Nurse forced to work as a tech/CNA

[ThatOneRN_]

I work in inpatient rehab PRN. We’ve been super short staffed. They brought in a bunch of travelers so we have enough nurses for now. But we only have 1/3 of the CNAs/techs we’re supposed to have at night. I offered to work a couple shifts as a CNA/tech to help out a few months ago. Ever since then, they’ve been putting me down as a tech almost every time I work there which is 1-2 shifts a week. I understand that the travelers won’t work as CNAs so I’m pretty much their only option but how is that fair? 
 

I don’t even mind working as a tech but the only reason I work at this facility is to get some experience AS A NURSE in that specific setting! Is there something I can do about this without coming off as whiny?

[MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN]

I'd hope your employer is actively looking for techs/CNA's, I assume they are paying you RN pay while you tech? And then also paying travelers that expensive traveler RN pay? That is just crazy expensive on their part and something I'd think they wouldn't want to fiscally keep up for long.  I almost never get to tech, so am happy to on the rare occasion they ask me, but, if it were every day, I may not think it so great.  Mention it to the boss man/lady that you'd like a break on teching for awhile. 

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I don’t work rehab so of course it is completely different, but I’ve picked up one extra shift a week over the last month working as a “resource nurse” on different floors. 99% of what I do is CNA work because all of our CNAs are being pulled to sit with patients who need a 1:1 sitter, and we don’t have enough sitters hired. It’s a vicious cycle that is leaving every unit to work with one or zero CNAs each shift. So many units have resorted to allowing a nurse to pick up and help out, and it’s been wonderful. I spent 4 of my 8 hours on Sunday relieving the 7 sitters on the floor for lunch breaks since they didn’t have a CNA on the floor at all, and then spent the rest of the time getting vitals on all of the patients, helping with ADLs, I&Os, etc. Of course there are times where I give meds if needed and start IVs but most of these extra resource shifts I’m acting as a CNA and being paid as an RN without having the mental responsibility of “my” assignment, which is perfectly fine by me.