Unhappy CNA on night shift. Help?

emmy27 · Nov 13, 2015

A nurse can do everything that a CNA can do, but a CNA cannot do everything a nurse can do. There's a huge amount of unseen work in nursing (charting, notifying the provider, and med prep especially), so if a CNA and a nurse split the tasks they can both do evenly, the end result is that the nurse is doing much more than the CNA- half the ADLS/vitals, plus all the licensed work. So with an even workload, it's always going to appear to the CNA that they're getting the short end of the stick- they've answered four call lights to the nurses' one, etc. But in the interim, the nurse is doing all kinds of things the CNA can't. It also makes so much more sense for the CNA to be answering call lights, because most of the call light requests are things the CNA *can* do, and it's much more efficient and makes for better outcomes if the CNA is there to do the ADLS and occasionally has to say "excuse me, I'll get the nurse" for the occasional requests they can't fulfill than for the nurse to be telling the patient "hold on, I'll get the CNA" for someone who is going to take 30 minutes to toilet in the middle of med pass. Or while they have a patient on a heparin drip that needs to be titrated. Or whatever.

I worked as an acute care tech for years. I know it's back-breaking work. But... it is what it is. That's the job. If the workload here feels truly different to you, it might be time for a new workplace. But if it's just that the nurses are "better staffed" in acute care in your eyes... no. The patients are sicker and need more intensive care, that's why there are more nurses per patient in that setting. Not because acute care is so much cushier for nurses.

blaquebsnkissðŸ˜˜ · Nov 13, 2015

12 hour shift on HS can be stressful. I think it is so sad for the nurses to watch u sweat. I am a nurse n I never think I'm to good to help. Please remember these times when u get your RN. It will make u a better nurse. I hate working w the stuck up ones that just twirl n a chair n don't know the meaning of teamwork. Hold ya head up Hun !![emoji106]ðŸ½

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2015

i feel like I'm the only aide who answers call lights half the time (RN's never do), the nurses are nice for the most part but I just feel like they are constantly asking me to do things, which I always act happy to do, but they are staffed much better than aides so I can be running around busy and they will tell me someone needs to be cleaned up or something.

They are always asking you to do things because you are their aide, it is your job to aide the nurses.

I enjoy talking to and getting to know my patients but there are always those ones who I just cannot stand and who I literally break my back for trying to help them and they don't even appreciate it.

You need to get used to this if you hope to go anywhere in nursing.

I also work night, 3 7p-7a shifts a week. I usually do my days back to back so I can get long stretches off but during my work days I feel miserable. I wake up around 3:30 and feel exhausted like I never even slept. And waiting around to work all day makes me so depressed. I also feel disconnected from the world and like I talk to no one. I truly can't figure out what's making me so unhappy. I still want to be an RN so far. I do love the hospital atmosphere, getting to know patients, etc. it's just all the BS that CNA's have to go through and night shift. I have considered trying days however I don't know if it's even worse for a CNA. Or if it would help me, I don't know if I'm irritable because of nights or what.. Help

If you think CNAs have to deal with a lot of BS, wait until you are an RN. You have NO idea what the RNs are doing. There's a reason why an RN only has 3-4 patients while a CNA might have twice that many. Because what an RN does with each patient is much more involved. There are a limited number of tasks that the CNA can help with, so when the RN asks you to do something it's because she's doing about 150 other things that CAN'T be delegated.

AbstracRN, BSN, CNA, RN · Nov 14, 2015

Everybody deals with BS we are here to care for patients, if you see me caring for a patient are you seriously going to wait for me to finish caring for that patient, while another sits in urine or feces? That is ridiculous and short sighted, I feel blessed that I work with such wonderful R.N's that if they see me bathing a pt and a call light goes on and someone needs to use the BSC they will take them, because the bigger picture is patient care and comfort. I love night shift, my heart goes out to you because I see what you are saying , but I know that after I have changed briefs and re-positioned everyone the R.N's are still charting and still dispensing medication, while I do homework and if there was a thing more I could do I would unfortunately I am just an aide, but what we all should have in common is wanting to provide exceptional care to the patients no matter how little or much education we have.

BiotoBSNtoFNP · Nov 14, 2015

I've worked as a CNA at a hospital on a neuro telemetry med/surg floor for about 8 months and worked about 1 yr at a LTC facility prior. I am in school for my RN which was a main reason why I came to the hospital, to learn and get my foot in the door. I have learned a lot and have really learned how to communicate with my patients well and how to use time management. However lately I have been feeling SO irritable and unhappy at work at times. i feel like I'm the only aide who answers call lights half the time (RN's never do), the nurses are nice for the most part but I just feel like they are constantly asking me to do things, which I always act happy to do, but they are staffed much better than aides so I can be running around busy and they will tell me someone needs to be cleaned up or something. I enjoy talking to and getting to know my patients but there are always those ones who I just cannot stand and who I literally break my back for trying to help them and they don't even appreciate it. I also work night, 3 7p-7a shifts a week. I usually do my days back to back so I can get long stretches off but during my work days I feel miserable. I wake up around 3:30 and feel exhausted like I never even slept. And waiting around to work all day makes me so depressed. I also feel disconnected from the world and like I talk to no one. I truly can't figure out what's making me so unhappy. I still want to be an RN so far. I do love the hospital atmosphere, getting to know patients, etc. it's just all the BS that CNA's have to go through and night shift. I have considered trying days however I don't know if it's even worse for a CNA. Or if it would help me, I don't know if I'm irritable because of nights or what.. Help

You did the right thing picking up a job in a hospital while in nursing school! It will

Certainly pay off.

