Nurse forced to work as a CNA

[Nurse_Of_All_Trades, LPN, RN]

I did not present my question as a complaint, but as a question. I wrote the question for a friend. Now that the bad attitude bunch has squealed and shaken a crooked finger, I will wait and be appreciative of answers that aren't laden with venom from elsewhere.

I did not sense any negativity in this thread, except for this response. You asked a question in an online forum and everyone pretty much gave you the most honest answer, whether or not it's the response you want to hear.

I used to pick up OT as a tech or sitter.... It was a nice little break from nursing duties while still getting paid as a nurse. There were times when I came into work and was floated from nurse to tech, which was a nice little relief (at the time, I worked on a busy telemetry unit with 8-9 patients on night shift). CNA duties are part of nursing duties... If there are no techs/CNA on the floor... The nurse would have to do it all anyway.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

This happened at the first hospital I worked at. Wouldn't bother me, happy to work as long as I got my RN pay.

At the facility where I currently am, I was not permitted to work as a tech after I passed the NCLEX. I didn't think ahead and had time between when I passed the NCLEX but before I started my new grad job. Bank account was hurting for a bit

[DeeAngel]

They used to do this where I last worked and it was one of the reasons I quit. At 63 years of age and with no need for a paycheck I am not interested in doing the hard physical job CNA's do even if they pay me my regular wages. I didn't sign up for it and I'm not going to do it. Instead of hiring more CNAs they can hire and orient more RNs which is a lot more expensive. It's just stupid and a lack of planning on the hospital's part.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

They can do it. As long as they pay me as an RN, that's fine.

In my place it is usually a sitter duty with a $5 or so+/hour differential, so most people would love to do this for more money than to run 12 hours straight like a chicken with its head just cut off.

[TrishaMatthews]

I don't see why they can't work as an aide. There were times when we had 1 too many nurses on staff & one of them became a resource nurse. We love being resource nurse because it's so easy. Think about it, you get paid like a nurse to work a lot less & practically sit around for the shift just charting vitals & helping out with admission..etc.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I did not present my question as a complaint, but as a question. I wrote the question for a friend. Now that the bad attitude bunch has squealed and shaken a crooked finger, I will wait and be appreciative of answers that aren't laden with venom from elsewhere.

If you thought THOSE answers represented a bad attitude and venom.... you may want to hold onto your hat.

[WheresMyPen]

I WOULD LOVE TO BE PAID A NURSES WAGE TO WORK AS A CNA! actually spending time with the patients, less charting, FULL BREAKS? Yes please!

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

For a while, my former employer insisted that the state practice laws prevented nurses was working below the level of their licensure, and thus, as soon as an aide or UC obtained their nursing license they were terminated. However, they looked the other way when short-handed, and assigned nurses as "nurse helpers."

A nurse is still held to their level of licensure, so even if they are assigned an aide, they must assess and act when necessary.

And yeah, at my age, I just couldn't do 8-12 hours of the physical effort of an aide.

[NOADLS]

Thankfully I am not in a spot where this would ever happen, but...

If I were confronted in such a manner that I am told I would be put in an aide position, I would put in my notice to leave right there on the spot.

Don't **** with me over 1 shift or you lose me for good.

If we all had this attitude, we would never get thrown into the shark tank.

[FloatRN19]

I pick up 4 hour shifts all the time hoping I just get to task.

[loriangel14, RN]

Oh yes I've worked just as an aide. I love it. It's a nice break plus I wouldn't like to see my buddies at work be shorthanded.

[cleback]

I believe they can, although it obviously is not good practice or make much financial sense for the institution. I personally avoid those assignments since, as another poster mentioned, you never can really NOT be an RN. The other night, I was the nursing assistant but the RN was having troubles with a chest tube-- I helped... Another time a doctor asked me adjust an IV infusion, which I did (and immediately notified the actual assigned RN). Family members will see the "RN" on your name tag and still ask you questions... The other nurses will try to give you report and updates, you know, because you're right there and the assigned nurse is not...

The list goes on. Lines blur and I guess I have trouble saying "no" sometimes. I let the other nurses do it who see it as a welcomed change of pace.