CoosRN

This is my first post so please don't fire off at me. This thread got me to register because something was bothering me while reading it. I may not have said things totally the way I want, but if I waited until then I'd never send it! I have no argument with the replies to the original post. I understand that we are there for the patient and when the patient requires assistance, assistance is what we give. I also understand that there are often problems with employees giving it there all, whether they be Doctors, RNs, LPNs or CNAs. Employee problems need to be addressed, but once they are, I believe the issue raised still exists. My questions are these: 1) As an RN on the floor, often overwhelmed by the RN responsibilities of a large patient workload, should we be expected to perform CNA responsibilities that might be at the expense of properly performed RN responsibilities? 2) As a CNA on the floor often overwhelmed by patient workload, should the CNA expect and grow accustomed and dependent on the RN to insure CNA responsibilities get accomplished? 3) Do the Doctors perform nursing duties when the RN is busy with another patient? Ok, so I'm getting a bit silly, but Docs could do it, couldn't they? They don't - they generally demand, most in a firm but professional way that a nurse be paged immediately. They get the right person there to do it and I doubt that many are worried about friendships or what the nurses think - rather they are concerned with the patient. I know some might say the answer is that the RN is responsible for both and that you have to get it all done, but I've seen too often that critical assessment responsibilities get less attention, even no attention because the risk might be small, in order to help with toileting or a diaper change that is so obviously needed. Believe me I understand that both need to get done, but I worry about hospital administrators taking advantage of blurred responsibilities and not addressing critically important staffing issues. Thoughts?