Oh boy, what was she thinking?!

[uRNmyway]

Just needed to share this HILARIOUS phone call we received at my new job. I work in a home care agency, and we also have a CNA/MA school associated with the company. Our marketing girls have been doing great work advertising and our phones have been ringing off the hook all week with potential candidates.

I got one call on Friday that totally made my week. Here is approximately how it went:

"(insert company name here), Julie speaking."

"Hi ummm, I was wondering ummmm what was the policy ummm in your CNA school umm on ummm....drug testing."

"(total silence on my part while I try to avoid laughing out loud and peeing my pants). Yeah, just a second, Im going to transfer you to our school, they can better answer your question. (This is where I put her on hold and proceed to warn our school receptionist to go pee before taking this call, and transfer it)

The receptionist later called me back, laughing, to say that when she told this obviously high `lady`that our policy was random drug testing, whenever we want to, she hung up on her.

When I questioned how in the WORLD someone like that would think to try to get work in healthcare, I was told that in the state of Georgia, CNAs need no more than an 8th grade education, and can be as young as 16yrs old. WHAT?! If someone cant manage to do something as simple as getting a high school diploma, or at the very least the GED, how can we place patient care in their hands?!

Ok, just needed to share and vent a little, thanks guys! :)

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

Sorry no one else gets you OP, but I do. I'd have chortled a little too.

[timmedico]

Good humor never hurt anybody...and this was good humor. :)

In regards to all the rioting going on here, look at the facts. American teens aren't raised the same as kids in other nations. In parts of Africa, they have young kids who are forced into "armies" who have killed. In Europe, apprenticeships are very common for teens. In America, what does our system allow? I see many teens doing nothing but video games, watching absolutely worthless tv, and blowing off schoolwork. Yes, we all know that there are exceptions to everything...there are teens here who have PHD's and such, but consider the reality of things. The OP isn't incorrect in her assumptions.

To those of you who have excelled after achieving a GED, that is admirable. Georgia law is good for Georgia and was enacted for reasons unbeknown to the rest of us. If your teenager is enrolling in healthcare (young teens as well), then I am glad you raised your children up so wonderfully! :) The OP wasn't bashing you or your children, but the majority who are irresponsible, immature, and ill-prepared for the intense journey of nursing.

[minnymi]

who knows....maybe it was a "kid" who was hoping desperately that her drug addict mother would straighten up and get a job. maybe it was a "kid" who was sitting beside her mother trying to encourage her to do something with herself when the mother proclaimed, "i can't get a job! i'm prescribed xanax!"

you don't know people's story.....so don't judge.

maybe she sounded "high" because she was a nervous kid.

it's not all that unrealistic. i can't count how many times i've tried to encourage my older sister who has a criminal background to go to school. she always says, "nobody will hire me. i've been convicted."

however, i do realize that some people have grown up in perfect households where they were never exposed to unemployment, drugs, food stamps, or an insect.

[justin.j]

if your FIRST question is about drug testing when inquiring about a position of any kind IS a sign of immaturity and drug use, regardless of actual chronological age.

I couldn't agree more. If a person leads off asking about drug testing, doesn't follow up that question with specifics (ie. I am taking prescription xyz, will that be an issue?), and instead hangs up the phone quickly...something is up! There is a big difference between someone who has concerns about drug testing and someone whose primary concern is drug testing

As someone who worked in HR and handled job inquiries galore, I definitely see the humor in this. However, this is coming from the guy that just doesn't get the appeal of Seinfeld. So with that said; to each their own.

[bettyboop_1953]

I just had to write up a CNA who is going to start 'nursing' soon. Just finished her exam. I requested help from this CNA to put a air mattress on a residents bed because he had a very serious red area on his hip bone. She refused to help. Stating "its 10pm, I am not doing that, its too late". I say its never too late to prevent a bed sore from getting worse. Am I wrong?

[caliotter3]

I just had to write up a CNA who is going to start 'nursing' soon. Just finished her exam. I requested help from this CNA to put a air mattress on a residents bed because he had a very serious red area on his hip bone. She refused to help. Stating "its 10pm, I am not doing that, its too late". I say its never too late to prevent a bed sore from getting worse. Am I wrong?

No, you are not wrong. I started to clean a head to toe in liquid BM lady at ten minutes to eleven one night, after going to the charge nurse and getting permission to go into overtime (long story, left as only CNA on the floor for about 50 or so residents). Nobody had to ask me.

[minnymi]

I just had to write up a CNA who is going to start 'nursing' soon. Just finished her exam. I requested help from this CNA to put a air mattress on a residents bed because he had a very serious red area on his hip bone. She refused to help. Stating "its 10pm, I am not doing that, its too late". I say its never too late to prevent a bed sore from getting worse. Am I wrong?

"an" air mattress....and 'bed sore' is ancient history. that would be a "pressure ulcer."

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Oh my God, some people have no sense of humor. I didnt mean to imply that a GED was any source of shame. In fact, props to those who get one if theyve dropped out! In fact, when I wanted to transfer my credentials, I had to write it. Maybe that it part of why I might have come off condescending, because I just thought it was very simple. Maybe thats just how it was where I wrote it though. None of it was knowledge based, it was all reading and comprehension. And the comment I made was regarding the fact that you dont need one! I actually think that saying a six year old can do a CNAs job is completely wrong! I expect the CNAs I work with to be on the ball! I dont expect them to have the same knowledge base I do, but I do expect them to know at least a little bit of basic anatomy, and what is normal/abnormal with our patients. I expect them to know how to transfer patients properly. And I certainly expect to not have to worry about my CNAs being sneaky and being under the influence. If you are under prescription medications, and you are refused a job because of it, then Im sure you could sue the employer for discrimination against whatever illness you have causing you to require meds.

