RN being pulled to work as aide?

Nurses Professionalism

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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?

Specializes in SCRN.

I once stayed after my PM shift as an aide, night shift was short. With RN salary, of course. I've told the night nurse, that she is the nurse tonight beforehand, and any issues go to her. Worked out fine.

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Find a new job. If it happens enough as it is, is there any sign of improvement?

Here, I would at least tell management that I plan to quit if such a blasphemy occurs again. My notice would become effective at the time of occurrence. As a way to prove a point, just do the patient care on that dreaded shift. Don't do any secondary work (ie. cleanup) and call in sick until your notice period is over. Your license won't be at risk and your dignity will still be intact.

You didn't go through your education to end up being a CNA. You are too good for that.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

My general advice would be to continue the job search. You voiced your concerns on multiple occasions, and they have indicated by their actions they're not interested in your objections.

You've indicated you feel they aren't distributing the shifts where one is pulled to work as a CNA evenly. This could absolutely be a seniority based type of rotation as mentioned by a previous poster, or it could be that, since you've been there for 6 weeks and been very vocal about your preference, it's passive-aggressive retaliation. I'm not the paranoid type, but such situations do exist. When you're the "new kid" I find that sticking to observer mode for a while maximizes your available choices no matter what you eventually decide to do.

Being pulled occasionally in my mind is fine. This is something more than that. If nothing else, though, your feelings of resentment are likely to spill over, making work hours pretty miserable. Wishing you the best in your search for the job that suits your needs and preferences at this time.

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This is one thing I didn't think about. So technically, even working as an aide under an lpn, I still have the RN responsibilities? I don't mind aide work at all, but that seems like a bad situation waiting to happen

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
This is one thing I didn't think about. So technically, even working as an aide under an lpn, I still have the RN responsibilities? I don't mind aide work at all, but that seems like a bad situation waiting to happen

As the "only RN on duty most times", if you show up, you are responsible for the ENTIRE BUILDING no matter what task you've been nominated to perform.

What I've seen in my years of nursing is that attitudes can make your shift a nightmare as the new kid on the block. If one of the more experienced LPNs are pulled because of your protesting, that LPN probably won't be a resource to you should something happen that you're not familiar with. It shouldn't be that way but you will find that type of unprofessional behavior in many places. LTC employees tend to be very close-knit; sometimes you can even expect to find nepotism in its highest form in that environment, which could have a huge impact on the workload of the newcomer.

So, as the only RN on duty and having been there only 6 weeks, my opinion is that you're not gaining much RN experience even when you are not pulled. My advice to you would be to accept the duties with a smile as you extend a offer of help if the LPNs need you; fill out a new application EVERY SINGLE DAY when you get off; and pray for expedition in the job securement AND a civil tongue until your year is up and/or you find a new position...whichever comes first.

Caution: be very certain about the next position (or as certain as you can) because you don't want to quit too many jobs in your first couple of years. Employers will begin to think you're not cut out to be a nurse.;)

Good luck to you!

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It wouldn't make sense to pull an LPN to work as an aide if they've already started the shift and are doing a med pass. It would take too much time to find out who's had their meds, what PRNs they've had already and on the previous shift, etc.

At least if you work as an aide, you're getting to know who the residents are, how they transfer, getting a chance to do some kind of a skin check, etc. There was one day where we only had one aide and myself for 25 people (which is so wrong) so I worked as an aide for the first half hour or so. I changed a resident and because I was in there I noticed her SOB and the fact that she was on O2, which was new for her and I can't remember if it was mentioned in report (kind of important!!!). Long story short -had to send her out to the ER. Caught that earlier than I would've if I'd started my med pass. So it's not like you're not doing anything because you're working as an aide, but I can see as a new grad how you'd want to spend the majority of your time working as an RN.

When I read about nurses that are concerned about being held to the standard of a nurse while working as an aide - is that really such a fear? I guess after being an aide I incorporate that into my role as a nurse. I know the residents on my wing pretty well (I'm full time and always have the same wing) so it's glaringly obvious when there's a change in condition or something that needs to be followed up on. I always make notes on my census sheet of things I need to follow up on. I ask for help with those things if I don't have time that way they're getting done.

As far as experience as an RN, I can see how that would feel lacking. We don't get a lot of IVs and they aren't very complex. There aren't a lot of situations that require an RN so I can see how as a new grad you'd rather be working as an RN and not an aide. I don't know the answer to that except maybe look for a different job in a hospital.

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Specializes in Med/surg/ortho.

Happened to me many time as well when I worked on the floor, it sucks but I don't think think you can do anything about it. I mean reAlly the company that you work for is not being very savvy about saving money if they are willing to pay an RN to work As an aide rather than idk staff better or hire more aides.

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Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.

Our facility pulls LPNs first, but when I happen to be the "extra" nurse that day (or if it's an LPN who has been there forever and will absolutely not work as an aide), I've been pulled to work as an aide before. Another RN I work with, has been pulled to work as an aide many times. It's still nursing work, and within my scope of practice. Sometimes it's a nice break from being on a cart or admitting new residents.

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I totally agree with NOADLS about giving notice effective at the time of occurrence if it happens again”. Nurses too frequently get the short end of the stick in numerous occasions. A physician wouldn't dare get jerked around like a nurse would. You didn't go to RN school to be utilized as a CNA regardless if you don't mind the work or even completed a CNA program in the past. To be pulled for a CNA assignment during orientation is unacceptable. To be pulled for a CNA assignment after orientation, once in a while is one thing. However, the thing about management/person doing the pulling is, if they can get away with it they will until somebody puts a stop to it. Facilities are aware of their staffing needs in advance. They have it in their budget to secure the staff they need from their per diem pool, asking current staff, or from agency. If there are nurses who don't mind, let them volunteer. The difference is those nurses are choosing to, you are being required to without a choice.

I never minded helping out my CNA's short staffed, or just needing a hand and I was the person closest to them. I loved my regular CNA's, and we worked well as a team.

I did mind getting pulled for a CNA assignment (usually for another floor), esp when I'd come in on my day off with the understanding that I'm filling a nursing hole. This of course happened in LTC. I did it about 3x's and then put my foot down, prepared to resign if necessary, and it stopped with me, and went on to the next nurse who didn't mind or was afraid of negative retaliation.

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It's kind of weird they would pull the RN before the LPNs, my facility does a similar thing, but always with LPNs first.

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