little crazy when you are working with the ones that do help you and you get the ones that refuse too. I personally think they are burned out on their jobs and should take a break :)

grudgrime · Aug 28, 2012

Its not only about pitching in and helping CNA's. As an RN, it is YOUR patient not the CNA's. You better know AT LEAST as much as they do about every type of care. Not to mention, there is no better way to inspect your patients skin integrity and ROM than when you are bathing them. Does she think she is going to spend her day just passing meds? What it comes down to is its your patient and YOU are responsible for their well being. If a pressure ulcer isn't noted in the prior shift, but is found as soon as your shift is over....guess who's responsible?????

caughtbuckinoff · Aug 28, 2012

Sounds to me like these folks need to experience what it is like on the other side of the fence. I find it hard to believe that they would be as high and mighty when they are the ones requiring a little help with a wipe after the loo. They don't want to help a patient by getting involved in a little urine and poo? Best board the next train out of this profession!