RN who wouldn't be CNA

sabrn2006 · Sep 9, 2005

I've enjoyed reading everyone's opinions on this thread. I am halfway through an ADN program (8 months to go!) and started working as an aide over the summer. I work on a medical floor that has a mix of patients including palliative and an outpatient unit. I am getting invaluable hands on experience. Of course being familiar with the "mechanics of nursing" is helpful. But seeing what it's really like is also a bonus. The majority of the nurses I work with are terrific. They give total patient care to 4-5 patients at a time with the help of 1 aide for about 15 + (depending) patients total. There is no way a nurse - whether she has a BSN or not - could work this floor without exposure to feces, urine, vomit, etc. I have spent many moments working closely with various nurses in helping a patient - either by assisting with a procedure or in diapering. I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn from some people who have been nursing longer than I have been alive. And in turn, I try to keep them up to speed on how the patients are doing. Ideally, we all work as a team. When things get crazy, handling things alone is not an option. I definitely think I will be a better nurse due to this experience. At least I will be a more realistic one.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 9, 2005

I have to say that although we as aides do do alot of the "dirty" work persay, we also learn alot. I found that alot of my fellow RN students did not know what a "G" tube was, or what a "foley" cath was until we covered it in lab class. I have learned alot about skin care, transfers, surgery preps, IV caths, foley caths, G tubes, chest tubes, Kpacks, SCD boots, CPM machines, etc. etc. etc. just by being an Aide. We get paid crap, we do alot of the work, we are the eyes, ears, of the RN's were I work, and we also are the people who see the patients the most. While I give bed baths, I see the patients' skin and look for tears, decubitus ulcers, fungus, bruises, etc. I also see if the patient is in pain when I turn them, transfer them etc. I also can observe how they are acting "mentally". If they have a change in mental status from the day before when I worked, etc.

In addition to all of the above, as a tech/aide you can become familiar with normal lab values, how diseases progress, what to do in a code, how to handle pt when they go badly, EKG intrepretation, what normal chest tube drainages are before they are pulled, how people react on certain meds, and to be honest, you will learn too many things to count that aren't really taught in school.

One more thing, nursing school is totally easy when you have some experience under your belt. Instead of raising you hand in class to ask what CHF meant, you can think back to all of the pts that you routinely take care of and incorporate that into your studies.

Morguein · Sep 9, 2005

If you work in the ICU setting, not only do you do "RN" work, but you also will do "CNA" work as well. We get down and dirty every day. I don't know of any RN who doesn't do "dirty" work. If you're not doing dirty work, then what are you doing? surely there's more to nursing than just charting and passing out meds. I believe that working as a CNA would do you wonders in helping you to feel comfortable touching patients and working with them. I went right into nursing school without ever working with patients before and let me tell you, I was soooo akward (SP?) during my clinicals when it came to touching and bathing my patients. I remember wishing that I had worked as a nursing assistant first before attempting nursing school. Starting nursing school without being a nursing assistant first is do-able for sure, but I believe its much more easier to start off as a nursing assistant and then going to nursing school.

ssw · Sep 9, 2005

In my opinin everyone thinking about becoming a nurse should work as a Cna for some time, I'll even say 3-6 months. Why? because for one, as a Cna and pre nursing student I've seen to many nurses that have become a nurse without knowing what they've gotten themselves into.Some even do it just for the pay, but then after years pass by they realize that they don't like being bothered by patients calling them all the time when there in pain, some come to the conclusion that they don't even like associating with the patients or family members. So from the start nursing for them was all about the money. Being a Cna first could have saved these people alot of time and effort. Nursing is for caring, patient, understanding people. Being a Cna first also teaches you to appreciate Cna's when you do become a nurse, you'll know that they work 10x harder than nurses will ever work for the simple fact that there work load is heaver, at my job Cna's have 10 patients versus the nurses 3-5. and the 10 patients are split between 2 sometimes 3 nurses, and everyone wants something from you at one time, including patients. So, when you do become a nurse you will know how to treat your fellow co workers, instead of thinking your more important than them. Everyone is important. I could go on and on why I think nurses should do there time as a Cna first, but i wont.

