RN floating as a CNA

susanmary · Jan 25, 2003

One of the greatest things about this bulletin board is that there is so much common sense out there among nurses & we truly help each other gain perspective. Thanks to all of you who truly are caring, offer the insight that only time/experience can provide, and help to support your fellow nurses. God bless.

Sue

P.S. Boy am I feeling "sappy" today....

deespoohbear · Jan 26, 2003

I have worked as a CNA on my own "turf" and don't mind doing it for the most part. The part that does bother me about is sometimes I get roped into doing RN duties if I am done as a CNA...like helping with an admit...taking orders...and such. I don't mind helping out in that capacity, but I need to be done with my work as a CNA first...and I get paid RN wages....I have worked as the unit secretary too, that is a nice change of pace once in awhile. Still busy, but in a different way....I think it is good for some nurses to have to work as a CNA occasionally. Some of them definitely have a "I'm a nurse and I don't put people on the bedpan or answer lights." Does those nurses good to get back to basics....

Vailgang · Jan 26, 2003

I have not read all of the replies but want to give my two cents. I worked med/surg and this has happened on our floor. We are there to help the patients and not worry about a title. We are there to be a team. So if you were getting the same pay what is the big deal? Are you beyond doing CNA work?, because if you are I would never want to work with you. I guess that is my biggest complaint about nurses is that they forget that we are all there to help the patient and not worry about a title. Cleaning butts and emptying bedpans are not anyone's favorite job but it must be done. Maybe there was someone less educated that could have been floated as a CNA but they chose you. Maybe it was so that you could see the value of a CNA and appreciate the work they do, I am not sure. However, it seems to me that you was upset that you was asked to do such a "low" task. Did you become a RN to help patients or to have a title behind your name? Oh, I am sure you are wondering what my title is, I am an LPN/nurse manager for neurosurgeons, and attending nursing school to be a RN.

Stargazer · Jan 26, 2003

Originally posted by Vailgang
I have not read all of the replies but want to give my two cents.

The problem with posting without reading anyone else's replies is that you end up giving your kneejerk reaction to the thread title or the initial post, without seeing how the thread evolved as other posters state their opinions and then incorporate prior opinions into subsequent answers. In other words, it's you getting on a soapbox, not you participating in an ongoing conversation. See the difference?

If you'd bothered to read the entire thread, you could see other nurses bringing up legitimate issues such as legal liability and pay. Even the original poster admitted that after reading all the replies, she had a different perspective on the subject.

Sorry, but this is one of my pet peeves. People who say, "I didn't read the whole thread, but..." are, in essence, saying,"I can't be bothered to read anyone else's opinion, but you all really need the benefit of hearing mine." Guess again.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

mattsmom81 · Jan 26, 2003

Great reply Stargazer! It is obvious by her post she did NOT read the whole thread and all the good input from everyone.

Hardknox · Jan 26, 2003

Believe me, if it wasn't for the liability issue that I brought up in my first post I would love to float as a PCA/CNA. I can spend time with the patients and give the good hands on care that I was giving under the "Primary Care" model in the 80's. When I float to the med/surg areas the RN's are so busy on the computer charting that they can't get to do the many physical "duties" that they used to do.

So guess again, Vailgang, and until you have your RN and experience our worklife, don't presume to assume anything about us collectively.

OBNURSEHEATHER · Jan 26, 2003

Stargazer!

Heather

Vailgang · Jan 26, 2003

I have read all the posts and can't see what got you so upset. I was trying to give her my repsective from a LPN that has had RN's come to our floor mad as hell because they were asked to do the low task of working as a CNA and then not complete half the tasks that are required. One RN did vital signs on all her patients without even taking the blood pressure machine. I do know the role of an RN and the "worklife" because we are all suppose to work together and that means we all know our role. She asked our opinion and in the boards I thought that we were allowed to do that but guess not.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jan 26, 2003

Before we became closed only to Mat/Child, we would get sent to CCU, Burns, etc...and we would tell them we were functioning only as an CNA! None of us felt competent enough to take care of those kinds of patients, heck, I would have been jumping on chests when there HR was 60 LOL

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2003

matts_mom your right. I did not mind the work but I thought I should be paid my RN wages. They said since there was no one to orient I was demoted so to speak. Not fair to cut my pay. Someone there told me they did that all the time.

GRRRRRRRR

renerian