I'm an RN, been working at the same LTC for 8 years. I'm also 4 months pregnant with my 4th child.
For the past 6 months or so, RNs & LPNs have been scheduled to cover CNA shifts due to the worst staffing shortage I've ever seen at this place. We can get pool aides to come in once in awhile, but very rarely.
I've done a couple shifts - it's pretty terrible, mainly because I was never trained as an aide at this facility (I did work as a CNA for 2 years about 10 years ago). I basically follow another CNA around and we do every single person together.
Another nurse I work with ran right out to her doc when this scheduling started and he happily wrote her a note getting her out of it. He couldn't believe this was how we were handling our staffing. I know of one other nurse that flat out refuses to do it and has said she will walk off the job if she's ever scheduled to be a CNA.
I don't want to come off as a snob, like I'm better than doing this sort of work, but I honestly have no idea what I'm doing when I'm supposed to work as a CNA, training is not an option and I only work weekends so I don't think I'd ever get "used to it." I don't feel like it's safe at times and I don't think it's fair that some nurses have to do it, while others just throw a fit and get out of it.
well, they just might have to start paying their cna's more money. FTR I did a lot of cna first shift/lpn second shift when I was fixin' to leave my last nh, beaucoup bucks there. But that was my choice.
There's a routine to the CNAs job where I work, that I'm not familiar with. To say that we should be able to hop on their job with no orientation, is minimizing the difficult job the CNA does. It's not that I can't change a bed, do PM care, or do any of the other dozen thing they do at night without thinking, it's just I don't do it well.
If the OP comes off sounding superior because she doesn't want to be the CNA without orientation, then posters who say the job is so easy any of us can do it are even more insulting.
There's a routine to the CNAs job where I work, that I'm not familiar with. To say that we should be able to hop on their job with no orientation, is minimizing the difficult job the CNA does. It's not that I can't change a bed, do PM care, or do any of the other dozen thing they do at night without thinking, it's just I don't do it well.
If the OP comes off sounding superior because she doesn't want to be the CNA without orientation, then posters who say the job is so easy any of us can do it are even more insulting.
This is 100% what I am saying. My husband works for a bank. I tried to explain to him it's like having the CEO (or a department head or anyone else in management) walk into work for the day & being told they're needed as a teller. You don't know where anything is, or how anything works...you just have to do it.
It's annoying, but truly you should be able to function as an aide, even if its at a slow pace, so now's the time to learn.
The other options are to split the patients among all the nurses and do primary nursing - every nurse does everything for their patients, including "CNA work"
If they can transfer - have them sit on the toilet - they will use it even if they say they don't have to. At the same time get them dressed for bed or the day while they are there. Saves so much time --- only one transfer to and from and they're dressed.
Briefs can be put on while the pt is on the commode also, thread around the thighs and attach the sides like underwear, then pull up and tighten when they stand up.
Try to do several things at one time and it's much easier.
When you have the experience working as an aide you can appreciate the good aides so much more and also call BS when someone is being lazy.
as an aside, something needs to be done to start retaining good aides. I can make more money working in retail - and I've been a CNA for 7 years. I'm also really good at it, not to toot my own horn. I also love it, and I learn a lot, so I stay. If I had to do this forever though, there is no way that I could. I actually would rather stay working in the role I am in, but instead I'm in nursing school so that I can make a livable wage.
CNAs are paid 2/3 less than nurses, sometimes even 3/4 less, and it's really terrible if you think about it. The weekend, evening shift differential that the RN's make at my hospital is nearly what I make per hour.
The amount of work that goes into it is ridiculous, and although some will say anyone can do it.... most people couldn't do it. Not well anyways. I'll never understand it. If we made more the market would be more competitive and eventually only CNAs that were good at it would remain.
Instead.,we get burnt out, having to pick up extra shifts to pay the bills, which wreaks havoc on our bodies.
Where I work we have two nurses scheduled to each unit and anywhere from 4-8 techs. This means that one nurse does the nursing duties and the other acts as a tech. Never would I complain about this. This is how it is, everyday.
I work in a hospital and we occasionally have to work in the cna role... It stinks .... But it is what it is. I had to do it a lot for awhile but the fixed the staffing and it's probably Been a year since my turn. The keep a record of who does it and everyone takes a turn.( and of course you get your rn pay)
Honestly? I think it's a good thing to know what your expecting of your aides.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
While I have never been pressed to work as a CNA, LVN's in our facility have been ask from time to time those that don't like quit. I love my CNAs they are the hardest working people I know. Still I will jump in to help them in a heart beat if I can. AS far as not knowing where the supplies are kept (I find that hard to believe) I knew where everything was after the third day. Maybe our facility is just really organized but we have a central Supply Closet, A nutrition closet etc and each resident has a cupboard in their room with all their supplies. There is nothing a CNA does that is not in a nurses scope of practice.
On a few occasions, I have been the floater on my unit and I'm proactive. So, I'll do or help the charge nurse, other nurses, cnas, chaplains, family members. However, I will decline if I see others who should be doing the work but are sitting on their orifice. I get paid nurses salary whatever hat I wear. When a unit is short staffed by cnas or nurses, working together gets the job done.
I have worked a CNA in LTC and I have nothing but respect for the CNAs. I prefer to work as a nurse not a CNA so I'd let my feet do the talking if I were in OP's position. For the record, I have gone in and worked as an aide during blizzard like conditions and I would do it again in a similar emergency type situation if necessary. I would not however want to be scheduled as a CNA on a regular basis.
Why don't you suggest to them to use an agency? Yeah, they're going to spend more money on an agency, but they've got to be spending more money paying nursing wages for people to do the work of a CNA. Unless they're not paying your nursing wages, in which case I would run for the hills.
Well, if other people are saying no and getting away with it, then why don't you join them? Perhaps if you can even get all the nurses to say no, then they will be forced to do something else about it. I don't know, this place sounds pretty bad.
You shouldn't feel like a snob for refusing CNA work. You went through a lot of education to climb the ladder to where you are. Nursing is one of the only professions where people are made to feel badly for climbing the ladder to obtain a more desirable position.
ponymom
385 Posts
well, they just might have to start paying their cna's more money. FTR I did a lot of cna first shift/lpn second shift when I was fixin' to leave my last nh, beaucoup bucks there. But that was my choice.