Some Nurses too Almighty?

Nurses General Nursing

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OK, so when did they pass the memo out that states if you're an lpn you don't have to bathe a pt? That really ****** me off. No one is too good to NOT bathe a pt.

I also graduated without ever having inserted a foley(except for lab) and only did one complicated dressing change. We gave meds if the instructor was available, assessments, and charting on 1 or at the most 2 patients.

We were told by our instructors to not bother the RNs. Truthfully, a lot of the nurses did not like having students and we were treated like extra aides. I agree, that giving a bath is the best time to inspect skin but by the last semester students should be honing in on giving report, sitting in on admissions and discharges, and learning communication skills with MDs (of course with the primary nurse). Those of us that were aides had already given baths and cleaned patients for years. I had that skill down and knew to inform the RN in charge of the patient of any skin issues. And yes, a lot of the time I was answering call lights and toileting patients as a student. There is not anything wrong with this but my time could have been better spent learning strictly RN duties.

I had the same complaint about my schooling as well. I felt perfectly trained to be a CNA clinically out of school, but not so confident in the RN role.

Luckily, I had a great preceptorship in the ER where I got to do a lot of what my prior clinicals lacked.

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In my ICU the nurses complete all patient care. This includes bathing patients, getting them out of bed, helping them onto bedpans, cleaning them when they are done. The nurse does everything. The nursing assistant just stocks rooms and take blood sugars. It is rare to find an nursing assistant that will help with patient care. Usually the nurses have to help each other.

What's a Nursing Assistant???

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I wonder if there are any nurses on this forum that refuse to give baths? I would really like to hear their thoughts
Of course there aren't!

Haven't you realized? There are no lazy, neglectful or incompetent nurses here. It's always some coworker who isn't a member who is worthless.

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This thread hits so close to home. I just started night shift at a Rehab Center affiliated with two major hospitals in the area. The is no teamwork what so ever. I mean if the call light goes off my first instinct after about 5sec of that annoying beeping is to answer the darn thing. At this place CNA's sit by the call light and answer it, if the call is not apart of their assigned patient load they let it ring even then if the other CNA is busy the nurses at the other end still won't answer the call light. The nurses oh my. A nurse was in a patient room and the patient ask to be taken to the bathroom; the nurse said hold on let the get the aid. WTH. And this particular nurse sleeps most nights on the job and the manager knows about. Shes always the first to get there to make sure she has all the "good" patients and the last to leave. I mean to me the shifts starts at 6:45 but most people get there at 6:30 to make sure they get the "good" patients. For three nights straight I been suck with a heavy load ugh because I get there on time but it always back fire because my patient hardly ever call. I'm not trying to discriminate against old people. But if your 77, or 57 looking 77 working three 16hr shift straight then going to another job that just aint right on so many levels. Its not that their old but gosh if you cant lift as a aide on the floor your more like a burden because others have to do your work. Nursing is a mess sometimes then theres that day that you feel you made a difference then its all worth it.

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Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.

Wow. Where to start? I am very lucky to work in a facility that has wonderful nursing assistants (we call them PCA's, patient care assistants) on all med/surg floors and ICUs. They do almost all of the bathing but the nurses help when they can. That being said, I'm an RN on the IV team. When I'm in the room with a patient and they mention that they need to go to the bathroom or need cleaned up, I turn the call bell on for them or let the nurse or PCA know. I don't take them to the bathroom, put them on the bedpan, bring them food/drinks, etc. There are two reasons: First and foremost...I don't have the time. I carry a beeper and cover several units at a time and am almost always a few calls behind; Second, I don't know how the pt transfers, if they're on I & O, etc. I know it sounds awful to say "it's not my job", but honestly....it isn't. I'm there to insert IV's, draw labs when needed, insert PICC lines, assist with central line insertions, trouble shoot IV/PICC/central line problems, draw all central blood cultures, discontinue all central lines, care for dialysis catheters, access and deaccess mediports, respond to all codes and rapid response calls, and be available for staff nurses with any IV/PICC/CL/PCA/Mediport/Synchromed/Epidural questions or problems. Perhaps I don't look busy to some staff members, but please walk in my shoes for a day before you growl at me for not helping a pt to the bathroom. If I walked your pt to the BR, another pt would be writhing in pain waiting for their meds, or have a blood sugar of 44 and no IV access.......you get my drift. I have to prioritize, and getting Mrs. Smith a pitcher of ice water isn't high on my list. =/

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The IV team in my hospital was disbanded over eight years ago. They all had to return to floor duties. It wasn't pretty.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Because from what we non-Americans read here, American patients think a trip to hospital is a cross between a hotel, spa, and healing centre.

Canadian and Britons go to hospital to obtain treatment. Plus we tend to ask our patients how they care for themselves at home and go "well, there you go, here's a washcloth, lets maintain your independance"

I was taught that the patient should do all ADLs they were capable of doing for themselves. Not to save work for us, but getting them to transition to independence when they're discharged. I haven't worked in adult acute care in a while, though-- so that's pretty disturbing to hear. So in the interest of good survey scores, if a guy walks to the shower, gets out, and asks the nurse to give his nether regions a brisk towel-dry while he shaves she is expected to do that?!? (this is addressed to US nurses) This is almost as bad as the post I read from someone who said their Medical Director OKed IV push Dilaudid injections prn in the waiting room with no need to have the person wait to be taken back for exam first.

