RN who wouldn't be CNA

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2005

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.

Wrong! Each job has it's duties. Although licensed nurses can do basic nursing care, it is not their top priority to actually "do" a lot of hands-on care when there is other staff to do it. The CNAs job is to do basic nursing and help patients with their ADLs. An RNs job leans more toward the management and supervision of the patient's care. By your thinking the president of a company should do his secretary's work or go down to the loading docks and help move stock around in the warehouse.

mlgrn1976 · Sep 15, 2005

I was a CNA during nursing school. It gave me invaluable hands on training--come to think of it I would have been lost if I hadn't did this type of work. I work in a Critical Care unit now w/ One on One bedside nursing. I frequently get my hands "dirty"; But I wouldn't change a thing--I love giving baths. It is the most forgotten about thing in healthcare today---certainly the most unimportant especially when trying to save a person's life. But to see the look on the patien'ts face when they are stable, and then giving them a bath. It makes them feel 100% better!!------------Melissa

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Sep 23, 2005

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.

Yowwie!!! Is this practice allowed in your state? CNA's supervising nurses...in my state, this would be out of the scope of practice for CNAs. You may want to check with your BON if this practice is legal or not.

And yes, by the way, I love working with and respect highly the CNA/PCAs that I work with.

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

Hello All~
I've noticed that a lot of people on here recomend being a CNA for anyone who is interested in becoming a nurse. I was talking with my cousin, who is an RN, and she said she would have never been a CNA but she loves being a nurse - that CNA was just to boring and to much 'dirty work.' Just wondering how many RN's out there feel this way.

I'd like to know how she found an RN job that didn't involve dirty work - first off, our job entails a lot of bodily fluids and so forth, and second, if she doesn't ever help when it is busy I bet she has some resentful staff.

The nurse's job description usually says that she must be able to perform the functions of a CNA as well as those of a nurse. If she can't or refuses, many facilities would let her go I think.

As to "boring" - what is boring about spending some quality time with a patient or resident? Talking, laughing, choosing clothing, helping them feel comfortable and respected and CARED ABOUT - that is never boring.

I hope that you don't take this to mean that nurses are "too good" to do some of what the CNA's do - I also want you to know that my RN duties FILL my entire shift - BUT - the CNA duties in my opinion take LONGER than one shift in many cases - it's TOO MUCH for them, very often. I help. I hope you do too.

This is not to say that we do our job and half of someone else's. Don't be a doormat either :) If they are sitting with a magazine while you are feverishly writing your nurses notes at the last minute, that is not FAIR.

It is also unfair if YOU sit down with a magazine while they fly their butts off.

Common sense, my dear GOOD LUCK to you!

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

I have mixed feelings. I was a CNA at the very beginning...that is what made me choose the nursing field--the direct care of patients especially the changing of briefs etc...taught me enormous respect and patience for other people, especially the elderly. At the same time, it was difficult for me because I wanted to help so badly and we had some difficult nurses at our center that slept through their shifts and I had to wake them up for rounds and meds. I looked at the situation deeply and chose to be an RN because I wanted to help even more- and I just love paperwork *is that scary?does anyone else like that?* SO I think it is very important for both parties to contribute. The role of a CNA is so very important, especially to those patients who are lonely and ring their call bells just to talk. I hope that I can be the kind of nurse who will be attentive to my patients and to my CNA's.[/quote']
I had to laugh - my first CNA job was on nights at a nursing home. I too had to wake the nurse up to do rounds with me. It was just the two of us.
After I became a nurse, I went as an agency nurse to that same nursing home. Same nurse was working there only she had graduated to day shift

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

I chose not to be a CNA. I had lots of janitorial/housekeeping experience prior to going to nursing school, and where I work, they make as much as the CNAs and don't work half as hard. Besides I had to work full time to support myself through nursing school, so I worked nights as a HKP and went to school all day. I could do houskeeping in my sleep and often did, whereas as a CNA I would be afraid to give patient care and be that tired, too easy to make mistakes. I did get comments from some of the staff over it. Although I have a business management background and worked in Corporate America for 10 years, I was treated like the housekeeper who wanted to become a nurse. As badly as CNAs are treated by some RNs, housekeepers are even farther down on the ladder.
As an RN I have all of the respect in the world for the CNAs and housekeepers. They make our life much easier.

