Too good to aide?

Chaya, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2004

I never mind being an aide for the night. I get to go home on time without writing a million notes! Yippee!

Todd SPN · Aug 2, 2004

I've never heard of a nurse doing NAC work for a whole shift. I've been an NAC. Didn't care to do it anymore so spent money and time going to school to become an LPN. I like being an LPN doing LPN things. Having to do a whole shift as an NAC I would not do.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2004

Isn't an aide assistive personnel? It doesn't make sense what you are asking. It's not a matter of being too good. The whole idea of being an aide is to assist the staff nurses. Why would an aide need an aide? I get where you're trying to go with this and it's been done before and always manages to cause division where no division is necessary.

I function as an aide, among other things. My job description is very clear. I'm not starting IVs and inserting foleys but let me tell you, the majority of RNs I work with have no problem rolling up their sleeves and helping out with basic patient care. We are a team. Maybe it's a night shift thing. I like the night shift.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2004

Even if a nurse is working as an aide, she is still licensed and will still be held responsible for the pts and unlicensed staff. You really cannot just leave your license at the door.

However, I was an aide for three years, and would not mind doing it again, if four conditions are met:

1. I would still get my regular RN pay.

2. There would be someone to help me with all lifts and transfers (I had not yet injured my back when I was an aide. I've had 4 back injuries as a nurse).

3. The facility has electric beds. Those hand crank beds are rediculous antiques, and are responsible for many injuries.

4. The unit is not understaffed.

I usually worked very short as an aide, and was often forced to work as the only aide on an entire floor of total care pts. I had to do this at the time, because of financial reasons. Now, I don't, and I won't.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 2, 2004

I'm confused when you say you have the same 6 nurses who aide? You are still in school correct? Your employer pays RN/LPN salary to aides or do they have RN/LPN duties in addition to being an aide?

What type of nursing do you do on your unit? It would seem that a team approach would benefit everyone in your case.

I have never been one to say "call the tech, I'm not going to **whatever**", but I also would never refuse a patient a bedpan or a clean bed even though I am an RN. That's just kindness and humanity.

nurseygrrl, LPN · Aug 2, 2004

Before I say this, I want to make it known that in no way do I think aides are below nurses. Everyone deserves respect for the job they do.

That said, no, I do not think it's appropriate for an RN, LPN to be expected to work as an aide. I will help the aides out at any time if need be, but I went to school to be an LPN to work as an LPN. There is no other profession that has staff changing roles, so why nursing?

adidas99 · Aug 2, 2004

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veteranRN · Aug 2, 2004

At the LTC facility I work at I occassionally work as a CNA. I make it known though that I am not a very good aide. The actual CNAs are much better at their job than I am. I do however get paid RN wages. I have to admit though, I am pooped when I get home. CNAs work verrrrrryyyyyy hard.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 2, 2004

Hmmmmm........working as an aide for RN wages.......doesn't sound too bad to me, as long as it's not a permanent state of affairs! :chuckle

Actually, I've done exactly that on a few occasions, usually in the ICU as a float nurse. I'm not trained to care for pts. on ventilators or titratable drips (except insulin), so on the rare occasion when I work in intensive care I function basically as a CNA, except of course I can give meds and start IVs. :)

leslie :-D · Aug 2, 2004

yep, on the rare occasion when i've had 3 cna's on the floor (out of 6), i've taken an assignment with another nurse coming in to be a nurse.

it's funny though. our adon has always been fanatical about ensuring pts. get the proper care but i recall one time that she was forced to take an assignment and her attitude was 'to hell w/the showers'......it's different when the shoe's on the other foot, yes?

RNKPCE · Aug 2, 2004

Doesn't sounds like good financial sense to give CNA's the day off and have RN's work at RN pay to be CNA's.

Maybe it is a contractual things. Where I work if the census is low and we don't need as many RN's the RN's are called off, they don't replace the CNA'.s The CNA's and RN's are in separate unions.

Sometimes we don't need as many CNA's and they get called off, other time we don't need as many RN's and they get called off.

As far as doing the work of a CNA..... if you are an RN you need to expect to do anything a CNA can do up to the limits of the RN license.

I have heard of RNs who walk out of rooms when a patient needs to go to the bathroom , goes up to the nurses station pages the CNA and then sits at the nurses station while the patient has to wait. The person who suffers is the patient.