I'm ending my third week in the CNA class (required to apply for the LPN/RN program) and I have to say I'm developing a real appreciation for what CNAs do on a day-to-day basis.
It got me wondering, and I am NOT trying to be snarky, I genuinely don't know: what is it that nurses *do* all day? I see a lot of posts about how crammed the day is, how little time there is even to pee, and what I can list so far is obvious things like starting IVs, giving meds, caths, etc. But I'm clearly missing a huge piece of the puzzle. I also know it's hard to generalize, given the vast differences between different fields of practice, but I'd love a from-the-trenches view.
I guess I have always thought that a lot of the work CNAs do was done by nurses. Probably good to have a better idea of what I'm getting into before I apply, huh?
Debate nursing diagnoses, calculate body mass indices and nose drip rates, write nursing plans of care, do team Powerpoint presentations on how to wash hands, palpate fundi, you know, all those extremely useful things you're going to learn in school.
[added] I wasn't going to tell you the truth, and some may take me to task for exposing things the way they are, but you deserve it after all the ribbing you've taken...I have a feeling we can trust you...
What it is, there's hardly any paperwork in nursing. It's just a rumor we perpetrate to discourage too many from entering this overpaid, low-stress field. Now pinky swear you're not gonna tell your classmates.
I just spit red wine all over the computer! "Team powerpoint presentations!"
Coordinate care, field phone calls to and from the docs, give meds, perform treatments, IV care, bathing.........you'd be surprised just how much time all that takes.
I also think alot of your time is taken up by CNA's. I'm not talking about the lazy ones, but the ones (like me, sorry) that go to the nurse to let them know who needs pain meds, whose family members have questions, etc. I sincerely hate bothering an already stressed out nurse with a problem that while is not an emergency, requires someone with a license. It seems I spend half my shift quieting pump alarms and having to track down a nurse.
I also towards the end of their shift give them a run down of pertinent info before they get report. They may think I'm being anal but I've been called worse.
I also think alot of your time is taken up by CNA's.
A successful shift depends on my CNA. The great ones are student nurses. Not all SNs are necessarily competent, but the great ones do critical thinking. I give them full report so they know what to look for. Paying close attention to what CNAs have to tell me is probably my highest routine priority.
The great ones answer the call bells and pass on only the important calls, plus they tell me about the important stuff that pts don't call for. Usually they tell me about things after they've dealt with them, but I can trust them not to merely turn off a pump when a bag is done, but to call me so I can flush.
If I have 5 minutes to gab with anyone on my shift, I'll gab with these folks. After all, other nurses don't have anything to exchange with me about my pts. Plus if I'm going to put time into building relationships, I'm going to spend that time wisely.
On the other end of the scale are those who can't be found. If they're incompetent, I let them stay unfound and I do their job myself or gratefully accept help from others. If they're competent, I take the time to annoyingly hunt them down as an investment in their future compliance.
I guess the short answer is they do everything the LPN and CNA's cant do and then everything the LPN and CNA can do but dont get to or we dont delegate because we know how busy you are.
Sorry, was just pulling your leg. There's lots of great stuff to learn in nursing school but much of it you'll have to dig up on your own after you get past the mandatory time wasters.
Sorry, was just pulling your leg. There's lots of great stuff to learn in nursing school but much of it you'll have to dig up on your own after you get past the mandatory time wasters.
What it is, there's hardly any paperwork in nursing. It's just a rumor we perpetrate to discourage too many from entering this overpaid, low-stress field. Now pinky swear you're not gonna tell your classmates.
LMAO:lol2:
Cmonkey, CNA class isn't a time waster IMO. Although we didn't get the CNA cert. after first semester of RN school, we might as well have because all we did for the first 10 weeks was CNA stuff. It would be silly for the RN to supervise CNAs and LPNs and not actually know how to do their job.
So, just like everyone says, the RN has the big umbrella. They have their own duties but often do it all, moreso in some units than others (critcal care and mother/baby come to mind as total care units). Plus, we do our assessments based on pee and poo and all those other fun bodily function things, so it is really good to get used to looking at that stuff
Oh, I wouldn't call it wasted. I worked up a hat and most of a baby sweater the first three weeks! lol
I actually like learning a lot in class, because it's nice to see what the teachers think the real world will be like. The sunnier they are about things, the more I know to be afraid.
Probably good to have a better idea of what I'm getting into before I apply, huh? 
nurseby07
338 Posts
I just spit red wine all over the computer! "Team powerpoint presentations!"