Terrible Incident

[josebeltran88]

So I'm in a CNA program, and we're in clinicals right now. Last Tuesday, my CNA student partner and I were assigned peri-care on a 94yo. lady, who is anemic, and is covered in dressed skin sores. As we were cleaning her, she requested that my partner take off the sore dressings so that thorought cleaning could be done around the sore. My partner misunerstood the resident's request and took off all of the dressing (about 3 or 4 in total.) When the resident found out about this, she threw a tantrum, and began to cry in pain.

When the LVN was made aware of this, she told my partner and I (in a very distasteful tone of voice) that we couldn't undress any sores because we were "only" students, and not actual CNA's. She said it was "against the law."

Aferwards, I asked the LVN if we were to fill out an incident report, and she just disregarded my question. Now, here's what I was left wondering; What law, if any, did we break? And, why weren't we required to fill out an incident report?

[work&play]

The last two days. I fed the patients and waited in the car for lunch to start, and feed them again. We weren't allowed to do anything else.

Keep in mind, it was my second time taking a CNA class because I let my state certificate lapse. I just past my state skills exam last Saturday. Yay for me!!!

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Sounds like a tough experience for you. In my CNA class we didn't have any proper CNAs with us in the room. Our instructor had more than a dozen of us. This is definitely not in the CNA scope of practice -- as someone said, it is wound care. That was in my Lippincott(sp?) textbook.

Just so you know, even with a proper nurse in the room you can get steered the wrong way. My mum was in hospital and the RN told the student CNA to discontinue her IV. Seriously! When the CNA said "we never learned that" the nurse said don't worry our CNAs do it. I stopped the CNA from doing it. What was funny is that this CNA was from the same school as me -- so I knew she shouldn't be doing it.

So even the nurse didn't know about scope of practice (at least not for student CNAs).

I don't understand why your clinicals are "watch and learn". We did that in class and on video. Once in the hospital it was hands on allllllll the way. What would be the point of clinical otherwise?

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

So then why weren't we required to write an incident report??

As a student, you are on the floor under the license of your instructor! Always remember that,. I mean NEVER forget it! Your instructor is ultimately responsible for every little thing you do. If you haven't learned it in class it's because it's NOT YOUR JOB! You should always check with your instructor or nurse before doing anything that seems a little off...this should never have happened.

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Exactly

[work&play]

Ambulating a patient is in the book and part of your state skills exam,yet as a student you're not allowed to do it during clinicals...

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

"The last two days. I fed the patients and waited in the car for lunch to start, and feed them again. We weren't allowed to do anything else."

What was everyone else doing while you were in your car?? I find it hard to believe that all your class was allowed to do was feed patients. I went through a CNA class and we were always crazy busy taking care of linen changes, baths, helping with breakfast/lunch trays, and just talking to patients if there was absolutely nothing else.

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Is your program based at a facility?

[work&play]

I took my first CNA class back in my senior year in high school. We were allowed to do everything we learned in the classroom in clinicals. Thet was the best CNA experience I ever had.

One day, I was even eble to walk outside with the RNs to get a patient out of a helicopter into the ER. I learned a lot in that hospital.

The class I recently took, we couldn't do anything else but feed the patients. We were all outside talking in the parking lot of the SNF. Boring!!!!!

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

Standing in the parking lot talking?? Lord, that gives the school a wonderful image! Why did they even bother having clinicals if they didn't allow your class to do anything?

[work&play]

That's my same question. Why bother having clinicals?? I was so upset because I paid $1500.00 for this class.

Oh well. I past my state exam, so I feeling a little better about the whole situation. Plus, I just got back from an interview where the starting pay is $15/hr. Yay for me!!!

I'm just glad, I done with the CNA class from HELL!!!!

[Bug Out, BSN]

Not sure what state you are in but in mine CNAs cannot touch a sore of any kind for any reason. Cannot take off dressings, put on creams, or clean wounds of any kind.

If I found out that my CNAs were removing or even touching dressings I would take their head off. Check into your local laws concerning wound treatments and CNAs.

Whenever a pt has a brief change and has sores that are soiled the Nurse should personally clean them and be there to change the dressing and/or put on the ordered cream. Do not let Nurses order you to do things not within your scope of practice. Then again depending upon your state maybe it is in your scope...

[ricerocket]

i remember seeing cnas turn of feedings..i dont think its in their scope of practice or not but the nurses were aware of it. a lot of times, the nurses are busy; and instead of waiting for the nurses to turn of the feedings, the cnas would do it so they can start on their work ( changing, preparing the pts for the shower room, etc...) its probably not in their scope of practice, but that does show teamwork. and the nurses are aware. i see the cnas helping with the creams also. i see them applying it. the nurses would get the cream for them and they would apply it. Im sure they wouldnt do it, if the nurses tell them not to do certain things . but when you have so many patients needing everything done at the same time, i can understand why do it.

I want to say kudos to all the CNAS!..its a tough tough job.. and u guys are the backbone in nursing..i thank them everyday when im at work for helping me out. and i try to help them out as much as i can.