RN's forced to do CNA work

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2012

I only asked people if what I was seeing was normal. All the negative and hateful remarks surprised me. I know I am trained to do the "CNA work". Yes, I called it "CNA work". I took a job on a unit that has CNA's. I was never told I would need to do "CNA work" for an entire shift several times a month. I don't mind doing everything they do during the course of my day doing "RN work". I understand that's part of the RN's job. I don't want to do "CNA work" all day long. I don't consider myself better than the CNA. CNA's have a very hard job and are not paid enough to do it. I have a great deal of respect for them, but I don't want to do their job. I am also qualified to sweep the floor and do maintenance work. I don't want that job either. As a second career nurse, I am qualified to do a great many things. I chose to be an RN. I want to do what RN's do on a daily basis. That's what I went to school to learn. If I wanted to do the CNA's job, I would have saved a lot of money and time and gotten a CNA job instead of going to college.
For those of you who answered my inquiry without harsh remarks, thank you. Your input is appreciated.

I am curious.......When did you graduate and pass boards? How "new" of a nurse are you?

Just remember that when you are in the position of being a CNA, while not what you wanted, remember that while you can perform in the position of the CNA the CNA cannot be placed in the position of being a nurse.

I know I have canceled CNA's when I supervised a small facility and utilize the nurse as a sitter for it gave me more flexibility at 3 am if the feces hit the fan.

I will also admit that there are times the "seasoned" staff tend to utilized the newer nurses as the sitters as they may need the strength on the floor.

I don't know the circumstance of your situation but if you seem to be getting this assignment more that the others then talk with your boss. But it does happen, it is not always the most efficient use of resources but sometimes it's the only option available. With fluctuating census and staffing needs and 1:1's being a huge expense but absolutely necessary......the most flexible way to keep a license in the house is to choose the RN to do the watch or the CNA's position for that shift.

Then there are the times I really need a CNA and can't find one but I have a surplus of nurses....I will use a nurse for that void. You are just helping out a fellow nurse. It has been done this way since I graduated license wise is the one I choose to leave in the house. When I would be pulled for CNA duties that day I remind myself that I am lucky I am working.

I wish you the best.

toekneejo, ADN · Oct 1, 2012

I have been in nursing since 1986. I have switched specialties many times. One thing I have learned is that in nursing there is no typical day. (Due to staffing issues, census issues, acuity issues, legal issues, and financial issues etc)

A facility tries to staff based on the above issues and most will prioritize these by going down a line. Legal first, financial second, and then the care based issues. With that said, they try to get the most bang for their buck. What this amounts to, is the nursing staff is in a constant flux trying to deliver the care. You can see this on individual units, where they are constantly changing the type of nursing (ie primary, team, etc) the shifts (ie 12, 8, split, rotation, etc.) Once you have been in nursing long enough you will realize that these are part of the challenges that we must face. As far as scopes of practice go, many RN's actually do get set into a position not having to take care of the patients' bedside needs and then find themselves lacking in this area when the need arises. I was a DON in LTAC in the early 90's at a progressive facility that allowed me to rotate all nursing staff through one shift a month as a care provider below their normally scheduled position. I also rotated through the positions. It will stay with me forever, it kept everyone apprised of their coworkers challenges and kept everyone working more as a team. I understand the frustration of going into to work assuming you are going to be doing ... fill in the blank, however once I learned that there was no typical day and went into work knowing that I was there for X hours to provide care to my patients the best way that the facility saw to have me do it; I was able to maintain a greater sense of accomplishment in myself as a nurse.

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · Oct 1, 2012

RN paid to work as a CNA. I'd do it in a heart beat! I loved being a CNA and like the RN pay.

mikala3 · Oct 1, 2012

We are expected to do both, our job and the NA's job if the NA's have to sit. I would DIE to do one or the other. It stinks when I have six patients, four are totals and one has over 30 meds to be given NOW.

realmaninuniform · Oct 2, 2012

Ok, without passing judgement I will say this: No, it is not uncommon for facilities to "force" nurses to do CNA work. With that said, given this opportunity you are a SUPER CNA. You can do FAR more than a CNA can and have a much broader knowledge and skill base to work from. Not too mention you can serve a dual function, making the same wage and doing less work.

