RN being pulled to work as aide?

Scrubs_n_sirens, MSN, RN · Jun 14, 2016

When I started as an RN in ICU, I frequently got pulled to Med surg to be an aide. It was annoying.

But there is no small role in healthcare. Aides are important too. Sometimes we have to put our time in other positions when needed. Regardless of studying and passing nclex, "aide work" is still nurse work.

Llame_Llama · Jun 14, 2016

I know that it's still in my scope - and honestly I enjoy working more personally with the residents as an aide. I guess my issue is more that I am the go to person to get pulled.

lindseylpn · Jun 14, 2016

Since you are new it's probably more of a seniority thing. In LTC LPNs and RNs routinely do the same job/have the same duties so, I suspect that the reason you are being pulled is because, they have more experience or seniority than you.

middleagedRN · Jun 14, 2016

I'll be working as an aide tonite. We have too many nurses on the schedule tonite but not enough aides. I will volunteer to do it. I love to work as an aide...at RN salary! :)

morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 14, 2016

I'll be working as an aide tonite. We have too many nurses on the schedule tonite but not enough aides. I will volunteer to do it. I love to work as an aide...at RN salary! :)

do remember you are responsible to your highest license...

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 14, 2016

I don't work LTC, but we had this issue come up several years ago on a tele floor. We had a mass exodus of CNA's and the management would schedule RN's to fill the spots. Our legal team put a stop to this ASAP, stating that the RN would still be responsible for pts as an RN. This caused some issues with things like following up on abnormal labs or vital signs. If the RN working as an aide did an accu check and it was 42 the RN "aide" was responsible for ensuring the appropriate follow up and treatment. This became impossible when we had one "aide" for 30 patients! Perhaps our legal team was over reacting, but they stopped this.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 14, 2016

I don't work LTC, but we had this issue come up several years ago on a tele floor. We had a mass exodus of CNA's and the management would schedule RN's to fill the spots. Our legal team put a stop to this ASAP, stating that the RN would still be responsible for pts as an RN. This caused some issues with things like following up on abnormal labs or vital signs. If the RN working as an aide did an accu check and it was 42 the RN "aide" was responsible for ensuring the appropriate follow up and treatment. This became impossible when we had one "aide" for 30 patients! Perhaps our legal team was over reacting, but they stopped this.

Yes, in your case, they would have been better off simply dividing up the assignment.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 14, 2016

That is exactly what we ended up doing. It was amazing though, that missing 2 CNA's required 3 RN's doing complete care to make it work!

BmoreOrioles · Jun 15, 2016

I worked as a GNA/CNA for 9 years before I started work as a RN. I've been on both sides and I think working as a CNA with the responsibility of my RN license would be way too difficult. If someone becomes critical, I am ultimately responsible. I can no longer just pass it off to another nurse just because I'm working as an "aide". I will help the aides if they are short by helping with T&P; getting someone on a bed pan;getting vitals and even cover them for half an hour while they get something to eat. However, I am a RN with greater responsibility than CNAs. IMO, it just doesn't make sense in the setting I work in.

allnurses Guide · Jun 15, 2016

So I am a recent RN - Just passed the nclex 2 months ago and have been working as an RN in long-term care for about 6 weeks now.
I have been pulled off the cart to work as an aide several times now in the middle of my shift when we are under staffed, and tonight really feels like a breaking point. I have made it clear multiple times that I do not want to switch out my shifts as an RN to work as an aide, but for some reason I have become the go-to person, even though I am usually the only RN on night shift (alongside 2 LPNs).
I have absolutely no issues with working as an aide - in fact I will pick up shifts when they are short and help my aides out whenever I can as an RN. My issue is that I need the experience as a nurse. And frankly, I went through the schooling and studied my butt off to pass the nclex!
I kind of feel like I am being taken advantage of, and am looking into finding a new job. I guess I just want some outside opinions/advice. Should LPNs get pulled first maybe? Am I right to feel like this, or am I crazy?Has anyone been in this situation before?

What you are describing is not uncommon in LTC. The problem, as others here have mentioned, is that weather you are working as an RN or CNA you are still held liable to the highest degree of your licensure. LTC's have very different staffing requirements than acute care and some LTC like the one where I worked advertised that they had an RN on staff 24 hours a day. This was not true but they would often pull in a less experienced RN to work as an aid under an LPN charge nurse so that they could say yes we have an RN on duty. I have never minded doing Aid work and often would perform basic tasks such as transfers and toileting during the course of my RN tasks. Still I was aware that I would always be responsible for negative outcomes to my patient.

These days many new grads get their 1st jobs in LTC and my advice to you is work there for a year, do what they ask and get as much experience as possible. Doing CNA work is a fantastic way to hone assessment skills so use it for what it's worth. Keep putting your resume out there and if someone picks you up go for it. Otherwise get that coveted 1st year in and then move on.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

BSN-to-MSN, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2016

I don't work LTC, but we had this issue come up several years ago on a tele floor. We had a mass exodus of CNA's and the management would schedule RN's to fill the spots. Our legal team put a stop to this ASAP, stating that the RN would still be responsible for pts as an RN. This caused some issues with things like following up on abnormal labs or vital signs. If the RN working as an aide did an accu check and it was 42 the RN "aide" was responsible for ensuring the appropriate follow up and treatment. This became impossible when we had one "aide" for 30 patients! Perhaps our legal team was over reacting, but they stopped this.

Yes, while RN can work as a CNA, if an issue came up, RN still has an obligation to the patient as RN. If working as CNA, and RN responsibilities were "turned off" somehow, then fine. But there is no such thing.

OP, if you feel you're not getting RN experience, talk to managers, if no results, get out. You need RN skills as a new grad, think about that.