Nurse forced to work as a CNA

[hillbillienurse]

Tonite at work, I saw a friend who usually works opposite of my shift. She is also nurse and was on-call. She was called by Admin and made to come in and work as an Aide. There were enuf nurses but Aide shortages. Can Admin do this?? Thank you.

[srercg]

I worked as a CNA prior to getting my RN. Although I see your point, that as an RN, we may not always have help, and this would be expected of us, I can tell you that if you are in a position - like LTC, the CNA's do all the heavy lifting. They get the patients dressed, bathed, changed, turned, up from the bed to the chair, work with the hoyer lifts, turning patients no matter their weight, changing all the linens etc. They do this with 8-15 patients in less than 2 hours prior to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and after dinner unraveling them all back to bed.

A CNA's job is FAR more labor intensive than an RN.

Now, in a hospital - do we change linens as needed, and help patients to the bathroom, and dressing etc - yes -but we don't have to do what CNAs do in LTC's -not even close! So it all depends on the setting they are speaking from. LTC- CNA's do all the heavy lifting - RN's rarely have to touch it. Hospital - RN's do a lot of it - but rarely is it heavy lifting - all depending on condition of patient of course, but its not like in an LTC.

[BSN16]

Alternatively, usually staffing gives us on option. I don't think staffing particularly likes to have nurses work as an aid either. What usually can be done too is, each nurse takes on usual CNA responsibilities for their patients (vitals and i/o,) while the other actual cna just floats around answering call lights.

[Julius Seizure]

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.

You called THAT venom!? Girl, stick around AN a while longer

[bathrobemom, LPN]

Where I work nurses have voluntarily filled in as CNAs. The Unit Manager, HUC, and even the DON have all stepped in as needed when we are short staffed.

I don't understand how a nurse can be above CNA work. What the aides do is so important, their tasks are the foundation of care. If a patient or resident is swimming in BM and urine, can't feed or hydrate themselves, etc, they aren't going to care as much about the meds and treatments a nurse can do for them. You can't substitute a shower or change of brief with a pill. If patients/residents can't get someone to help with ADLs they might as well be at home where they can sleep and have their freedom back.

I think it's odd when residents are surprised when I do CNA tasks. My philosophy is that you never stop being an aide. I loved being an aide and miss it.

[hillbillienurse]

Only the drama you wanted to see. I posed a question. I am stunned at the smug, nasty, smarmy angry broads on here. The "nurses eat their own" is asaying with merit, as evidenced on this site.. To those who simply answered, thank you. To those who have a sad need to scold and twist a question into "you're complaining" or "you think you are too good?" or "Oh their job is so much easier", you bring other problems here and sling it out on others. Again, thanks to those who took the time to give a thoughtful answer to a posed question.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

Can an RN work temporarily in a position typically held by an LPN/LVN or CNA?

Sure, it's not ideal or the best use of financial resources but it can happen. It can become a little tricky when it comes to accountability and job responsibilities because some of your coworkers may see it as an opportunity to shirk some of their duties because you have a higher scope of practice than the role in which you are functioning. You just have to be really clear what your responsibilities are and stick to them. I have had to function as a CNA or Mental Health Worker (MHW) before when I was an RN and I certainly don't mind the change of role and pace but had to set some boundaries with my coworkers. This means nicely remind them that I had a larger number of patients to provide care for and that may require their assistance with their patients. I am not anyone's personal CNA and they didn't get to sit at the nurses' station surfing the internet while I passed their medications or did other nurse tasks for them. Usually, it works out fine, you just have to have a good working relationship with your coworkers and deliver messages with a little finesse.

The next issue is really a matter of ego...

In facilities that I have worked when this occurrence happens (an RN being asked to work as a CNA/MHW) there are RNs who will adamantly refuse to function in this role because they see it as demeaning or beneath them. Keep in mind that if everyone does this then you will have to go without a CNA and that means you must do CNA job functions yourself (even if it means having a smaller patient assignment because you are given an extra nurse). I found it very interesting that the nurses who most vocally refused to function as a CNA also complained the loudest about having to provide total care for their patients themselves even with the smaller patient assignment.

