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 wanted to work as a CNA while going to LPN school and as an LPN while going to RN school for several reasons one being that when I have to delegate tasks, I want to know what that task really is, not what it is on paper, and I want to be able to do certain things and help out if needed. I dont want to shun the doing basic things that pt's or res's need every day but at the same time, I am making a lot of sacrifices and so is my fam for me to go to school and pursue these programs. I do want to move on from being a cna. The bias definetely comes from both sides. I am sure I will get an offer to work there as an LPN after I graduate and start RN school. I just want to prove myself a great CNA now, and hopefully when the time comes that I have to delegate tasks etc., they will know I am not bossing them around or think that I am better than they are, but just doing my job.
Maybe the worst part of it all, is when the CNA's were raped by the law that lets companies NOT pay them overtime for more than 40 hours per week!
I'd damn sure refuse work over 40 hours, and going to school I'll not work more than a couple of days per week. Its so much easier working midnights as a Security Guard, and study a few hours between patrols (using your ears even then to do a superior job) helping you stay awake and alert.
I want to get a job in the hospital now, but not as a CNA since they have been pooted on so badly in the past. No wonder the turnover is so high. CNA rights to OT really needs to return to get expert CNA's.
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with a student, but more sorry that you "hate nursing students" and that not having been an aide before is going to make anyone judge me as you have generalized.
Please don't take it out on all of us (nursing students) when you have a problem with some students. We are not all like that, and I, for one, am the one on the lowest end of the totem pole, not you. I don't even have a license, and am only in your facilities by the grace and generosity of the facility and my teachers, and that is a trust and generosity on the parts of all involved that I take very seriously.
I would never refuse to help you if my teacher did not already have other tasks for me. I would never treat you badly for doing whatever it takes to make your patients comfortable. I would never look down on you, or anyone for that matter, based on something like the supposed hiearchy of medical environment staffing. Medical facilities would not function without you, and nurses could not do their jobs without assistants. Just so, nursing assistants would not be able to do their jobs without maintenance and housekeeping, and I give them the same smile and kind word that I would give a doctor or a CRNA or anyone else who is "higher up" than me, at any point in my career.
Scorpio,
I couldn't have said that better myself!! I totally agree with you on this one!!
Maybe the worst part of it all, is when the CNA's were raped by the law that lets companies NOT pay them overtime for more than 40 hours per week!
I'd damn sure refuse work over 40 hours, and going to school I'll not work more than a couple of days per week. Its so much easier working midnights as a Security Guard, and study a few hours between patrols (using your ears even then to do a superior job) helping you stay awake and alert.
I want to get a job in the hospital now, but not as a CNA since they have been pooted on so badly in the past. No wonder the turnover is so high. CNA rights to OT really needs to return to get expert CNA's.
:hlk:
That's terrible, I've never even heard of that! But in all fairness, that shouldn't affect the way cna's treat lpn or rn students or vice versa.
Perhaps I am talking out of turn since I am a nursing student, about to become a NA till I pass my NCLEX. From the beginning of school we were told that CNA could be our best friends or worse enemies. They can help you when you are having a difficult day or be unavailable to help you. I always thought the way that was presented seemed caddy.
I help my CNAs as a student and plan to continue when I am an RN. To me it is patient care number one. If I have a med to give perhaps I will ask my CNA to give a bath instead of me, but that is priority setting in my opinion. I am not above cleaning bottoms, moving patients or getting them water.
Sorry the student gave you a hard time, perhaps she is still young and nieve...she shall soon learn.
You might be surprised how supportive your co-workers might be. True, some might be jealous but don't let them stop you from your or your schooling. Good Luck!
At the hospital where I work, most of the CNA's are nursing students. It's the rule rather than the exception. The few who aren't are older ladies who have been in the field for a long time and make it a point to tell all the CNA's to go to nursing school. :)
Specializes in Geriatrics, Alzheimers, Special Needs.
I'm sorry that the NS said that to you, it was very unprofessional and selfish. But as it was said before, please don't assume that every nurse or nursing student is going to be that way. It is unfortunate, but people like that are everywhere, and it's kind of just something that you have to get used to.
I am currently working to get through my prerequisites so that I can start the RN program next fall. I have worked as a CNA for two years at an alzheimers unit, and I did more than my fair share of the dirty work, and am never going to be above that, nor will I ever turn down the opportunity to help someone else with it.
It's sad that people don't understand or appreciate what they have until it's gone. The EMT's, Paramedics, Doctors, Nurses, CNA's... they all play a big part in patient care, and any nurse who doesn't realize and appreciate that fact should be ashamed.
As a CNA, you are not only my co-worker, you are my teammate. You are the one I will depend on to help with patient care. You are the one who cares for our patients while I am busy with other things. You will be the one I go to if I have questions about a patient, as you will have had the opportunity to get closer to our patient than I have. You work hard to make sure that our patients are comfortable and happy. Your work will not go unnoticed by me. You are the backbone of patient care, and without you, no nurse would be capable of doing their job. Thank you.
I am starting Nursing school in a week and I had asked my Aunt who has been a nurse for a long time for some advise... one VERY IMPORTANT peice of advice she gave
"There is no RN worth their salt that would allow a CNA to do what she wouldn't do herself" This is a direct quote from an e-mail she sent.
So I am very sorry this happened to you and has caused a sour taste in your mouth for nursing students. I'm sure that was not the first nor will it be the last but it is definetly not deserved.
I know this is an old post, however I felt I should respond. How the nursing student responded to your request was completely unprofessional and uncalled for and I can completely understand your frustration as I have often heard similar comments from other nurses. I am a new nurse (I became a nurse in December, 2007) and while I was a student, I was never a health care aide. I have always treated every member of the health care team with complete respect and am disappointed that you would make such a general comment stating that you hate all nursing students who have never been aides. That would include me and yet I would never disrespect anyone the way that student disrespected you or the way you just disrespected all nursing students/nurses who have never been health care aides. How unfortunate.
NewStudentGirly
72 Posts
I wanted to work as a CNA while going to LPN school and as an LPN while going to RN school for several reasons one being that when I have to delegate tasks, I want to know what that task really is, not what it is on paper, and I want to be able to do certain things and help out if needed. I dont want to shun the doing basic things that pt's or res's need every day but at the same time, I am making a lot of sacrifices and so is my fam for me to go to school and pursue these programs. I do want to move on from being a cna. The bias definetely comes from both sides. I am sure I will get an offer to work there as an LPN after I graduate and start RN school. I just want to prove myself a great CNA now, and hopefully when the time comes that I have to delegate tasks etc., they will know I am not bossing them around or think that I am better than they are, but just doing my job.