Ohhhhh your a Nurse!?!?

Nurses General Nursing

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Oh my...last night was a toughie at my job. See I just became an agency nurse and trying to find my bearings on returning to hospital...lets say it is a re-learning experience big time, but all and I am really enjoying it! (it was just one of those nights...uhggg, like running on a hamster wheel and going no where...).

Well last night a charge nurse for the next shift started ordering me around for various tasks...no probelm I am a team player...so I did them. She was rather rude to me, and spoke down to me quite a bit, but being new I sort of expect that at times...so it didn't phase me that much...more like a hmmmmm oh well type of deal!

Then she caught me at the Pixis machine getting IV set up materials and said "you can't do that!". I turned and said "oh my patient needs and IV, so where do I get the stuff?". She then realized, and I realized...she didn't know I was an RN!

She explained how sorry she was for mistaking me for a CNA, and then was so very supportive and sweet and helpful the rest of the time. Quite a turn around from before.

Like I said, I am a big time believer in teamwork...so this struck me as very inproper indeed. You don't treat CNA's like dirt or maids. Without their kindness and helpfulness our jobs would be a whole heck of a lot tougher!!! They are to be valued and respected...

I didn't say anything, but hmmmmmm...how do you think we should encourage, in a positive way, respect for CNA's and other team members that aren't RN???

Thank you so much for this post!!! I'm an RN and I constantly see how poorly the CNA's can be treated. Our jobs would be IMPOSSIBLE without them!! More people need to realize that. Thanks to all CNA's, we couldn't do it without you!!!

In new zealand CNA's are called healthcare assistants. they are fabulous and do an amazing job. the facility i work in would not function if it was not for these healthcare assistants

I've never understood this type of behavior. Afterall don't RN's realize in the eyes of many well educated, well compensated professionals we are just ---wipers? I have heard many of my professional friends make very unflattering comments about nurses. Some RN's need a reality check.

Thanks for clarifying that one for me! Once I completed my 1st year of nursing I worked as a "CNA" (now that i know what it stands for!) on a long term care facility. Through the years I have advanced to an RN. However I haven't forgotten where I was not long ago. I have seen the level of respect change as my name tag changed. I agree it is disgusting to treat others any less than you would want for your self. Every disipline in a hospital from house keepers to physicians are needed to keep the facility up and running. We all have our specific jobs and should be treated with dignity no matter what our name tags might say!

Specializes in ICU,ER.
I've never understood this type of behavior. Afterall don't RN's realize in the eyes of many well educated, well compensated professionals we are just ---wipers? I have heard many of my professional friends make very unflattering comments about nurses. Some RN's need a reality check.

You know, all of your posts seem to have a similar theme.

~I think there may be some issues there~:chuckle

Specializes in ICU, HOME HEALTH, NURSING EDUC, CASE MGT.

In response to, "Oh you are a nurse!?!?"

Most of my earlier training was provided by the Army. From medical assistant, technician, LVN, nurse educator, ICU preceptor, nurse supervisor, etc. Whether one chooses to remain at one level in the medical profession, or to move beyond. Treat people the way you would like to be treated!

I have always treated CNA's with equal respect as I treat the RN's. That also includes regular staff, agency, individuals who float from other units, and so on. Sometimes, people forget basics like common courtesy and kindness. While for some, they enjoy putting others down due to their own deep-seated insecurities. Do your job, and do it well. And, the rest will fall into place. Just my own 2 cents!!!

With warm regards,

91C_ArmyLPN

I'd hate to think what my life would be like without my SA's. They have to work so hard sometimes. I've also had to work with RN's that will work for hours trying to find any mistakes other RN's make. Now, isn't that special!

:uhoh3:

Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

My best friend is a cook in the kitchen at the hospital where I work. When the other RNs on my floor find out, I get the "you hang out with one of them" attitudes-like they have cooties or something. Even worse, they do this to my best friends face, and have the nerve to say they are not snobs.....they also kind of treat me at a lower level because I hang out with the kitchen and housekeeping help, AND I actually still answer call lights--the nerve of me :p My boss even told me that I need to watch who I am friends with at work, it is a matter of professionalism. I would think patients would rather see people getting along as opposed to dissention in the ranks. I just don't get it sometimes.....

Specializes in Nursing assistant.
My best friend is a cook in the kitchen at the hospital where I work. When the other RNs on my floor find out, I get the "you hang out with one of them" attitudes-like they have cooties or something. Even worse, they do this to my best friends face, and have the nerve to say they are not snobs.....they also kind of treat me at a lower level because I hang out with the kitchen and housekeeping help, AND I actually still answer call lights--the nerve of me :p My boss even told me that I need to watch who I am friends with at work, it is a matter of professionalism. I would think patients would rather see people getting along as opposed to dissention in the ranks. I just don't get it sometimes.....

You are special!

I have done LTC housekeeping and CNA work. Folks like you are jewels!

Certified Nurse Aid/Assistant

I know it's been said, but I love, love, love the CNA's I work with. They make my life easier and I try to make theirs easier by helping them when they need me and respecting them for the hard work they do.

I guess my only pet peave is there have been a couple CNA's I've worked with over the years that call themselves nurses. I worked hard for my license and I don't like it when those two would use this title. But what ya gonna do? I never wanted to cause a scene at work, so I would ignore it.

Specializes in Nursing assistant.
I know it's been said, but I love, love, love the CNA's I work with. They make my life easier and I try to make theirs easier by helping them when they need me and respecting them for the hard work they do.

I guess my only pet peave is there have been a couple CNA's I've worked with over the years that call themselves nurses. I worked hard for my license and I don't like it when those two would use this title. But what ya gonna do? I never wanted to cause a scene at work, so I would ignore it.

I have seen this too, with some fellow na's. This might be something that needs be addressed in inservices: might be that some people are not quite aware that they are not nurses. There seems to be some real confusion with the title. That's one reason I like the title tech...

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