Nurse helping out Cna at times = they eventually expect the nurse to help them?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Just wondering if anyone has found that if they helped cna's on the floor with answering lights, assisting them with putting residents to bed with lifts if eventually they expect the nurse to help them. This helping out is done when the nurse is having some down time..

At the facility I work at, stand-lifts and hoyer-lifts require two people to use (even if the equipment instructions only require one person). So the rule on my shift is that they can ALWAYS ask me to help when a lift is in use. I will NEVER say no, unless of course, there is another emergency I must take care of. I will not hesitate to write someone up for not following this rule (no verbal warnings). Safety is always priority to me. I will answer any pressure/tab alarms. I will also help with anything else that needs done, if I am on track for getting my own things done. I enjoy spending 1:1 time with my residents, and it helps me get to know them better. However, often times, there just isn't enough time in the day to get all my work done, and help out as much as I would like to. This is just reality. Luckily, the place I work at, has a good amount of CNAs scheduled. Of course, some evenings we do have to work short.

I love my CNAs, they are amazing. I think often times they do not get enough credit for the difficult tasks they do, and compensation is not where it should be. I respect them, and they respect me. Together, we get the job done. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As a CNA, I have worked with both nurses that help and those that don't...I promise that we respect the nurses that help much more :-) Also, at my facility all lifts are to be operated w/ 2 people, and with only 2 CNA's to put 45 people to bed, our nurses help!!!!!!!! And we thank them for it. Luckily, all of the nurses that work on my shift and hall used to be aides, so they are willing and able to help, we don't take advantage, though!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Jeepers, has no one ever heard of TEAM WORK? Where I work you always help out on the floor with what ever needs doing.Toileting, personal care, feeding, answering call bells. My charge nurse showered someone today and she cleaned up one of my patients that was hugely incontinent of stool. She is quite often found feeding people at meal times.(yes, I do work in a hospital)Our rule with soiled patients is that if you find it, you clean it. Of course we have to get our nursing duties done but we never are above providing care for our patients.

Absolutely...when I worked the floor, the cna's were my eyes and ears, hands and feet and you better believe Ihelped them. If we had a wanderer or a frequest faller, that one came with me on med pass, and I always babysat the busy falling types while charting, so my aides could go to dinner. It amazes me that the nurse that work in my facility seem to not have a clue about team work, take their lunch without making sure the cna got lunch or a break, and NEVER know where their cna's are or better yet, who is even assigned to their patients. I ask a particular nurse every morning who are aides are and she always, without fail says "Huh?". If one is good to their aides, one will NEVER have an unreported skin breakdown,pressuresore, skin tear, fall or change of condition because the aides know you care and will act and so they respond accordingly. Something to remember.... and one reaps what one sows. The nurses that were good to me when I was an cna, I would run a marathon for, the mean nurses, indifferent , unhelpful, got that right back plus a visit by me to the DNS. Aides report directly to me because they know I value their input. I used to work with a CNA that could literally "smell" a UTI, and she was right but only one nurse would listen to her. sad....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't think anyone is asking nurses to help cnas out A LOT! all we are asking is that you pitch in, after all, a cna job is also part of your job description. we are there to assist you, that doesnt mean that when we are swamped you cant pitch in to help! I don't expect a nurse to answer every call light or toilet everybody, but when I'm in mr. jones room toileting him and mr. smith light is going off, do I expect nurse jackie who's on her facebook to answer that? ofcourse!

I work as a tech on a busy 28 geriatric unit at my hospital and I'm usually the ONLY tech on my shift so I'm literally on my feet from the time I clock in to when I clock out! most nurses who jump in to help, but there are some who think cna job is beneath them :rolleyes: I mean seriously you are going to hunt me down in pt x room to tell me that pt y needs blanket when you had to pass by the clean utility room to find me?:banghead::banghead:

And yes, I'm going to ask you to help me clean mr. x! why? cuz there's is no way I'm hurting my back rolling him by myself. sheesh When i ask for help, that means i really need it and not because I want you to do my job!

Yeah when I was an aide, nothing made me madder than this scenario: I am in a room giving care, the door and curtain are closed, the nurse pokes her head in and goes "THere's a calllight". yes, hmmmmmmm. and the nurse just spent 10 minutes walking allover the unit to tell me about a calllight that is actually, get this, for her, cuz that patient wants their pain meds that I asked you about like 15 minutes prior, but because YOU were in the back, ignoring the staff and resident reading your magazine, you never heard me, and......:.

And my favorite, a nurse is standing in the hallway passing meds (way too early I might add), the resident comes out of her room, with her hair brush in hand, attempts to hand to the nurse and asks "Can you brush my hair honey?" Nurse turns to me as I am passing by to go to next room to get up next patient for dinner and says "didn't you hear what she said?" "Um, yeah...like she asked YOU to brush her hair, not me...but obviously THAT is not in YOUR scope of practice" and the reason this sticks in my memory is I was going to school to be a nurse and taking daily mental notes on good nurses vs bad nurses. THAT is a bad nurse. It would have taken a few minutes, the resident wanted the attention from the nurse and it took a lot for the resident to GET the hairbrush and hand it to the nurse, and the nurse COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS.

As a DNS, I still answer calllights, toilet folks and brush people's hair, cuz THAT is what this is about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

I help my CNAs and they help me. We're all supposed to be there for our patients, right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
As a DNS, I still answer calllights, toilet folks and brush people's hair, cuz THAT is what this is about.

