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Discussion

RN working as a CNA.

I work in a long term care facility and we are very short staffed for CNAs. We have plenty of RNs and LPNs but our CNAs who were hired as 0.5-0.8 are all getting scheduled 10 shifts PLUS 2 mandatory shifts every pay period.

There are always open shifts on the schedule and that is before sick call ins.

I am a newer nurse and a couple of us newer nurses have talked about asking management if they would let us pick up some of these shifts (at our RN overtime pay) because we are losing more CNAs due to frustrations of being mandated so often.

I am just hoping for some feedback as to how this might affect all of us long term, if you can see things I can't anticipate.

It seems like a great short term solution, but my gut is telling me that it may come back to haunt us in ways we can't see.

Thanks for any feedback if you have been in a similar situation.

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    There are a bunch of existing threads here about RNs working as CNAs, and the (admittedly largely hypothetical) risks involved. However, I'm v. skeptical that any LTC would be willing to pay RNs overtime rates to cover for CNAs, regardless of how burned out the CNAs are getting. LTC is all about the money.

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    I see the problem being that management will see this as a "fix" and won't do anything to solve the long term problem. I also anticipate that the employer will not be dancing up and down to pay RN pay for CNA work, not all employers are ok with this, at least for a permanent policy.

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    At the LTC facility I worked at, there were RNs who picked up CNA shifts. If your facility is that short staffed and actually cares about its employees, I'm sure they'd allow it

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    • Experts

    Oh, something I forgot to add: At one facility where I worked, RNs and LVNs often pulled CNA shifts at their licensed nurse pay, but, here's the kicker, they were often expected to fill the nurse role too. Needless to say, it was not easy to get all the work done. The CNA tasks fell by the wayside if one of the residents had a change of condition and the "CNA"/"nurse" was called away to deal with this.

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    • Author
    There are a bunch of existing threads here about RNs working as CNAs, and the (admittedly largely hypothetical) risks involved. However, I'm v. skeptical that any LTC would be willing to pay RNs overtime rates to cover for CNAs, regardless of how burned out the CNAs are getting. LTC is all about the money.

    Thanks, I had searched and originally only found ones that asked if it was legal to work, especially right out of school prior to first nursing job. I found some very helpful threads that were full of helpful info and opinions.

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