Regarding the previous responses from other users, I don't think that anyone intentionally tried to deliver messages with judgment or venom it can be very difficult to interpret the written messages we see on the internet because we don't have vocal cues or body language to use to help us better understand the message being sent. I try my best to assume when reading posts or other written communication that someone is saying it with good intent unless I see swearing or language that makes me think otherwise.

Best of luck OP!

!Chris

[MunoRN, RN]

Only the drama you wanted to see. I posed a question. I am stunned at the smug, nasty, smarmy angry broads on here. The "nurses eat their own" is asaying with merit, as evidenced on this site.. To those who simply answered, thank you. To those who have a sad need to scold and twist a question into "you're complaining" or "you think you are too good?" or "Oh their job is so much easier", you bring other problems here and sling it out on others. Again, thanks to those who took the time to give a thoughtful answer to a posed question.

You complained that the responses to your question were "laden with venom" after only three responses and I don't really see where the venom was, maybe you could clarify, here are the three posts:

There's generally not any reason why they can't, this is why job descriptions usually include a phrase along the lines of "and other duties as directed". Personally I don't have any problem with this, being the best paid CNA around usually isn't something to complain about.

CNA duties are nursing duties that can be delegated, yes? So, there's no reason a nurse shouldn't do the work if needed. If the facility is willing to pay nursing wages for CNA work, why not?

I've been pulled to other floors to perform duties usually delegated to CNAs and LPNs. My mom who is the DON in a SNF has went in on weekends to work alongside the CNAs when they are short or when a resident needs help and she's there. It never crossed my mind to complain about doing what is needed.

[hillbillienurse]

That you posted 2 comments, both scolding about "complaining", yet didn't comprehend this prior, is a situation only you can address. A question was posed. It was not a complaint. I posted for someone interested in obtaining an answer. For Heaven's sakes, grow up.

[2bNurseDR.T]

If I were asked if I wanted to be an aide, I would say no. I am not interested in doing physical labor.

If they didn't give me a choice, I would put in my notice on the spot. If it happens once, what is stopping the same situation from happening again? Also, the threat of putting in notice like that should diffuse the situation. Would you like to lose a nurse who was willing to come in and do an extra shift?

Perhaps you shouldn't be a nurse if you have no interest in physical labor. What you are implying here is, "I'm lazy and perform no care for my patients besides pass their medications". I don't care if you are charged nurse, floor nurse or any other kind of nurse, if you don't want to do physical labor or perform care for your patients, then WHY be a nurse? Where's your compassion? As a charge nurse you should be part of your unit and encourage working as a TEAM instead of relying on your CNA to do all the work.

[chwcbesteph, RN]

I've worked with a few RNs who act like they're allergic to physical labor and it. is. TERRIBLE. Those are the nurses who are secretly loathed by everyone who has to work with them.

I, for one, take a lot of pride in knowing that my aides don't have to hesitate in reaching out to me for help with a patient. Heck, that's when I get the best assessments in!

Also, isn't putting in your notice on the spot... questionably legal?? :/

[Salisburysteak, BSN, RN]

OP take a chill pill!

NOADLS means no harm. He/she says these things to get a rise out of some people.

Yes, I have worked as an aide, and it really is not a big deal; but for some it is. The shifts I have worked were pretty awesome though.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

In my RN career I've been assigned as an aide in almost every job I've held. I've also pulled several shifts as a monitor tech. I even worked as a sitter one shift because our hospital claimed they couldn't spare a single non-licensed ANYTHING one night to sit with a suicide precautions patient.

I also remember my manager coming in one night to work as a tech/aide. She had been out sick and needed to make up some hours. It was weird to have her working as my tech especially since she was also a neonatal NP. She was great!