caregiver in a non medical facility, assisted living

Nursing Students Technicians

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Hi, I am a new CNA looking for employment. I have been offered employment in a non medical facility, an assisted living facility. Can a CNA work as a caregiver, which is a non licsenced position? Also, this facility's policy is that if there is an emergency we call 911, we do not do cpr, only call 911. I am certified and also certified as a healthcareprovider in cpr, how does that work if i'm working at a facility whos policy it is for me to call 911 only. What trumps in this case the policy of the workplace or the fact that I am liscenced at CNA and have a cpr cert?> It's all very confusing to me. I guess basically the question is, if I don't do CPR on someone due to facility rules, can I be held liable for not doing it, since I have my certs? Also, I'm in California. I'd love some answers. Thanks

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, Hospice.

you need to call the Board of Nursing. This is a legal question, that only they can handle.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Yes you can work as a "caregiver" even though you are a CNA. My first real healthcare job was at an assisted living facility & I was paid an extra dollar per hour just because I was certified. Also, if someone is coding, they might be a DNR (DO NOT RESUSCITATE). I'd estimate that about 85% of the residents at my ALF have these in place. Therefore, no CPR is performed.

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What about the other 15%. Did you facility have a policy not to perform CPR and instead just call 911?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

The nurse on duty usually handles those things. We as caregivers dont really get involved when it comes to things like that.

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They could have their own team of EMT's stationed in the building. They may not be able to actually transfer the patient and thats why the employee's only call 911.

I've seen a place that had their own team of EMT's.

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They could have their own team of EMT's stationed in the building. They may not be able to actually transfer the patient and thats why the employee's only call 911.

I've seen a place that had their own team of EMT's.

Yeah, don't think that's the case. This is a non medical faciltiy. No emt's, no nurses.

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Yes you can work as a "caregiver" even though you are a CNA. My first real healthcare job was at an assisted living facility & I was paid an extra dollar per hour just because I was certified. Also, if someone is coding, they might be a DNR (DO NOT RESUSCITATE). I'd estimate that about 85% of the residents at my ALF have these in place. Therefore, no CPR is performed.

Did you work underneath nurses here. How long have you been a CNA

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
Did you work underneath nurses here. How long have you been a CNA

Yes we have an LPN (sometimes two or three depending on the time of day) on duty 24/7. I have been at this facility 1 yr(nxt month). There are no nurses at your facility?

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Specializes in Float.

No nurses?:confused: If that is the case then I'm assuming that the residents are stable enough to not code in the first place, like an adult daycare? But even adult daycares have RN's. What exactly will be your job duties/description?

This sounds hanky!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
No nurses?:confused: If that is the case then I'm assuming that the residents are stable enough to not code in the first place, like an adult daycare? But even adult daycares have RN's. What exactly will be your job duties/description?

This sounds hanky!

Yea that's a little leery to me. Most of the ALF's I can think of at least have one nurse. There is a chain of ALF's around here called Kris-Leigh & I dont think they use LPNs,but they have med techs. If it is an assisted living facility, there has to be someone there that is licensed to pass meds,right?

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I am a CNA but work as a PCA in an assisted living facility. We have one or two LPN's on during the day and evening shifts, plus an RN that is usually there half of the day shift and half of the evening shift. NOC's has two PCA's on duty and that's it. There is always an RN on call.

Most of our residents are DNR. The very few that are not, have it posted on their refrigerators. We are to call 911, but we are also expected to perform CPR for any resident that does not have a DNR. Out of the 70-75 residents at the facility, there are only 5-6 that are not DNR.

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