tjw100

I have worked in long term care most of my 26 years in nursing...and casual days and theme days are a common occurrence. There is no "danger" to quality patient care. Staff in our facility still wear their name tags and the residents love to see the different outfits. The facility is home to these folks, and we are able to maintain quality care AND adhere to infection control policies while making them smile!!!

Having worked many of my 26 years of nursing in long term care, I KNOW that a good nursing assistant is the backbone of a nursing home. I do believe that they need more education, that is, a longer training period with more information about the elderly and about the diseases that they will come into contact with. The CNA's are the eyes and ears of those nurses that cannot be everywhere at once. It is a very hard job, and truly underpaid. And yes, quite often, those nurses at the desk are sitting on their tails, thinking they are too good to help you, and they are not consulting about a patient, they are talking about what they did last night' I know, because I have disciplined quite a few of them in my time. The entire nursing 'profession' needs help, along with the education process, because some are graduating that should have never been accepted. And, then there are those that are fantastic. Nursing is a very hard job, and you have to love it and be dedicated to stay with it. Unfortunately, the ones who should be paid the most, are paid the least. I, for one, salute you.