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.
Wow. Where to start? I am very lucky to work in a facility that has wonderful nursing assistants (we call them PCA's, patient care assistants) on all med/surg floors and ICUs. They do almost all of the bathing but the nurses help when they can. That being said, I'm an RN on the IV team. When I'm in the room with a patient and they mention that they need to go to the bathroom or need cleaned up, I turn the call bell on for them or let the nurse or PCA know. I don't take them to the bathroom, put them on the bedpan, bring them food/drinks, etc. There are two reasons: First and foremost...I don't have the time. I carry a beeper and cover several units at a time and am almost always a few calls behind; Second, I don't know how the pt transfers, if they're on I & O, etc. I know it sounds awful to say "it's not my job", but honestly....it isn't. I'm there to insert IV's, draw labs when needed, insert PICC lines, assist with central line insertions, trouble shoot IV/PICC/central line problems, draw all central blood cultures, discontinue all central lines, care for dialysis catheters, access and deaccess mediports, respond to all codes and rapid response calls, and be available for staff nurses with any IV/PICC/CL/PCA/Mediport/Synchromed/Epidural questions or problems. Perhaps I don't look busy to some staff members, but please walk in my shoes for a day before you growl at me for not helping a pt to the bathroom. If I walked your pt to the BR, another pt would be writhing in pain waiting for their meds, or have a blood sugar of 44 and no IV access.......you get my drift. I have to prioritize, and getting Mrs. Smith a pitcher of ice water isn't high on my list. =/

I understand where you are coming from. You are absolutely correct. This is my pet peeve where I work. On our unit we will be losing an aide due to budgeting. Nurses were informed we need to help the LNA's more. Who is going to be doing my job when I am doing things that the aide is perfectly capable of doing? I leave late while our aides leave on time. When I have time I help. If I do not have time I still help but catch hell for staying overtime.

We are told to help on our downtime. What is downtime? I have been able to leave the floor twice for lunch in 16 months.

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Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.
the iv team in my hospital was disbanded over eight years ago. they all had to return to floor duties. it wasn't pretty.

i'm sure it wasn't pretty at all.....i can't imagine not having an iv team.....how in the world do the people with no veins get their ivs? who puts in the picc lines or does central line care? mediports? synchromeds? yikes!! scary stuff to me.

:nurse:sometimes i wish i were back on the floor or in the icu, but i do like the diversity of going everywhere in the hospital, and inserting picc lines is super fun, so i guess i'll keep doing this for now.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
I have issues with the support staff not wanting my (RN) help. Either it's I do it alone, or they do it alone, but I am not to ask them if they need my help. Figure that one out :rolleyes:. Because me asking if they would like me to help them clean up a pt means I am delegating and unwilling to take on the task alone???? It's hard when I can do everything they do, but they cannot do everything I have to do.

Yes it is hard but the fact remains; are you going to leave a patient in jeopardy just because toileting them isn't YOUR job? Or would you rather an unstable patient fall attempting to ambulate to the bsc or restroom because they didn't want to wet themselves waiting on a PCT that may or may not be available. It would probably take less time to assist the patient than it would calling the family explaining a fall, filling out mounds of paperwork explaining the fall, or even worse risk a patient falling and suffering injury.

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You wouldn't believe. I've had grown men, who can walk, ask me to wipe their ass - well, really they just wanted me to wash "down there." They get mad when I hand them wipes and tell them to go to town. If they start pitching a fit, I act like I'm relenting, tell them I'll be back with supplies and then have a male nurse or tech walk in with a washcloth and a basin. They usually, and miraculously, are able to summon the ability to wash their own privates. I've had women who, despite walking up to the nurses station and walking into the ER and to their bed, insist they need a bedpan and a nurse to clean them up.

Some people LOVE being in the sick role.

Agree. The things I have been asked to do you might not believe. I have no problem assisting someone who can't do things alone, but if you have been walking out for a cigarette all shift and suddenly you want a bedpan because you feel too unwell to walk to the bathroom? Not gonna happen! Or you want a bedbath because you don't feel like getting up, you can just lie there a while and let me know when you're ready for a bowl of water and a towel.

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what about that post about the floated nurse that was assigned to do tech/CNA duties and got in a huff about it?

There were a few posters that agreed with her. Now whether that relucatance was an issue of accountability (*cough*bull*cough*) or just not wanting to give baths and wipe rear and empty foley drain bags all shift, I guess we can only speculate.

would the nurse be expected to pick up RN duties as well? When we have RNs 'extra' who float and help, they wind up doing 'CNA duties' but also giving PRN drugs, mixing IVs, transporting/escorting patients, giving and taking report and basically being jack of all trades.So it's hardly fair, because some nurses have that float nurse doing most of their work for them, both "aide work" and "nurse work".

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