TreetopAngel_RN · Sep 9, 2005

In my opinin everyone thinking about becoming a nurse should work as a Cna for some time, I'll even say 3-6 months. Why? because for one, as a Cna and pre nursing student I've seen to many nurses that have become a nurse without knowing what they've gotten themselves into.Some even do it just for the pay, but then after years pass by they realize that they don't like being bothered by patients calling them all the time when there in pain, some come to the conclusion that they don't even like associating with the patients or family members. So from the start nursing for them was all about the money. Being a Cna first could have saved these people alot of time and effort. Nursing is for caring, patient, understanding people. Being a Cna first also teaches you to appreciate Cna's when you do become a nurse, you'll know that they work 10x harder than nurses will ever work for the simple fact that there work load is heaver, at my job Cna's have 10 patients versus the nurses 3-5. and the 10 patients are split between 2 sometimes 3 nurses, and everyone wants something from you at one time, including patients. So, when you do become a nurse you will know how to treat your fellow co workers, instead of thinking your more important than them. Everyone is important. I could go on and on why I think nurses should do there time as a Cna first, but i wont.

Not true in all walks of nursing. My CNA's have 14 patients, each...I have 28 patients. And nurses don't have only patient care to do, they have many other duties, on top of patient care.

I do agree that a CNA job is helpful in any nurse's career and I truly do understand and respect what my CNA's go through on a shift. If not for them, I would not be able to do MY job. I spent 8 years as a CNA before going to nursing school.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 9, 2005

In my opinin everyone thinking about becoming a nurse should work as a Cna for some time, I'll even say 3-6 months. Why? because for one, as a Cna and pre nursing student I've seen to many nurses that have become a nurse without knowing what they've gotten themselves into.Some even do it just for the pay, but then after years pass by they realize that they don't like being bothered by patients calling them all the time when there in pain, some come to the conclusion that they don't even like associating with the patients or family members. So from the start nursing for them was all about the money. Being a Cna first could have saved these people alot of time and effort. Nursing is for caring, patient, understanding people. Being a Cna first also teaches you to appreciate Cna's when you do become a nurse, you'll know that they work 10x harder than nurses will ever work for the simple fact that there work load is heaver, at my job Cna's have 10 patients versus the nurses 3-5. and the 10 patients are split between 2 sometimes 3 nurses, and everyone wants something from you at one time, including patients. So, when you do become a nurse you will know how to treat your fellow co workers, instead of thinking your more important than them. Everyone is important. I could go on and on why I think nurses should do there time as a Cna first, but i wont.

I agree with almost everything that you said. Yes, CNAs do work hard, and the work is very physical, and the majority of RNs work is not so physical. However, you said you were a pre-nursing student. When I was just a tech not in NS, I thought the same thing. I though Nursing looked so easy, and that anybody could do it. But before you say that taking care of 3-5 pts is easier, give it a try first. You will be amazed at the sheer amount of responsibilty that you feel when you are actually their nurse. And let's not forget the amount of paperwork that you must do-correctly. When you are a tech/cna you can chart or perform dressing changes, etc. But when you have to chart in the progress notes and know that is has to be right, but not too long, but it must include everything, but you don't want to look incompetent.....God forbid this go to court. The work is just a different kind of work-You'll be suprised.

ssw · Sep 10, 2005

Thanks everyone for replying to my comment I will take all of these things into consideration. But, do you ladies think that if your were not Cna's first you would actually know for yourselves how to really appreciate your Cna's?

