RN's/CNA's...what's with this attitude?

thank you, you put that very nicely. i agree !

praiser :heartbeat

I think it is a similar relation to a nurse/doctor. Due to their training, the doctor "orchestrates" the care of the patient along with guidelines set up by a facillity with feedback obtained from the nurse. A nurse wouldn't consider herself/himself as working FOR a doctor, but would feel they were all doing the best they can in their capacity/with the training they have had for the betterment of the patient.

I think it is a similar relation to a nurse/doctor. Due to their training, the doctor "orchestrates" the care of the patient along with guidelines set up by a facillity with feedback obtained from the nurse. A nurse wouldn't consider herself/himself as working FOR a doctor, but would feel they were all doing the best they can in their capacity/with the training they have had for the betterment of the patient.

But my job title isn't Certified Doctors' Aide.

I loved when i had CNAs, but they shouldn't expect me to kiss their feet because they are doing their job and getting paid for it. If they did it just to be nice, I'd be foot kissing!

It's true...CNAs are there to help the RNs. But that does NOT mean that I am above taking someone to the bathroom, getting water, fixing their bed, taking time to talk to them, etc. I may sometimes not offer in the middle of a complex med pass with admits coming and doctors coming after me, but if the pt asks, I do. CNAs know that their job is rough...I know it too. I did it before I got my RN, and I am not above it.

I answer lights when I have time, or if I see that it is my pt and I'm going that way anyways.

Teamwork makes a unit....that's why the night shift has much better scores versus days. Not a night to day vent, but just the facts as it is on my unit.

I don't see being there to help the patient and being there to help the nurse as mutually exclusive.

I totally agree. I was a CNA/PCT for a year before I became an RN. It was my job to do vital signs, chemsticks, I&O's, and ADL's. Sure, it would have been harder for the nurses to do their jobs if I wasn't there to do MINE, but it was my job when I was there. That was what I was hired and paid to do. The same now. I'm an RN, and we have some pretty great aides. Time permitting, I'll jump in and help whenever I can and they do the same. On my way to a room to do something, most will ask if I need any help. Sure there are certain things that they are responsible for, but if I can do it, or they are extra busy, I will. I usually thank our PCT/CNA's if they are right on top of things or do something that I specifically ask for, b/c I remember what it was like to not be appreciated and it was thought to be a "tech job" to put a patient on a bedpan.

I think the issue isn't so much that CNA's expect nurses to kiss their feet, but I'm sure a little respect would go a long way.

From what I've seen on these boards, many CNA's feel as though nurses treat them like low-class citizens. I don't know if that is true or not, but that is how many seem to feel.

The other thing I've seen on these boards is that a lot of CNA's don't understand the role of the RN and accuse RN's of passing off all the work onto them.

I think if companies would maybe do a little class on understanding the role of each person, and how mutually valuable each job title is, there would be less jealously/bitterness.

The aides would be up a creek w/out a nurse on staff, and the nurses would be in over their heads without aides to take on tasks they are allowed to do.

Neither one can function properly without the other. So everyone should be appreciative that they have the other there, and show a little respect!

You know, this is a really touchy subject for me. I have been a CNA, and now I am a nurse. I work harder as a nurse than I ever did as a CNA, and I was a hard working CNA. It's the nature of the job. If I "track down" a CNA to do a linen change because I have a zillion other things to do that I cannot delegate, this does NOT translate to disrespect. I should not have to suck up to the CNA to get a little cooperation.

Just last night, another nurse asked the CNA to do a linen change really close to the end of the shift. The CNA said "If you help me chart my Is & Os". The nurse, without batting an eye, said "Sure, I'll help you put those in.", even though this was the first time all night that she had to sit down and chart her head to toe assessments, IV assessments, pain assessments, do her chart checks, and have all her ducks in a row to give report to the oncoming shift.

Charting I&O takes about two minutes tops. The CNA can easily do that linen change and chart her Is & Os, and obviously has NO CLUE how much that nurse had on her plate.

The attitude just ticks me off sometimes.

Okay, I give!!

I never can comment on the Nurse vs Aide threads!

I just go off on a tangent!

I erased my intended comments about three times! I have NO restraint on this subject!

Some nurses need to get a grip.

Some aides need to get a grip.

Everybody just needs to let everyone else do their job and everybody needs teamwork.

Not all aides are stupid and not all nurses are power-trippers.

Phew, not all I could say, but that's the restrained gist!

I am not understanding the anger here (from anyone?)...I didn't intend this to be a nurse vs aide thread, in fact, quite the opposite!

What did I say that was so bad??

I've also done both jobs, worked as a nurses aide before becoming an RN.

I think the problem here is that in both roles you get so caught up in your own tasks, stressors that you forget that the other person has their own workload to deal with as well.

As an aide I never fully understood the role of the RN until I became one and now I see why the nurses were so scarce...because they were running around trying to do a zillion things like myself.

I know I'm the nurses aide. But I don't see myself as that. I see myself as the residents aide. I work in a nursing home and there are always NACs on unlike a hospital. I think it very much comes down to respect! There have been many a times when I saved the nurses behind, as there were many times the nurse saved my behind. If a nurse that I respect asks me to do something that I don't have time for or usually wouldn't do (not in my job description). I will ususally stay over to do it. I will go the extra mile for the nurse. If she's behind and makes a mess, I'll stay over to clean it up. Just like if I'm behind she'll answer a call light or 2. Anywho, if a nurse is rude and disrespects me then I don't respect her. I will think twice about what I'm doing and if it's REALLY my job or if it's hers. She spilled Jevity, not my problem, especially IF I don't have time. Why should I stay over, when I know darn well I'm on my own the next night when I get out an hour late and she goes home an hour earlier. Also I've had nurses ask me to do things that kind of bended the rules. I did it and took the fall for it. So I also have to think twice if I will get into trouble for what she is asking me. I'm all for CYA and will do that especially if I know that nurse won't support me in what she tells me to do! For the record I'm taking my pre-reqs for nursing school and I'll find it very interesting on how I will see things when I'm a nurse.