RN as CNA

[historylady, MSN, RN]

The facility that I work at is chronically short of CNA (isn't everybody). It is the new policy to have RN work as CNA's. We get paid as a RN but are working as CNA's. The position title, is CNA. I have no problem with this as I try to help my CNA's as much as possible without compromising the RN duties. My question, is there or is there not a conflict of interest while I do this. Our state, Wisconsin, requires RN to supervise the work of CNA's as part of our license. Can I supervise myself? When working as a CNA, are my responsibilities as nurse waived or are my duties to patients the same? Confusion, some people are telling me that since I am licensed as an RN, I can not supervise myself, therefore in violation of law. Other people tell me there is no problem with it, since all that I am doing is covered under what is allowed under the law as a nurse. Everybody has an opinion. What is your opinion?

[caliotter3]

As to the supervising of yourself, don't get so busy reading into the situation. You are responsible enough to get the job done and to ask the nurse supervisor about any problems that might impact care.

[Cruella de ville]

Your duties might be CNA but you are responsible at the RN level for your patients.

This can get complicated if you report to another RN who might do something different than you would. It is your license that is responsible for that patient.

Hope they can figure out how to.get new CNAd hired.

[NuGuyNurse2b]

You're definitely reading too much into it. Basically you're being told to wear many different hats. When I did my clinical my patient was discharged so I asked the secretary to arrange a wheelchair for the patient to go down to the main lobby from his room. The nurses and secretary there looked at me like I had 4 heads. At the hospital I worked at, we have the transport dept wheelchair patients to the front lobby as a courtesy. Apparently the hospital I'm doing clinical at does not. I was informed that patients who were ambulatory can walk themselves out, and if patients needed a wheelchair, it is the staff (not transport dept) who must do it. So I learned that day that depending on where you work, you will be expected to go beyond the duties of a nurse, including that of a transport.