Do you think the nightshift is getting to you? 3 overnights plus whatever school work you have sounds overwhelming. Can you transfer to days? Perhaps its the group if people you are working with thats making you grumpy but it might just be over exhaustion, lack of sleep etcetc

nurseactivist · Nov 14, 2015

You are combining two things which can both be challenging, twelve hours shifts and nights. It might help if you can figure out which is more problematic for you. Some workers never get used to sleeping well during the day. Some never get used to twelve hour shifts.

I worked every summer as a CNA and found it really valuable. It allowed me to observe many clinical situations that I never saw in school.

NursingInChaos · Nov 14, 2015

I feel for you, CNAs work hard (most of them lol) I am not saying this is what is happening on your shift- but where I work I overheard a CNA state that she was mad I asked her to do something while I just "sat" there-- as a new nurse that really hurt- I in no way EVER just sit there- we do all paper charting, assessments, notes, orders, etc on 6-7 patients at a time, if I do get a minute to sit down I am trying to chart on my patients before the next Doctor/family calls and needs me again- or I forget what I did that day! Lol

The CNA sees us sitting down, charting, logging in to check vitals, or on the phone (patient family, lab, X-ray, etc), and think we are being lazy and not helping- it kills me because I do answer call lights- occasionally when I am swamped and behind in charting I hear the light but see there are two CNAs in the hall and let them get it..

Any advice from "the other side" to let the few good CNAs that I work with know I appreciate them and that I am never just sitting around? TIA!

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Nov 14, 2015

I was a CNA, now an LPN in school for my RN. I currently work PRN in LTC. The way our set up is ( 1 CNA to 5 residents) the CNA's have way more down time than us and I still feel bad that I can't stop and take someoen to the bathroom. But if I do, patient X could get their insulin too late, or patient Y gets a dressing changed pushed to second shift because I didn't make it to her room. I am always running my whole shift, just did a 16 hour where I didnt sit down once. It's hard to see when your on the CNA side how busy the nurses really are.

Karou · Nov 14, 2015

I feel as if people are taking my post the wrong way.. I most definitely know that nurses work hard and admire all of them and respect them all no matter how they treat me. And I don't mind cleaning up patients at all and will still have no issue with doing CNA work when I do graduate. But at least at my hospital there are some nurses who are far from helpful, obviously I know they are busy. It's just very irritating when some RN's won't touch the call light. EVER. But I know that most RN's are not like this and definitely work hard and have way more responsibility than I do. Maybe it's just my floor, I just wish there was a little more teamwork is all..

I actually can understand this. There are nurses who never answer their call lights even when they aren't busy. The same nurses will leave a room to call a PCT (who is elbow deep in diarrhea in an isolation room) to empty a urinal or get ice water. They call the charge nurse for every IV, refuse to take admissions (when everyone is equally drowning) and complain the loudest when they are at last forced to do some type of ADL work.

MOST nurses I work with are not like this. A couple are. I loathe being their hallway partner or working with them when I am charge nurse.

If many of the nurses that you work with are like this, then it could be the culture of the unit and/or you just work with some lousy people.

Just wanted to say that I can sympathize.

JMed18 · Nov 14, 2015

RN's have 2-4 years worth of education at the minimum while CNA's will have a few months of education.
Education = entitlement. Expect the RN's to have more downtime.
If you're in school to become a RN, then you'll eventually get the perks that we're already getting.

Haha what? I worked as a CNA after having a bachelor's in engineering, arguably many-fold more difficult than an RN or BSN. Should I have had the same sense of entitlement? With an MD, should one expect more downtime than an RN?

That is absolutely crazy.

Edit: To clarify, you are the nurse that every CNA (and probably RN co-workers) hates to work with.

mtjoanna · Nov 14, 2015

What time do you go to bed? When you get up at 1530, have you had adequate sleep? Long-term sleep deprivation can cause increased irritability with reduced ability to cope with every day things--including CNA drama, unappreciative patients and nurses too busy with their own responsibilities to be of much help to you. I've worked the noc shift for about 15 years and I love it, as long as I am able to get enough sleep. If you are simply waking up too early and not getting enough sleep time, try a sleep aid (on a day off). Most of the sleep aids on the market (tylenol pm, bayer pm, Z-quil, etc) are benedryl; you can try that, try a mug of hot milk (sweetened with a bit of sugar with cinnamon, cloves, or use a coffee creamer/syrup for flavor), perhaps a dose of OTC melatonin. If you can get several days of good sleep, you may see an overall improvement in your ability to cope. This will be useful information for yourself when you are in nursing school too.

NOADLS · Nov 15, 2015

I worked as a CNA after having a bachelor's in engineering, arguably many-fold more difficult than an RN or BSN. Should I have had the same sense of entitlement? With an MD, should one expect more downtime than an RN?
Edit: To clarify, you are the nurse that every CNA (and probably RN co-workers) hates to work with.

While your engineering degree is definitely much harder to obtain than a BSN (I am in agreement with your statement there), your engineering degree holds no value if you are a CNA; therefore, no entitlement for you.

Theoretically, a MD should have more downtime than a RN. But because MD's are employed differently than RN's, there is no basis for comparison.

And to clarify, I get along well with my co-workers.