Nurses working as CNAs

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 18, 2014

As long as you aren't get CNA pay, who cares? And there really is no such thing as CNA work as CNAs work under nurses' licenses.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2014

An LTACH that I worked for sometimes had nurses do the 1:1's if they couldn't spare a CNA from the floor. Those were some of the easiest dollars I earned at that place!! :uhoh3:

nursefrances, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2014

That's different. It doesn't seem very cost effective for the company though. Where I used to work, occasionally a nurse would fill in as secretary and this seemed the same to me, not cost effective.

It's always nice to change things up a bit and less stress is always good. :up:

caliotter3 · Feb 18, 2014

Nurses routinely did this at some facilities where I worked in the past. For CNA work at licensed nurse pay, they would almost fight over who got the honors.

nolanurse88 · Feb 18, 2014

I guess bc of where I work majority of your patients are incontinent, Max assist, or total

Care and most nurses will refuse to work as an "aid" but I was lucky today and only had a few.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Feb 18, 2014

The rehab hospital I work at sometimes have a housekeeper or transporter do 1:1 's if short of staff. Not sure if they received CNA pay.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Feb 18, 2014

I hate to see the CNA lose pay, but I have to agree it makes more sense to have the nurse on duty as a licensed person is more flexible. Also, if census picks up there is a nurse on hand to get the assignments

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2014

I've done it a few times and while it can be hard if there were a lot of total care patients on the floor, it was better than being wholly responsible for a load of 5 patients. Cleaning up poop is not the worst part of the job anymore.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 18, 2014

And there really is no such thing as CNA work as CNAs work under nurses' licenses.

Not really sure what you mean by this....as long as I delegate work to a CNA that is within their capability/training to do, I am not responsible for anything "under my license". I can only be held accountable for delegating inappropriately....if they do something stupid and knew better, that's on them.

smartnurse1982 · Feb 18, 2014

Question,as this is interesting.

Who is responsible if the nurse,acting as a cna, missed some signs of lets say a Dvt?

Will it be the nurse who passed out meds and did the "nurse stuff" or the nurse who acted as the cna that day?

BrandonLPN, LPN · Feb 18, 2014

Question,as this is interesting.
Who is responsible if the nurse,acting as a cna, missed some signs of lets say a Dvt?
Will it be the nurse who passed out meds and did the "nurse stuff" or the nurse who acted as the cna that day?

CNA work is "nurse stuff". Why shouldn't a LPN or RN be held to the standard of their licenses while doing CNA work? Especially if they're being paid nurse wages.