ssw · Sep 10, 2005

Being the RN you get more respect than a CNA, not to mention better pay (pay is pretty crappy for all that you do as a CNA), and not having someone push duties on you that they just don't want to do. I didn't think I ever wanted to do healthcare again after being an aide for 3 years.
I had nurses tell me they would never do my job/be a CNA. Sometimes you just can't predict just what you will do in life or when ! I at one time had said I would never ever do healthcare and be THAT close with "strangers" :rotfl: :roll
Now I know that I can do it! After being out of healthcare now for 9 months-I realize that I have to be an RN. I really don't think I could do CNA again though. You honestly aren't treated the greatest-even by patients. The experience is very valuable though, not just to be in healthcare, but even general life experience.
I've had patients passively thank me for assisting them with their bath (which took 25 minutes because they were incontinent twice during-resulting in 2 gown and chucks changes), spilt the bin of water all over their bed (3 gown, 3 chucks, 1 full bed changes), took a phone call and made me wait while they talked for five minutes to the grandson that comes to visit twice everyday anyways) etc. etc., but give the nurse holy high praises after passing a Vicodin, and act like I'm an oversight. This does hurt, and others (especially that know how hard you work) can see it. So I know why she says she would never be a CNA. Things that that can be disalarming and you feel like "I hate this job!"
--Or the patient that gives little gifts to all the RN's when she is finally discharged, but you don't get one, because you are "just" the aide.
--How about unexpectedly walking onto the floor at 7am to an overstressed night RN that screams at you down the hallway to get a call light because she has had a lousy night with patients and the night aide (and I mean screams).
There are many stories like these from CNA's, and it's a shame if you're good at it. I accepted that it's just somehow the culture of the position-though I don't understand how it got this way!! (and chalk it up to experience).
I have had other RN's be my advocates to unfair ones . You do give more when you're with someone who makes it positive, and know that they respect you, and that they really care for their patients (the action of cleaning up vomit or urine when they know you are busy).
So I hope this person can be a positive role model seeing that the CNA position leaves a lot to be desired.

I feel your frustration because I feel this way at times as well, what I've noticed is that the Nurse that behaves in this manner is almost always the one who has not done Cna work before. That's why I feel so strongly about thinking nurses should work as a cna first before becoming a nurse. I am currently a cna-prenursing student and I constanly say if I can find a job that pays $12hr like this one without a College degree that is what I'll do, not because of patients but because of the work and the little respect you get from some nurses.

allnurses Guide · Sep 11, 2005

Thanks everyone for replying to my comment I will take all of these things into consideration. But, do you ladies think that if your were not Cna's first you would actually know for yourselves how to really appreciate your Cna's?

Well, you would have to be deaf, dumb and blind NOT to appreciate your CNA's. I can see how hard they work. Today as my CNA took a patient to the shower, I changed the sheets and made the bed. I also helped her get the patient OOB with a lift and back into a chair with a lift. I pass lunch trays. I answer call lights. Etc.

I was never a CNA.

Of course you can appreciate your CNA and what they do . . . even if you were never a CNA.

steph

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2005

Well, you would have to be deaf, dumb and blind NOT to appreciate your CNA's. I can see how hard they work. Today as my CNA took a patient to the shower, I changed the sheets and made the bed. I also helped her get the patient OOB with a lift and back into a chair with a lift. I pass lunch trays. I answer call lights. Etc.
I was never a CNA.
Of course you can appreciate your CNA and what they do . . . even if you were never a CNA.
steph

AGREED! I was never a CNA. In fact, LPN was my first venture into the healthcare field. I did work in food service at a LTC, but you don't get much exposure to patient care down in the basement... In any event, as a GPN (I don't take my boards until 9/26) and an RN student I feel that I understand, repect, and appreciate the CNAs I work alongside. I change briefs, especially if I have to do a bottom/thigh treatment or insert a suppository. In fact, it's so well known that I do these things that some CNAs have stopped doing afternoon rounds on certain residents because they just "know" I will take care of those residents. I will walk a resident to the bathroom, I have assisted and given showers. When short staffed, I have even picked up an entire patient assignment and allowed my preceptor to do the "nurse" job. I help feed each morning and afternoon, I spot the aides when they are using the mechanical lifts. I have on more than one occasion cleaned a room or taken/picked up a resident to/from dialysis. This is all in addition to my assigned tasks as a nurse, and often times I pitch in without being asked. Nurses do our own vitals, BGs, and colostomy bag changes. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that even though I have never been an aid I appreciate them, respect them, and value them- and I show it each shift when I roll up my sleeves to do the "dirty" work.

Redneckgal_nd · Sep 11, 2005

I , as a CNA, have worked with alot of nurses. I have worked with good and bad ones. When a new nurse starts,my facility would have them train with the CNAs for 1-2 weeks. The CNAs evaluats them and it affects thier employment. If the nurse isn't willing to get "dirty" she didnt work. You cant expect someone else to do something you yourself wouldn't do.

RN34TX · Sep 11, 2005

You cant expect someone else to do something you yourself wouldn't do.

I agree that you shouldn't expect it, but what do you think managers do every day?

Ask the nurses to do things that they themselves wouldn't want to have done when they were floor nurses.