I have been working as a CNA in a LTC facility for the past four years. I am posting on this forum, because I would like some feedback from nurses.
Recently at work, a survey was handed out to all the CNAs with a variety of different questions on it, to get our opinions on various job-related topics. We were encouraged to do this anonymously, so that Administration could get our true thoughts on these subject matters. After we all completed the survey and turned it in, the results were discussed with us in a meeting. If we chose to participate in a discussion, we could. If we chose to remain silent during the meeting, that was fine too. It was strictly voluntary.
One of the interesting things that I learned was an answer to one of the questions: "Do you think nurses appreciate CNAs?" The answer was an overwhelming "No".
But on the flip-side, the question was posed: "Do CNAs appreciate the nurses?" And the majority answered, "Yes".
I would like to get some nurses' opinions, on how they really feel about nursing assistants. I know that, at times, I have been belittled, spoken down to, been made to feel stupid, and referred to as: "Just a CNA", by some nurses. On the other hand, I have worked with some great nurses. They praised me on a good job done, and even helped me out, a time or two, when things were hectic.
Your TRUE opinion of nursing assistants, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Specializes in med/surg,ortho trauma,step down,neuro.
i think it also depends on if a nurse worked as a cna before becoming a nurse. i did and it was the hardest job i ever had. cna's do the "dirty" work and don't get paid enough for what they do. it takes a special person. don't get me wrong, there are some cna's who are lazy but then again so are some nurses....
i totally agree, it's manually much harder than being a nurse, usually. and they dont make enough money!
I work with many very competent CNAs. Eager to provide good care to the patients. Twice I have sent my boss email about jobs well done by 2 CNAs. They are my eyes and ears sometimes, and I could not do my job without them. Like all other jobs-they are done by people, and people are all different. I also work with a few who I don't believe a word they tell me, and I might as well just do everything myself.There are nurses like that too.This isa smalller number-thankfully for the patients sake. I was an NA while I was in nursing school, I know how hard and unpleasant their work can be at times. For the most part-I appreciate my NAs
I have worked with many great CNAs and some not so good ones. But the same has been with nurses.
I worked as a nurses aid for over a year and did notice some disrespect toward some of the CNAs. But again, I saw disrespect from the CNAs to the nurses and alottt of disrespect from CNAs to other CNAs. (i really did not see nurses interact as much)
Now that I am a nurse, the CNAs on our floor are mostly great. Some demand respect, and most truly earn it. 2 of them straight up told me in my first few days, do not disrespect them. Ex: They are called Patient Care Techs on our unit, and a new unit secretary paged on the inter com 'A PCT is need in room 123" Ohhhh man. She learned to never do that again. Since there is only 2 or 3 of them on the unit at a time, they would like their names to be used. Thats just they way it is on our unit.
So, the ones I work with now are great. We all eat lunch together, we work as a team, and some of the nurses and CNAs are going on a cruise together. I really like that.
The CNAs on our unit set a standard of respect that they feel they deserve. Which I agree with. They are very helpful for me as I have not done pt care in a while and some of them do EXCELLENT job of taking care of pts. Some do not want to do more work than is assigned to them-which is frustrating sometimes, but that happens with alot of people in the hospital, not just specific to CNAs.
To sum it up for me, if you do a job well done and act professional (most of the time) and friendly, I will give you every respect you deserve, wheter you are Dr, CNA, maintenence, etc. I love CNAs over all, but I am the type of person to love ANYONE till they prove me wrong.
Really appreciate this thread. Trying to figure out what makes a good CNA. I am trying to figure out what responsibilities take priority, when and what to report to the nurses.
what, for instance, are really red flags in vital signs in post op pts? I get different answers from different nurses, probably because different circumstances call for different guidelines....but is there any role of thumb?
Also, in a hospital, what constitutes a bath? I have some say I do too much of the bathing, then just the other day got called on not giving a bath soon enough. I was at the other end of the floor,and did not know the patient was incontinent. I feel badly if a nurse has to do the clean up work. also, getting all the vitals and documenting takes time too. I work constantly, and really dont want much down time, but still timing is every thing.
whew! I take alot of care doing the IandOs, but still managed not to empty one foley (very little urine) in time for 1400 total.
I have been working as a CNA in a LTC facility for the past four years. I am posting on this forum, because I would like some feedback from nurses.
Recently at work, a survey was handed out to all the CNAs with a variety of different questions on it, to get our opinions on various job-related topics. We were encouraged to do this anonymously, so that Administration could get our true thoughts on these subject matters. After we all completed the survey and turned it in, the results were discussed with us in a meeting. If we chose to participate in a discussion, we could. If we chose to remain silent during the meeting, that was fine too. It was strictly voluntary.
One of the interesting things that I learned was an answer to one of the questions: "Do you think nurses appreciate CNAs?" The answer was an overwhelming "No".
But on the flip-side, the question was posed: "Do CNAs appreciate the nurses?" And the majority answered, "Yes".