I RESPECT you for not wanting to work as a CNA while half asleep. AWESOME.

This quote:

"Although I have a business management background and worked in Corporate America for 10 years, I was treated like the housekeeper who wanted to become a nurse"

Perhaps it was not funny AT ALL at the time - but the quote did make me laugh! I apologize - and I thank you as well.

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

Just because you weren't a CNA doesn't mean you're going to be less of a nurse. I think it's an incredibly valuable experience. Yes, you learn basic nursing skills, but that's not the valuable part. The very most important things I've learned are:
1. Time management.
2. How to prioritize.
3. Roll with the punches. It doesn't matter what kind of day it is or how well staffed you are, SOMETHING will inevitably go wrong, and having an everloving freaking cow does not help.
4. Pick your battles. There is ALWAYS something to get angry about. If it doesn't affect patient care, it's probably not worth fighting about.
And that is important whether you are a CNA or the DON.

... and having an everloving freaking cow does not help, you said.

MAN I know what you MEAN! I have an everloving freaking COW when people throw an everloving freaking cow.

Now all the English as a second language students are checking their dictionaries - LOL (feel free to ask, you guys).

Thanks. I am getting lots of giggles out of the board tonite.

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

I chose to be a unit secretary in an ED....loved it!!!
My mom was a NA years ago, & recommened to be the clerk, not CNA. I now recommend to everybody to work at least a few months as a CNA. Been an RN for 1.5yrs - don't like it... if I was an aid I never would have gone for it. The ED is a different atmosphere (started while in 2nd clinical rotation, so I helped w/ pt care, procedures, & transport daily). Decided, I don't really want to work in ED environment, but Tele is definitely not for me.
Only places I think I may enjoy they want experience & having trouble getting my foot in the door. I like the hospital I work for, just not PCU...I'd like to try LDRP or OR:) So far, I'm looking into different Bachelor degrees to complete, outside the nursing arena!
.... sorry, I'm rambling, rough week at work:o
Love the unit secretaries & CNA's...w/o them we'd never get done 1/2 the things we need to do...paperwork, meds, assessments, etc.... thank them everyday!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Sun Chica}}}}}}}}}}}}}

HONEYBEAR · Sep 23, 2005

I wish I had had some experience as a CNA before I went to nursing school.....out of my class of 40 ....... there was only 5 of us that had never had any health care experience, and you sure could tell during lab....like bed making, transfers, VS etc.........but that is just my 2 cents :mad:

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

I guess I need to clarify..I was not a CNA perse...back in the 70's they weren't certified anyway. I DID work WHILE I was in school as a nurse tech..it was a diploma school and we could work on the floors if we wished for pocket money. Of course this was a dedicated teaching facility. It was a great experience...and everyone knew we were students and gave us plenty of opportunities to learn. Our opportunities to do more nurse work came as we progressed in the program. I feel it was invaluable.
I wouldn't say a CNA is necessary either. But if someone is waiting to get into a nursing program, working in a medical environment can only help...it gets you in gear and you know more what you're getting into. It needn't be nurse assistant type work either.

I've also suggested before that working as a CNA is one way to stand out, when there is a waiting list to get into nursing schools. I would think they'd look more favorably at that.

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

No nursing student needs to be exposed to this kind of stuff. Working as a CNA or a nursing tech in the acute hospital may be way different, but I have no basis upon which to comment on that.

YOWSA. I have seen a few isolated or suspicious cases of that but NOTHING like what you describe.

It makes me REALLY REALLY angry!

I bet that has really lingered in your mind ... probably good to get it off your chest!

sun_chica · Sep 24, 2005

Zoeboboey,

What, may I ask, does {{{{{{{{{{sun chica}}}}}}}}}} mean???