This person outranks me?!

[Aunt Slappy]

Since I started working in health care as a CNA nearly six years ago, I've had many experiences that have left me wondering how some people get into the positions they hold. I was not a youngin when I started this, I was nearly 20 years on from earning a bachelor's degree in political science and had spent more than a decade raising children at home before I began my health care career. I've worked enough to know that promoting people into leadership who shouldn't be there is not unique to health care by any means.

Lately I've a had a few interactions with a RN coworker that leave me again thinking, "How in the world does this person outrank me?"

#1 He's collecting an induced sputum sample in clinic. (I work in a public health clinic dedicated to TB testing, detection, treatment, and prevention.) He comes to me with the sputum sample tube, thankfully in a sealed specimen bag, holds it up, and says, "She vomited a little food when she coughed. Can we still use this sample?"

#2 He comes to me and says that the biohazard trash near the sputum collection rooms is full, and then asks what he should do. He's worked in this building longer than I have and knows exactly where the biohazard room is.

#3 During a case study presentation in a clinical staff meeting, in which the patient has been described as being 50 years old and 17 weeks pregnant via IVF, he asked what IVF stands for.

I just.......really?! This guy has, when you count RN prereqs I haven't taken yet, two more years of education than I do. He makes at least ten dollars more an hour than I do based on that fact. It's getting to the point where it takes all I have not to be extremely rude when he asks me these stupid questions (yes, there is such a thing).

Share your best "I can't believe s/he outranks me" stories!

[Skippingtowork]

He is an RN and you are not. He went to school, earned a degree, and passed the NCLEX. You did not. RNs outrank CNAs. If you want to be his peer, then go to school and get an RN.

Oh no! That's what doctors are saying to us NPs! Use a different line pleeeeeeez.

But if we're going to talk about rank, I'd rather be the CEO.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

We are really too hard on each other. Everyone is entitled to a brain fart, at least once a day. If someone asks the same questions over and over, that's gonna be an issue.

[TruvyNurse]

Why does your username title say LPN if you are a CNA?

Anyway, I am a 29 year old RN with a babyish face. If I had a dollar for every time my nursing judgement has been questioned by a PCT who has supposedly been "at it" for 20 plus years, I'd be rich. Just because you have many years of experience as a PCT/CNA does not mean you know as much as an RN.

If you are so bitter about being outranked and think you know so much, put your money where your mouth is and go to nursing school, pass the NCLEX, become an RN and then take on all the responsibilities that come with it. Until then, you don't know what you don't know.

Irish Mist I feel your pain!! People say I look "younger" and assume I'm a fresh grad. I get questioned on things all the time "have you ever done That? Are you comfortable? What's nursing school like these days?" Lol

[Cat365]

I've worked with LPNs that could run circles around me. They have 20 plus years of experience and I pay attention to what they have to say. I work with PCT that were/are EMTs. In some areas ditto.

I have had bosses that don't know squat. (Previous profession)

Degrees and NCLEX are not everything but you will find that in every profession occasionally. The tricky thing is not to dismiss them simply because you think that they are idiots. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.

[Cat365]

While I don't agree that the OP provided examples of it, I do agree that there is such thing as a stupid question...

Yeah, but I've asked a few of them anyway in my time. A preceptor one time told me there were no stupid questions. I told her that sure there were, but I still needed the answer to that one because for the life of me I couldn't remember the answer right then

[Ambersmom, BSN, RN]

OK so I waited with baited breath all day for the answer to the question about the sample. In lieu of that, I downloaded a dang book on testing sputum samples, nothing I read, in the tech guide or other resources, says anything about vomitus spoiling a sputum sample. So, I think we can send that sample now, although it might be worthwhile to call down to lab just to confirm.

[GaleSRN, BSN, RN]

I have always told my nurses, nursing students, et al that there is no stupid question. I have been a RN for 40+ years and, quite frankly, I am not sure if a vomit contaminated sputum specimen would be okay...several thoughts on this. Does stomach acid destroy TB cells? I don't know. Not such a stupid question. As to his other questions, he is humble enough to admit he was not sure. You, on the other hand, were not gracious enough to answer the question and to assist him. It does not mean that he is stupid. He just didn't know.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

He asks questions whereas you appear to be going on assumption that you know everything. If you were both RNs you would be the one more likely to make a mistake.

As for 'share your best' outranks me stories all that amounts to is comparing oneself to others. There are going to be people we deem less/more intelligent in all stations of life. I never 'assume' the cashier at Walmart is not intelligent nor do I assume the individual with an array of alphabet soup credentials following their name is.

I remember well fellow RNs who assumed I was lacking in intelligence as I'd been a waitress prior to nursing and this only served to make me feel as if asking them questions was not something they would welcome instead using it as 'evidence' I was not smart enough for the job. It is your attitude which is of no help in the workplace.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I am not a CNA. Reading comprehension seems to be an issue in this thread.

Anyway.....I guess you had to be there. Since this thread has become all about attacking me, I hope it dies soon. And as to the expressed concern for my workplace attitude, I'm well-liked and have been told many times that I'm a good teammate by people who have no motivation or investment in telling me things that aren't true. I answered this nurse's questions politely at work, as is required of professionals. However, we all have thoughts that cross our minds privately and this board is advertised as a safe place to share those.

Clearly, that's not entirely true. So beat this piñata further if it pleases you, but I'm done participating.

Oh I see. You are going to pack up your shovel and pail and stomp away from the sandbox in a huff. Since you've received almost universal disagreement with your premise, you'd think that might mandate some further reflection. But no, you are going to do the flounce.

And the answer to your question is YES, he does "outrank" you in terms of title and scope. You could change that if you wanted to do more than complain.

[RNrhythm, BSN, RN]

Life isn't fair. The fair (if you are in Southern California) is in Pomona.

(Being an RN suddenly has me quoting my cynical Father a lot.)

[guest2117]

Let's use a little critical thinking here. If you need a sample of pulmonary sputum for testing, and it now includes gastric contents, is that a valid sample?

Poor Aunt Slappy is bitter because the kid makes more money than her and has a higher degree. Good lord, my mother is a CNA and I ask her questions from time to time about patient care. Does that make me an idiot? I think not.

I'm sorry to be snarky, but I can't really stand rude people like the OP. I hope the RN who asks questions flourishes in his career and finds a job where he doesn't have to work with arrogant people like Aunt Slappy.

[Forest2]

You get some of those in all fields and just have to wonder. Shake your head, shrug it off and go on.