And thank you to those who realized that I wasnt being judgmental or condescending. If both of us who took the call noticed that this girl sounded like she was very much under the influence, maybe there was something to it. We are not dumb, and we know the difference between high and nervous. If there was nothing shady about asking us this question, like a reader responded, she could have clarified why she wanted to know. She could have NOT hung up after being told.

Then theres the idea that if you ARE under the influence, (and I get that some people have rough lives and still need to pay their bills, and assuming that this was the case for her, its commendable that she wants to work and not be on welfare or anything), then you certainly dont want to be calling your prospective employers when you are/sound like you are high. It doesnt show a very high level of responsibility, especially with clientele like we have in our company, catastrophic patients who require total care AND have narcotic medications prescribed...Guess I should have explained all in more detail to avoid having the PC police hunt me down with torches and pitchforks :S

[minnymi]

Oh my God, some people have no sense of humor. I didnt mean to imply that a GED was any source of shame. In fact, props to those who get one if theyve dropped out! In fact, when I wanted to transfer my credentials, I had to write it. Maybe that it part of why I might have come off condescending, because I just thought it was very simple. Maybe thats just how it was where I wrote it though. None of it was knowledge based, it was all reading and comprehension. And the comment I made was regarding the fact that you dont need one! I actually think that saying a six year old can do a CNAs job is completely wrong! I expect the CNAs I work with to be on the ball! I dont expect them to have the same knowledge base I do, but I do expect them to know at least a little bit of basic anatomy, and what is normal/abnormal with our patients. I expect them to know how to transfer patients properly. And I certainly expect to not have to worry about my CNAs being sneaky and being under the influence. If you are under prescription medications, and you are refused a job because of it, then Im sure you could sue the employer for discrimination against whatever illness you have causing you to require meds.

And thank you to those who realized that I wasnt being judgmental or condescending. If both of us who took the call noticed that this girl sounded like she was very much under the influence, maybe there was something to it. We are not dumb, and we know the difference between high and nervous. If there was nothing shady about asking us this question, like a reader responded, she could have clarified why she wanted to know. She could have NOT hung up after being told.

Then theres the idea that if you ARE under the influence, (and I get that some people have rough lives and still need to pay their bills, and assuming that this was the case for her, its commendable that she wants to work and not be on welfare or anything), then you certainly dont want to be calling your prospective employers when you are/sound like you are high. It doesnt show a very high level of responsibility, especially with clientele like we have in our company, catastrophic patients who require total care AND have narcotic medications prescribed...Guess I should have explained all in more detail to avoid having the PC police hunt me down with torches and pitchforks :S

for the record, i did think that saying a six year old can do the job was wrong, but anyone who would say that isn't worth spending the time to respond to.

i know you meant no harm with your story.

as for your comment about expecting a CNA to know basic anatomy and what is normal/abnormal....don't expect that.

i was college educated when i took a CNA course to "test the waters" of nursing and i was surprised at how ill prepared CNA's are for the job. we were taught to do blood pressures, but they never went into detail (at all) about how important a BP reading is. i assume this is why i saw co-workers making up vital signs.

i never did anything like that, but as i said, i was college educated (not typical of a CNA). since then, i've earned my BSN and realized just how important vital signs are and what the readings suggest. now that i know how telling a BP is....i'm surprised that CNAs are even allowed to be responsible for them.

please don't assume that your CNAs have ANY knowledge of anatomy or what is normal/abnormal. even as an "older than average" CNA with a college education....i wouldn't have known what a nurse meant had she asked me what the difference was between a brachial pulse and a pedal pulse. it's not because i was young or dumb. it was because i was educated as a teacher...not a nurse. if you have a patient who is in any type of distress...check their vitals for yourself. i know that's not what the thread was about, but just my 2 cents.

[FCMike11, BSN]

"And I take offense at your "at the very least a GED". My dear, I have a GED which has allowed me the great opportunity to persue two degrees (one of which I am almost finished, the other I graduated from with honors) and in the future I also plan to continue on to my Masters...maybe even to Ph.d; never thought I would ever go that far, considering the way I was raised (which insidently led to me have to obtain a GED instead of a highschool diploma....hard to graduate highschool when you have a drug addict for a day and alcoholic for a mother and they move you somewhere new twice a year), but as time has gone by and I have continued my education, my confidence has soared and I have come to see that the only limits that are set for me are the ones I set for myself.

There is so much more behind a person than simply what you imply over the phone."

That was a little much, loling.

[Live.&.Learn]

"an" air mattress....and 'bed sore' is ancient history. that would be a "pressure ulcer."

Really???

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Yes, I agree with you about doing my own assessments. Actually, CNAs taking vitals is completely new to me. They are NOT allowed to do that in Canada. But even without that, I work as a team with the CNAs. With the increase in paperwork involved in nursing, sometimes we dont get to spend as much time bedside as we would like. CNAs DO spend that time bedside. So even if the CNA can not interpret vitals, I would like for him/her to have good judgment when it comes to patients behaving differently than they usually do, or patients breathing heavier than is normal for them, or any other issue that could arise. You dont need to be a nurse to know that when your leg becomes really swollen, red, and hot, its not normal. So if the CNA notices such signs in a patient while doing transfers, or changing linens, or wtv, even if I dont expect them to know what it could mean, I would like them to have enough common sense to advise me that something abnormal is going on.