Nurses forced to work as aides

[NewYorkerGirl]

I am frustrated with my hospital. We have a shortage of aides, and no wonder because they have a hard, backbreaking job for measly pay. As a result, sometimes when we nurses show up to work, we're made to work as aides. No notice, just here: you're an aide today.

This seems really unprofessional to me. I signed up to be a nurse. I never worked as an aide because I know how difficult that job is, and I don't want it. It's confusing to the patients to have two RN's running around. Thankfully, the other nurses haven't asked me to medicate a patient, because I'd have to say no since I didn't get a nursing report, nor did I look up the patients to a sufficient level to be able to take full-on nursing care for them nor did I assess them, but I can see how this could set up a problem in the future for a med error.

It just seems wrong on several levels. I guess this is what happens when you work in a hospital with no union. At least I still get my nursing pay, but I still feel that this is inappropriate.

Thoughts? Have you ever heard of this before?

[llg, PhD, RN]

On some units, they don't have CNA's. They just do "primary care" with the RN doing everything.

[RNKPCE]

I've heard if you work as a CNA but are a licensed RN, you are still held to the standards of an RN. Does anyone know if this is true? example : if you check a blood pressure and it is very low and report it to that patient's RN and he or she does not follow up, you could be responsible because you are a licensed RN especially if you usually work at this facility as an RN. If this is true it would be better like others have said to just have more RNs take assignments.

[elkpark]

I've heard if you work as a CNA but are a licensed RN, you are still held to the standards of an RN. Does anyone know if this is true? example : if you check a blood pressure and it is very low and report it to that patient's RN and he or she does not follow up, you could be responsible because you are a licensed RN ...

Yes, that's true. Legally, you are held to the standards of your highest level of education and licensure, regardless of the job title and description under which you're working at that particular time.

[RNKPCE]

Yes, that's true. Legally, you are held to the standards of your highest level of education and licensure, regardless of the job title and description under which you're working at that particular time.

Thanks Elkpark. In that case if you take vitals on 12 patients and have abnormals on 5 of them and report that to the RN you'd better make sure they follow up. Doesn't seem like a good way to run a unit. I wouldn't want to be put in that spot.

[AmeliasAunt]

I was once working PRN at a local hospital. I went in one day and they assigned me to sit with a patient. Yes, they were using me as a SITTER. Needless to say I got the heck up out of there as fast as I could. I am NOT a sitter.

[brownbook]

Huh.....hello...."wrong on several levels"!!! What idiotic medical facility pays RN's twenty-five dollars an hour to do the work of a CNA for fifteen dollars an hour?

(Obviously I'm just guessing on the salary here.) Are they trying to intentionally go broke? Some weird IRS scam?

But as others said I would love that job!

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

I don't know that facility I currently work at is LTC and chronically understaffed. There are no nurse/patient ratios in LTC so RNs routinely have 15 to 25 patients. Last night we had 39 patients with me (RN) 1 LVN and 2 CNAs. So I had a full patient load of 18 did two admits, Passed meds for my 18 plus managed 4 IV's as only the RN does IV's. I felt bad for the two CNAs who were working their Asses off and even helped an patient or two to the toilet and made up a few beds. I didn't take a break last night and my relief showed up 25 minutes late. I will be looking for other employment soon but need this job right now.

hppy

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

This seems really unprofessional to me. I signed up to be a nurse. I never worked as an aide because I know how difficult that job is, and I don't want it.

Here's the thing: everything that a CNA can do is part of the nurse's scope of practice; it's just the things that can be delegated to an unlicensed person. How would you feel if you worked in a place that didn't employ aides, and the nurse was responsible for everything?

[JudyFawce]

Hmmmm....I'm betting this author is also one of those nurses who amazingly becomes chats n smiles the minute a half decent looking doctor shows up ?????? This my folks is why our world is doomed. The new Generation just doesn't get it. And as parents if them all... We can blame ourselves.

Judy

[elkpark]

I was once working PRN at a local hospital. I went in one day and they assigned me to sit with a patient. Yes, they were using me as a SITTER. Needless to say I got the heck up out of there as fast as I could. I am NOT a sitter.

And what is so awful about being a sitter? I have many years of experience as a psych nurse and psych CNS, and I have done my share of "sitting." Are you too good to be a sitter? Too important?

Again, I would rather be a "sitter" for a shift than get called off or sent home without pay.

[caliotter3]

A good portion of my duties in extended care has been "sitting" and watching my clients when they are sleeping or resting. I've never felt guilty about it. I would not mind doing so in a facility either.

[medicalforonevoice]

I guess I always looked at my unit as a team. Short? Hard to picture yourself (on your way in) working "as a Nurse." Then doing an about face, into another position when you get there. I was Unit Manager. When short; pushed through wearing all types of hats. We were in a blizzard once, where nothing or no one could get in. 3 days, we did just about every job there was, including maintenance. In the end, we felt like a real team...respected each other for doing what it took to get the job done. THAT'S NURSING!