Nurses asked to work as aides

amoLucia · Apr 12, 2017

If you read your job description, it probably says "and other duties as assigned". For a nurse to cover a shift as a CNA, ONCE IN A WHILE, is considered acceptable. However, if it is a long term management approach to understaffing, then there's a problem.

Firstly, it is NOT cost effective for the facility. But more importantly, it is frustrating and demoralizing for the licensed nurse staff. Much like being pulled off one's regularly assigned unit to 'float' on another unit.

There's no right or wrong. Inasmuch as you have the skills & knowledge to function as a CNA and that clause is in your job description, there's not much you can do. If you really object, your only other option is to do as the other nurses have done - that is to look for other employment. That's pretty much the reality as I see it.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2017

"other duties as assigned" I agree with the above poster. Some days it a welcome change. If management wants to pay me more than twice what they pay a CNA and I don't have to deal, then hey... I will take it! BUT...when I'm getting stuck working as a CNA and they expect me to cover nursing things...NO. I understand that I have certain expectations with my RN license, but I hate to be that one that says "Let me get the nurse"

Neats, BSN · Apr 12, 2017

I hold an active LNHA license/BSN License and my expectations are if a resident needs assistance then it is everyone's job (keeping in mind scope of practice), with that said...I do not like to pull licensed staff to do NA-C work. Not that I do not think NA-C work is low on the totem pole it is not...but for the simple reason IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE. There are times when we do have issues, I have been known to make a bed and do wound rounds. I do not make a habit of this. When a facility starts to have issues those issues must be dealt with. For a short period of time say 2 months to get the "house clean" we can stick together and get the right people in the right places will pay off in the long run. It is also my expectation that if a licensed staff is covering for NA-C work to NOT have the staff member cover their own duties as well. If it continues then the environment will only become stagnated, silo based and this makes it very difficult to change. Good Luck

AdobeRN · Apr 12, 2017

I hated this when I worked in the hospital. Sometimes census would be low and the only option would be to be "on call" or if you needed to work you could float to another floor and work as a tech. I only agreed to it a few times - learned my lesson...lol. The floors totally took advantage of the RN's that would float to tech - not only were we doing the tech assignments we were constantly pulled to do RN duties at the same time - it was like doing double duty, I never worked so hard in my life.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Apr 12, 2017

I will be brutally honest here. I went to work LTC/ SNF because I was sick of being responsible for CNA responsibilities. I would kindly refuse. I work nights so that really can't happen. All floors have one nurse at night.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Apr 12, 2017

Guess I am different...but when the situation arose in the past, I would ask for just primary care...being totally responsible as nurse AND aide to 5-8 patients. This actually gave me ample time to really get to know my patients better and found it really was a little easier than trying to find the aid to ask "what about...". As to caring for your patients...as nurses...that is what we do. No one should be above a bedpan!

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Apr 12, 2017

As long as I was getting paid the same and it wasn't like a long term every day thing, I would be fine with it.

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Apr 12, 2017

I do agree though that if I'm working as an aide, I'm not doing nursing duties at the same time.