I do the same. It always makes me smile when an aide walks in and is immediately flustered to see me providing care. They practically fall all over themselves to relieve me. It has taken some time in my new facility to get them to accept that I WILL DO IT...please go get the next light and lets keep moving. I know I'm making some progress because now some CNA's are coming to find me to ask for a hand. I have never one time thought they were taking advantage of me...just searching for the person that would give them 5 minutes without giving them a hard time about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I do the same. It always makes me smile when an aide walks in and is immediately flustered to see me providing care. They practically fall all over themselves to relieve me. It has taken some time in my new facility to get them to accept that I WILL DO IT...please go get the next light and lets keep moving. I know I'm making some progress because now some CNA's are coming to find me to ask for a hand. I have never one time thought they were taking advantage of me...just searching for the person that would give them 5 minutes without giving them a hard time about it.

I wish I worked with you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I do the same. It always makes me smile when an aide walks in and is immediately flustered to see me providing care. They practically fall all over themselves to relieve me. It has taken some time in my new facility to get them to accept that I WILL DO IT...please go get the next light and lets keep moving. I know I'm making some progress because now some CNA's are coming to find me to ask for a hand. I have never one time thought they were taking advantage of me...just searching for the person that would give them 5 minutes without giving them a hard time about it.

I am always available to help an aide pull someone up in bed, stand by assist for hoyer, all of that. It makes for such a stronger team/bond and I have aides that will work for me, no matter where I work, they are that loyal. I appreciate that and they recognise that I am there to help them as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Absolutely...when I worked the floor, the cna's were my eyes and ears, hands and feet and you better believe Ihelped them. If we had a wanderer or a frequest faller, that one came with me on med pass, and I always babysat the busy falling types while charting, so my aides could go to dinner. It amazes me that the nurse that work in my facility seem to not have a clue about team work, take their lunch without making sure the cna got lunch or a break, and NEVER know where their cna's are or better yet, who is even assigned to their patients. I ask a particular nurse every morning who are aides are and she always, without fail says "Huh?". If one is good to their aides, one will NEVER have an unreported skin breakdown,pressuresore, skin tear, fall or change of condition because the aides know you care and will act and so they respond accordingly. Something to remember.... and one reaps what one sows. The nurses that were good to me when I was an cna, I would run a marathon for, the mean nurses, indifferent , unhelpful, got that right back plus a visit by me to the DNS. Aides report directly to me because they know I value their input. I used to work with a CNA that could literally "smell" a UTI, and she was right but only one nurse would listen to her. sad....

Exactly..they know you will listen to them and you trust them...they will want to do a better job and try to do the best they can. I've got an new bunch of CNAs I work with that I got to win over, but its like magic. Treat them with respect and let them know that they really are the most valuable part of the LTC and what they do really matters. Duh....I can't tell you how frustrating it is to see nurses mistreat or blow off the CNAs. If they tell me Mr so and so doesn't look right or smells funny (fruity) I'm heading on down to that room first. Yeah...rbg of 600.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB,HH.

I hope I can be like the nurses I see responding here! I started in healthcare as an aide in a LTCF 30-some years ago and worked my way thru school with the ideal of being "the one in white" who was paid so much more than me and knew so much more. Aide work is physically and emotionally exhausting (when done right) and I dont ever want to forget that. Im starting a new job next week in a NH and havent been in one since those long ago days. I hope I can be like pixie, joanna, nascar, michelle and the others that have replied here!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I hope I can be like the nurses I see responding here! I started in healthcare as an aide in a LTCF 30-some years ago and worked my way thru school with the ideal of being "the one in white" who was paid so much more than me and knew so much more. Aide work is physically and emotionally exhausting (when done right) and I dont ever want to forget that. Im starting a new job next week in a NH and havent been in one since those long ago days. I hope I can be like pixie, joanna, nascar, michelle and the others that have replied here!

You go girl!!!! Tough it out and you will find lots of support, interesting clients and lots to learn. Don't get overwhelmed, follow all instructions and you will reap the rewards!! Best of luck! Don't mistreat the aides, and they will remain loyal forever, I have aides/caregivers that will work for me in the worst of conditions, just because they are loyal to me, and they know I will treat them with respect, and help them. I don't have a problem passing meds even as a nurse manager and as DNS, absolutely, I will pull meds, call the MD/pharmacy and get orders, thats my job. Be a support and leader.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Exactly..they know you will listen to them and you trust them...they will want to do a better job and try to do the best they can. I've got an new bunch of CNAs I work with that I got to win over, but its like magic. Treat them with respect and let them know that they really are the most valuable part of the LTC and what they do really matters. Duh....I can't tell you how frustrating it is to see nurses mistreat or blow off the CNAs. If they tell me Mr so and so doesn't look right or smells funny (fruity) I'm heading on down to that room first. Yeah...rbg of 600.

OMG, you are so right. I used to work in an assisted living. My administrator and general manager both started as CNA /med techs. One day, the administrator,the GM and the health office supervisor/med tech/cna, were in a patient apartment, assessing a patient. They did not even call me until they had ascertain this, all with an assessment: Change in LOC (decreased), slurring words, slightlty dehydrated and most likely very high blood sugar. Why would I question that? All I had to do was call 911, the admin took the blood sugar himself, it read high, and when medic one came, it was over 500. I literally said "What did you need me for? Seems like you all had it under complete control!!". They were all beaming from ear to ear. It happened like that over and over and over (they had also functioned for many years with only an RN consultant, so they were very proficient at doing all of that on their own, to the point that they virtually ignored me, lol).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment