I hate nursing students that haven't been an aid before, nursitis was running rampant. I had a 350 lb that needed a hibiclense prior to heart surgery. I asked if the nursing student extern, could help me with the bath as the patient said she was dizzy and unsteady. The nurse extern said that baths were the aides job and why was I asking for help. So, I reminded her that I was a nursing assistant....that all jobs from head to toe were Nursing duties and that it was my job to help with those duties. You could tell she had never been an aide, I believe that she felt that she was a nurse after all and above helping to do an aides job.
I did tell her that:
1. As a CNA I already realize I'm at the bottom of the healthcare ladder, no point in being blatant about pointing it out.
2. Catch me on a bad day and you may be doing the baths anyway as aides can and often do quit, making low wages at Walmart is a lot easier than making it as an aide.
I did complain to the charge nurse and nurse manager, of course that is a total overreaction on my part, I guess it's just that I hate nursing students and being reminded of my lowly status as an aide, especially by a student nurse.
I hate nursing students that haven't been an aid before, nursitis was running rampant. I had a 350 lb that needed a hibiclense prior to heart surgery. I asked if the nursing student extern, could help me with the bath as the patient said she was dizzy and unsteady. The nurse extern said that baths were the aides job and why was I asking for help. So, I reminded her that I was a nursing assistant....that all jobs from head to toe were Nursing duties and that it was my job to help with those duties. You could tell she had never been an aide, I believe that she felt that she was a nurse after all and above helping to do an aides job.
I did tell her that:
1. As a CNA I already realize I'm at the bottom of the healthcare ladder, no point in being blatant about pointing it out.
2. Catch me on a bad day and you may be doing the baths anyway as aides can and often do quit, making low wages at Walmart is a lot easier than making it as an aide.
I did complain to the charge nurse and nurse manager, of course that is a total overreaction on my part, I guess it's just that I hate nursing students and being reminded of my lowly status as an aide, especially by a student nurse.
Tony
"Hate" is a very strong word to use to describe your feelings toward nursing studentsw/o aide experience. Not all nursing students are like the one you just described. Based on her statement, she seems to think she's above you and I wouldn't want anyone like her to be my nurse. She seems disrespectful and doesn't believe in teamwork.
Being a CNA is a tough job, but you shouldn't let the way people treat you determine your self-worth("being reminded of my lowly status as an aide"). I don't care if they're nursing students, medical students, RNs, doctors, CEO, or whomever. I'm sure you do a very good job contributing as a CNA and that's something to be proud of. :icon_hug:
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
That is true...do not consider yourself, or label yourself as 'lowly'. First off, there are many people that wish they were in your shoes...people who are unemployed, home health aides who have to sometimes take on several custered cases in one area because they don't work in a facility, etc... I am not saying that any of them are bad, I am just saying that there are always others that wish to be where we are. Being a good CNA is a service to the patients as well as the nurse, and you should be proud of the good that you do.
Nurses get crapped on as well, no matter how high up the ladder they get, and this student will get hers soon enough. If it is not from her professors, it may happen at her clinical site and I can promise you it will happen when she starts her career. Just keep doing what you are doing. And, next time, do not say "lowly CNA, say PROUD one that provides good care and excellent team work".
I hate nursing students that haven't been an aid before, nursitis was running rampant. I had a 350 lb that needed a hibiclense prior to heart surgery. I asked if the nursing student extern, could help me with the bath as the patient said she was dizzy and unsteady. The nurse extern said that baths were the aides job and why was I asking for help. So, I reminded her that I was a nursing assistant....that all jobs from head to toe were Nursing duties and that it was my job to help with those duties. You could tell she had never been an aide, I believe that she felt that she was a nurse after all and above helping to do an aides job.
I did tell her that:
1. As a CNA I already realize I'm at the bottom of the healthcare ladder, no point in being blatant about pointing it out.
2. Catch me on a bad day and you may be doing the baths anyway as aides can and often do quit, making minimum wage at Walmart is a lot easier than making it as an aide.
I did complain to the charge nurse and nurse manager, of course that is a total overreaction on my part, I guess it's just that I hate nursing students and being reminded of my lowly status as an aide, especially by a student nurse.
Tony
I'm not sure the situation, but many times nursing students are not allowed to do certain tasks. At times, nursing students are "in training" to not only be a provider of patient care, but also, to delegate. There are questions on the NCLEX (the test you take to get your nursing license) about what you would delegate to the CNAs or if you are going to get your RN then to the LPNs. Also, clinical times for the nursing student is very VERY valuable. Nursing students have a very limited time in clinicals; and so, The professor may tell the students, "you are here as nurses today, not cna's. You will do wound care, insert foleys, and give meds. You are expected to show your organization and delegation skills. After you graduate there will be many times that you will have to provide total care, as the patient is YOUR responsibility; however, today we have to work on more advanced nursing skills." I would not want to be the student to ignore my professor's order. Now, I've been in clinical and was told that WE were to provide total patient care. All adl's were our responsibility. My professor also divided us up, some of us were "cna's" and some were the nurses. My program also taught us the importance of the cna. As someone that worked as a cna before nursing school and during, I already knew how important the cna is!!!
I guess it's just that I hate nursing students and being reminded of my lowly status as an aide, especially by a student nurse.
Tony
I'm not sure what to say about this Tony. Lumping all nursing students in with the bad ones in kind of like lumping all cna's in with the bad ones!!! Also, you should never hate anyone for "reminding you of your lowly status..." Additionally, you should not feel that your position is "lowly." If this is how you feel about being a cna, maybe that is where the problem is!!! CNAs are extremely important; and yes, they are "entry level," but not unimportant. You need to know that. Yes, there are nursing students that look down on CNAs. There are Nurses that look down on CNAs, Doctors that look down on Nurses, RNs that look down on LPNs, BSNs that look down on ASNs, CNAs that look down on house keeping, etc. etc. It's life. Some people have to lift themselves up in order to feel important. I would hope that you learn the importance of being a CNA and think of the nursing students as "just people that chose nursing as a career, as oppose to being lawyers, doctors, or mechanics." No need for resentment or hatred, really. Be proud to be a CNA. I know you do not get credit for what you do. As a nurse, I don't always get it either. Nursing does not make one famous. Nurses are among the most trusted professions year after year. We rate above Doctor's, but many people think we are there to just follow "doctor's orders" which we are not. Anyway, I wish you all the best!!!
The nurse student is working here as an extern between semesters, so she's working alongside an RN. At the time I asked her for help (patient safety issue) she was standing there doing nothing.
As far as hating nursing students, hate is too strong, I just dislike student nurses. Here's the kicker, I'm supposed to become a "nursing student" in September, LPN actually, but you get the idea
As to being a lowly CNA, well I do a very good job as a CNA, however it is the bottom of the barrel in healthcare, as reflected by the bottom number on the paycheck stub
Anyway, I'm starting to rethink the whole nursing thing, not sure if it's all that or not.
Take care nurses and CNA's out there, the patients need you
Tony, its not that I am taking the nursing student's side. what she said was very inappropriate, a nursing student's job is to do what she was assigned to do.
I always have a hard time in clinical, I make great grades in class (A's mostly) but clinicals are hard for me, I try really hard and I fail, I try my absolute hardest and I still get failed, my teacher complements me trying so hard, but still fails me. some instructors require a lot out of nursing students. I have been on both sides of the fence I do know that some CNA's will call in because they know that a bunch of nursing students will be there. then the CNA who comes is left with a lot of work. and the nursing students should help where they can, but sometimes they may be too busy with trying to pass clinicals that they have to spend a second they have getting what is required by their instructor. I have been told off by CNA's for no reason and then they tell my instructor oops and guess what I failed clinical again.
I understand Tony's point. I know too many nurses who think that they're "above" "aide's" work.
Well, aides perform nursing duties for which a nursing license is not required - but certification is sure needed in my state, and these are nursing duties none-the-less.
I think his point was that he needed help and was refused itby nurse in training who didn't know what nursing actually includes.
I remember a few years back working with some nurses who would walk onto the unit (not even clock in yet) and tell me all of their pts needed baths that day. Now, this is a hospital (Gero Psych) and I had so many other things to do and was the only CNA on that day (16 pts). I must have looked at her like she lost her mind and before I could stop the words from flowing forth (like a volcano and lava) I told her she better get right on it because I would be running all day. Now I've 'niced' it up a bit, but she and the other nurses got the pic and dove in to at least help get pts up.
As a student, I have come across CNA's who treat me a bit off, but once I help them out (even if it's a bed alarm), they usually soften up. As a former CNA, I know the CNA can help make my day better or worse as a nurse. I prefer better every time. I can't thank those that understand team work enough.
For those that treat CNA's poorly, you wonder why they aren't helping your pts and always seem busy with other pts, its because nobody likes being treated like something you just scraped off of your shoe
She should have helped you and that was very inappropriate.
Sometimes students come across techs that think they have the day off because students are there, so perhaps the student was asserting herselve because she's been walked on by CNAs at other clinicals.
I think you chose to put words in her mouth that she was calling you lowly bottom of the chain when she really didn't say that did she?
Don't give anyone space in your head or tell you how to feel about yourself. Take pride in yourself and don't hate on others with terms like "nursitis" to lift yourself up, even when you're bing put down.
That was very rude of her and like everyone else said, she has hers coming for sure. I am a nursing student and it is amazing how jobs get divided out amongst the different levels of nursing when all should work together as a team. We are responsible for total care for our clients regardless of what level of nursing does it. I had an experience today that really hurt my feelings but it came from comments spoken by a CNA.
A fellow student and I were sitting in the break room working on our drug cards while our clients were out for procedures when this CNA walked in. I had asked the other student a question when the CNA chimes in with this remark:
"well, if you can't figure out your answer all you have to do is swallow your pride and go out there in the hall and ask a real nurse. If they can't help you, then come ask an aid...we here and know all that you guys hear, we just don't have a license to be able to state it."
We did not give her any reason to degrade us but for some reason she felt the need. Was it jealousy? Was she angry because our instructor took us out of the CNA level this week to learn how to pass meds instead of helping her? Maybe she wished she could be in our shoes but circumstances have not yet gotten her there. Who knows but it sure hurt that she felt the need to let us know she and the nurses on the floor knew more than us. We looked at her and she says "what?" and to this I replied, yes, thank you for keeping your ears open, I have learned so much from you already." To myself I made a mental note: I will make sure that when I am on the floor and a new student is eager to learn from all levels of nursing, I wil lend a hand in making them the best nurse they can be...no kidding, this is how I look at it and I hope that I can inspire rather than hurt someone who is working hard to improve their life on the level they see fit. Don't let people bother you...as it has been said, the only person hurting will be you because that mean, hateful person has already gone on to find their next victim. Raise that chin and go forth and be proud of where you have put yourself and if you need change or are not happy where you are then do something about it.
Tony1709, first off, you are NOT at the bottom of a " ladder ". CNA's are priceless and in my experience invaluable. You are part of a team. That is how it should be at least. I've been a nurse for 5 years plus and I do not see myself as any different than my co-workers. I have and do put patients on the bed pan and help with baths ( if I can ). The nursing student you were working with may have just been overwhelmed with what she/he needed to learn too. I would have emphasized the fact that the patient did not feel right ( needed to be assessed by the "nurse" ) next time though. Just know that there are nurses out there who veiw CNA's as part of the team and consider you all to be priceless.:heartbeat
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mochabean
411 Posts
"Hate" is a very strong word to use to describe your feelings toward nursing studentsw/o aide experience. Not all nursing students are like the one you just described. Based on her statement, she seems to think she's above you and I wouldn't want anyone like her to be my nurse. She seems disrespectful and doesn't believe in teamwork.
Being a CNA is a tough job, but you shouldn't let the way people treat you determine your self-worth("being reminded of my lowly status as an aide"). I don't care if they're nursing students, medical students, RNs, doctors, CEO, or whomever. I'm sure you do a very good job contributing as a CNA and that's something to be proud of.
:icon_hug: