nama262

One of the better inexpensive products out there is the waffle mattress by EHOB. They run about $85 and last about six-nine months. We use these at the VA and have had great luck with them in a preventative sense. I do agree though that repositioning and off-loading are the most important way to prevent any decubs. Even with a specialty mattress we try to turn patients side to side every hour or so. *One thing about these mattresses is that you don't want a patient to lay directly on them. We cover with a flat sheet becouse the fitted are tight over these and cause alot of surface tension.

Soon to be RN, I'm currently a CNA in VISN 1 with 4 years(next month) in the system. I worked outside for 7 years in private nursing homes and have been in the VA's LTC since. Taking one class at a time but hoping to be graduating in 2009. Glad to have found you all!!!

My facility actually has a policy on becoming personally involved with patients. You can (and will) be fired for crossing that line. The policy goes so far as to state that a staff member cannot become involved with a patient unitl at least 6 months has passed from his/her discharge date. I recently had to say goodbye to a very good nurse who decided to ignore the policy and was fired for dating a patient before he was fully discharged. It seems unfair but the policy is actually there to protect the patients and the staff. If you can't decide on a personal level what the right thing to do is, check your facility's policies... it could save your job!

My original comment from yesterday was directed to someone who was being less than kind regarding the CNAs that she works with. I was not trying to start a debate (which seems to be what happened) but was asking that this particular nurse not regard all CNAs with the same distaste. However, my response was met with much sarcasm and on one or two occasions downright disdain for my profession. I apologize to anyone that I may have offended with my comments, but would like to say that in order for any of us to provide the best possible care for our patients, wouldn't it be more fruitful to look at and listen to the opinions and ideas of the people that we work with the closest. I feel lucky, after this particular discussion to work with a team who is appreciative of each of it's members and who can work so well together. It's unfortunate not everyone here is so lucky.

I do agree that nursing is much more than those three things. However I work in a federal facility where our nurses don't have the time to do much more. We are also resposible for things that in state run or private facilities CNAs are not allowed to do by law. Our nurses are very capable, wonderful people (most nurses are!) I am just getting a feeling that most of the nurses who are responding to my original comment feel as though in general CNAs are not needed or capable people in thier own right and I am very frustrated over this. Many of us have often said that nurses should have to walk in our shoes one shift a month as we would like to experience thier frustrations as well. Unfortunately there are many nurses who have not been in our place and use thier license as a letter of superiority. I only hope that when I graduate next May that I don't fall into that same behavior.

I'm surprised that with that attitude you've lasted long in nursing. In the facility where I work there are only three things that an RN can do that I cannot. 1-pass meds, 2-pull orders, and 3-hang an IV. Our nurses rely on us as their eyes and ears and can't keep up with us when they are assigned patient care. Our nurses are appreciative of our work and let us know it.

Please don't put yourself or any other CNA down. I haven't met a nurse yet who's into rocket science on the side. Our job is just as (if not more) important as the RNs and they couldn't function without us!!!!

After reading your comment I was asked by my infuriated charge nurse to send the following comment... I've been a nurse for 25 years, in those years I have learned that you can get anything accomplished when everyone on the TEAM works together as one. It is all in the way you approach someone with a request, not a demand, to have something done that gets the best results. Usually when you give the reasoning behind your request you shouldn't have any problems. If you simply state "because I said so" you raise the other persons' defenses. You also have to realize that without the CNAs there are alot of things that can be missed by nurses. You have to also know how to communicate with each of your co-workers regardless of who they are, Physicians, RNs, LPNs or CNAs. I have worked with RNs/LPNs who think that because their degree is "higher" than a CNAs that they are above them. I feel sorry for those people because they can never have a good working environment with their peers. Even after 25 years of nursing, I still learn something new everyday. Unfortunately for you, it is often from a CNA. I count on their eyes and their familiarity with my patients to pick up the slightest changes in my patient that I might be too busy to see as I am doing meds. Unless you change your mentality, you will have this problem no matter where you go.

As a CNA I take offense not only to this comment but to several others that I read. First of all it is not fair to lump together all CNAs the way you have, it's comparable to classism. I work with several nurses who are much younger than myself and do not feel "threatened" by them. However, most of these nurses have never worked a single day as a CNA and do not understand that we are not only capable, responsible adults who take great pride in our jobs, but that many of us know a great deal more than any new grad. Some of us have more years in patient care than our nurses. It may come as a surprise to you but most CNAs are intelligent people who could probably teach you something if you bothered to listen. We are also more experienced in managing our time and in prioritizing than any new nurse could be and know whether it is more important to get a temp for the third time or to clean up the patient covered in feces. There are classes available at most local colleges in management skills and communication. Maybe you should look into this as it seems that you are the one with the communication problem.