I would like to get some nurses' opinions, on how they really feel about nursing assistants. I know that, at times, I have been belittled, spoken down to, been made to feel stupid, and referred to as: "Just a CNA", by some nurses. On the other hand, I have worked with some great nurses. They praised me on a good job done, and even helped me out, a time or two, when things were hectic.
Your TRUE opinion of nursing assistants, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I respect and appreciate the CNAs that I work with. I really don't think that they feeling in mutual on their behalf. It seems like when asking a CNA to do something for me, they always seem to grumble and look at me like saying, "Why don't you do it?" and I don't understand that, but then, I can understand it, too.
I look at it this way: As a nurse, I can do your job entirely, but you can't do the things that my job calls for. Sure, i can take every resident to the bathroom, shower them, turn them, etc. And i do many of those things. But what a lot of CNAs don't realize is that even though a lot of our work is not physical in nature, we do have a rather large responsibility. We have people's lives in our hands. We have to chart, do treatments, do admissions, pass medicines. My appreciate the CNAs that work with me every day. But, I don't think they appreciate what we, as nurses, do. They think we do nothing. But anyone that has ever been a nurse can tell you, there are days that I wish I could be a CNA only and not have to fool with the perils of nursing.
My wish is for you to take this away with you: You are very appreciated by nurses. We could not do it all, and we definitely could not do it without you. Be encouraged and don't resent the nurse. She is often stressed and at times may forget to say thank you. Teamwork crosses all boundaries. No nurse is ever "too good" to help you, if you would just ask. But don't be offended that at times, she may have other priorities that may keep her from being able to assist you.
Really appreciate this thread. Trying to figure out what makes a good CNA. I am trying to figure out what responsibilities take priority, when and what to report to the nurses.
what, for instance, are really red flags in vital signs in post op pts? I get different answers from different nurses, probably because different circumstances call for different guidelines....but is there any role of thumb?
Also, in a hospital, what constitutes a bath? I have some say I do too much of the bathing, then just the other day got called on not giving a bath soon enough. I was at the other end of the floor,and did not know the patient was incontinent. I feel badly if a nurse has to do the clean up work. also, getting all the vitals and documenting takes time too. I work constantly, and really dont want much down time, but still timing is every thing.
whew! I take alot of care doing the IandOs, but still managed not to empty one foley (very little urine) in time for 1400 total.
Chad, this is such a great idea for a thread, I'm going to start one on this topic right this minute!
I love the hard-working CNA's and will help them out when I can by doing my own foleys, sugars, toiletting, etc. But the lump of lead I worked with last night needed a good smack down. He just didn't answer call lights, left someone on the bedpan waaay too long and just generally sat on his rear most of the night.
I personally love the STNA'S I work with and I know that they love me back by the way they act if they know that Im going to take a census day. They say to me" OH No! Where do you think you are going?! Well, since you might leave, who is gonna take your place?" I know that the way we feel about each other is for one reason: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. They have always known from day one that I was a STNA for 7 years and that just last year I was doing their job. I ALWAYS refer to them as my team members. I help them to put someone to bed if they need help and no one else is available, even during my med pass, but they respect that, and they know that I have their back and their's nothing I won't do for them and vice versa. I actually listen to what they have to say, I diffuse minor conflicts between them and the residents' by listening to what each party has to say in the presence of both individuals and come up with a solution that both can agree on peacefully. I make sure that when we come together to take care of the residents', we have a good time and a relaxed time doing it; there's no need to come to work in a hostile environment. We spend the majority of our time together than with our families, so why not have a good time while we're together? A CNA/STNA is worth his/her weight in gold literally. I have always understood from day one that without them, my job would be more impossible to do.
I love the ones that helped me They would do I & O's, vs,and some even did fsbs if they were trained to. When they needed help I would help them if I could. A good CNA was priceless. And, of course, there wer also worthless ones.
Good CNAs are priceless, but there are plenty of bad examples around to make you appreciate the good ones.
There is no part of patient care I consider beneath me--I knew what the job was when I took it. But darned if it isn't frustrating to get called during a dressing change to go help a patient toilet because your aide is on break. And it sure does slow down a med pass to have to get water for each of your patients, which can be frustrating when you see several aides sitting around the nurses' station, gossipping or reading magazines. And you have to wonder why the aide who never hesitates to call you to help with a bath never has time to help when you've got a stroke patient climbing over the bedrails or someone who needs a bedpan right now.
I, too, vowed never to refer to, or even think of someone as "just an aide."
I got over that about the second time I had an aide try to second guess me or tell me what to do. But I have nothing but for respect for those who do their jobs.
PS Funny thing: it's just about always the crappy aides who don't respect nurses. I guess that makes sense. If they don't respect themselves, why would they respect someone else? But, again, if you don't respect yourself, don't hold your breath to be respected by others.
I was/am an aide, I know how hard it is. At a facility I worked at recently, the DON brought her dog to work every day, "for the residents." Anyway, when they dog decided to use the bathroom (usually on the floor) she made aides clean it up.
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nursebearfeet
36 Posts
i totally agree, it's manually much harder than being a nurse, usually. and they dont make enough money!