I admit, that fresh out of nursing school I was a little hesitant to do aide work.. And there were definitely times I felt it was "below" my skill set. But I never let it show. I just did what I was asked, when I was asked, to the best of my ability. Rule number one in the health care field should be nothing is below you... And with that said, as a nurse, NOTHING is below you. I've saved lives with CPR and heimlick manuever, and I've also sat with a pt when they took their final breath, and everything in between.

This business is about people. It's about sickness and health, it's about poverty and wealth. It's about giving birth, and taking the last breath. If you're not in it for your pts, you are in the wrong field.

Far too many these days have went into nursing thinking it's a gravy job making good money. This couldn't be farther from the truth, as soo many are now learning. It's hard work, mentally, emotionally, and physically, and when it's all said and done, the pay really isn't worth it. The satisfaction, gratitude, and admiration of your pt's and family members is what does it, and is what keeps me in the field to this very day.

Mas Catoer · Oct 2, 2012

As long as it is not part of bullying a new comer then I may consider it as temporary and situational assignment. Yes all patient basic needs are the responsibility of every nurse that assigned to the unit. But in achieving unit goals toward efficiency and effectiveness of care then the saying about the right professional for the right duty should be brought up. :cool:

anon456, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2012

We are short CNA's on my unit right now. If we are lucky we have two CNA's for 24 beds (step down ICU peds). They help sooo much and I really value them, and miss them when we are short. They do all the vitals, I&O's, bathe the babies, help with trach tie changes, help so, so much with settling the families and settling the restless patients. Of course if I go to a room and a child needs a diaper change or impromptu bath I will be happy do it. What better way to do a full assessment? On our unit, with full staffing of CNAs or not, we are a team and we pull our weight and then some. It is not below the nurses to change diapers or bathe or fill water pitchers.

When we only have one CNA for 24 beds it's hard. The most challenging part for me is to keep with turning and changing the total care kids, and the nurses have to pair up to change the bigger total care kids which takes away from our duties. And then we get a talking to for clocking out late . . .

MerryMoonDancer · Oct 5, 2012

So long as this is not only happening to you, and each nurse is taking his/her turn as the CNA for the day, I say look at it as a learning experience. If you ever transfer to a hospital that doesn't have CNAs (or has one CNA to 30 patients), knowing how to bath/change/reposition a patient and change their linens/get them up in a timely manner can come in super handy! It's just skills practice :) And the bonus is, you can do a thorough assessment at the same time.

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2012

I think we're just not "getting" each other online....which is too bad, because I suspect it has more to do with the medium than the topic. I'm not arguing, I'm explaining....and apparently it's not working out as intended. I certainly meant no offense, which it looks like you've taken....so, MY apologies in that case. Not sure why it bothers you that I was defending the OP, but....again, I seem to be annoying you and that wasn't my intent.
And now I'm wondering what the OP has to say, having created the row in the first place...?

What the heck can she(the op) say; the same old thing, she doesn't want to me a CNA and didn't go to school for that. Can't blame the op one bit. Others just can't handle someone being honest about not wanting to be a nurse's aide. They feel hurt somehow.

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2012

I was a cna long before becoming an RN, and yes when i'd have to be a "sitter" or a cna for a day, i didn't like it. Period.

GGT1 · Oct 5, 2012

If we are down a tech and have an extra nurse, they assign a nurse to be a tech for the day. I guess they could just call the extra nurse off, but then we'd be extra short. I don't consider a CNA's job duties to be her's alone, so it doesn't bother me. I hate when nurses think they are TOO GOOD to do the "dirty work"

mclennan, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2012

Warms my heart to see so many RNs here saying how much they loved being a CNA and still love it. I, too, miss being a CNA. It's so wrong that the people who do the most intimate work, with the most patient contact, get paid the least. It's deeply honorable work that reminds me where I came from.

OP, I totally get what you're saying - and agree - I worked hard for my BSN/RN and I'd chafe if asked to do aide work on a regular, FREQUENT basis, but there's no "I" in "team" and all that. I'm not there to serve my needs. I'm there for the patients' needs 1st & my supervisors' needs 2nd, PERIOD. They wanna waste money on RNs as sitters or butt wipers then, fine. Their money, their decision. If it happened too often and I didn't like it, I'd try talking with my DON and if that didn't work, hit the bricks and look for another job.

I can pretty much guarantee after you've grown a few greys and are a little crispier around the edges, you'll welcome any aide work for RN pay you can get!