WHY ARE NURSES SO RUDE to CNA's?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2008

I'm sorry that the nurses at your facility treat you rudely. Not all nurses are rude to CNA's. I personally treat mine with great respect because I couldn't do my job without them. Sounds like you are learning a great lesson on how not to be when you become a nurse.

Yeah that.

I've done both jobs. You can't judge a book by it's cover. Sounds like the op works with some trolls, but I hope the op knows we're all not like that. Just like not all CNAs are lazy disrespectful yelling at nurses "why don't you do it yourself". :)

psychnurse51 · Oct 23, 2008

Hey Nurse2be123!

Hang in there! Remember to treat your patients and your nurses the way you want to be treated. Some people are just plain ignorant! You will be a great nurse and will have the CNA's bending over backwards to complete those tasks you assign.

XO Been there, done that!

askater11 · Oct 23, 2008

I was treated very nicely as a CNA --that was 15 years ago.

Now as a RN I've come along rude patients, Dr.'s, nurses, families, CNA's but there hasn't been enough rude people in my career that would make me quit nursing at this point. I had one manager that tried to make my life horrible. I left that job and since have had good experiences overall.

That is very horrible you haven't met a nice nurse yet. Perhaps you need to work at a different hospital or facility.

The hospital I work at the CNA's tell us how much they enjoy working with us. It's much better working in a cohesive environment. I'd honestly leave your place of employment.

SunnyAndrsn · Oct 23, 2008

I'm sorry that this has been your experience, I've seen it happen with some of our nurses in my facility too. Just know that all nurses are not that way, and know that there are those of us who will acknowledge that we could not do our jobs without our CNAs.

And a word of advice: kill 'em with kindness.

It seems like i haven't met a nice nurse yet... They always seem to act stuck up,mad that they have to work, and take it out on there patients/residents or co-workers. I'm 18 and work as a CNA i am completing my pre-req courses for my RN. I've been promising myself i will never act like that once i get my RN! I feel that working as a CNA and seeing the other side to nursing is teaching me a life long lesson! Its like when im at work the Rn's/LPNs they act like there s$$$ don't stink!
And treat me like im some uneducated scum of the earth! Not only me but when i see them assisting the residents at the nursing home, its with an attitude. I do understand LPNs in long term facilities have lots of work to do. But dont take it out on the patients! If they ring there light 6 times in a shift i do understand it can be frustrating. explain to them why they shouldn't do it if they don't need assistants. But when your dealing with Alzheimer's patients etc you MUST BE PATIENT! In my opinion if your not a truly caring,patient,nice person you shouldn't be in this field! I understand nurses have bad days, but dont take it out on everyone else it effects everyone else's day. Just my

mondkmondk · Oct 23, 2008

It seems like i haven't met a nice nurse yet... They always seem to act stuck up,mad that they have to work, and take it out on there patients/residents or co-workers. I'm 18 and work as a CNA i am completing my pre-req courses for my RN. I've been promising myself i will never act like that once i get my RN! I feel that working as a CNA and seeing the other side to nursing is teaching me a life long lesson! Its like when im at work the Rn's/LPNs they act like there s$$$ don't stink!
And treat me like im some uneducated scum of the earth! Not only me but when i see them assisting the residents at the nursing home, its with an attitude. I do understand LPNs in long term facilities have lots of work to do. But dont take it out on the patients! If they ring there light 6 times in a shift i do understand it can be frustrating. explain to them why they shouldn't do it if they don't need assistants. But when your dealing with Alzheimer's patients etc you MUST BE PATIENT! In my opinion if your not a truly caring,patient,nice person you shouldn't be in this field! I understand nurses have bad days, but dont take it out on everyone else it effects everyone else's day. Just my

Hi; I'm an RN but started out as a CNA and worked my way up. I never ever take my CNA's for granted and the only thing I've ever asked them to do that is difficult for me is cleaning up vomit. Whenever someone soiled themselves with vomit, I would do their whole bedcheck if they could just clean the resident up. Otherwise, I never ask them to do anything I wouldn't do. Plus, they know the residents better than I (unless I work the floor with them, which I do sometimes) and are usually generally great teamworkers. Thanks to all the CNA's!

Blessings, Michelle

Miwila · Oct 23, 2008

I'm a CNA too and I always remind myself that for every rude nurse there are two who respect what you do. But then I kind of like when my superiors are rude and nasty to me because it makes me a stronger person. People mistreated Jesus too.

Pudnluv, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2008

I personally try to treat every one with respect. I never ask anyone to do something that I wouldn't be willing to do myself. The CNA's I work with are wonderful and more than willing to do their share. I have, however, seen some nurses treat CNA's as their own personal servants. These are the same nurses that don't be believe hands on patient care is part of their job description. I've actually heard a nurse one time say that she didn't go to school to put people on bedpans or give bedbaths! Sheeeeesh!!! I distinctly remember learning those procedures and actually having to test out on them. I've been doing this for a long time, so maybe I'm just old-fashioned. Isn't hands on patient care ultimately the responsibilty of the nurse?

abbaking · Oct 25, 2008

Hello there. Sorry to hear that some of the nurses you work with are so rude to you. Take it from me, I understand your pain. I was a CNA for 3 years and I experienced my fair share of Rude, Sarcastic, Degrading Nurses. I used to just take the abuse and be submissive to the verbal assaults, but then I realized that I am worth something and I need to stand up for myself. If I was ever treated rudely or negatively by a nurse, I would confront the person and DEMAND to be treated with respect. True, I was not an RN (as if this title means you are above the rules and common decency), but a valued and intergral member of the healthcare team. It still upsets me when i see some of my co-workers devaluing and disrespecting the CNA/Tech's. It is one of the factors that create a negative working environment and fosters "Get-Back" games.

My advise: Stand your ground and demand to be treated as an equal. If they can dish it out, they better be sure they can take.

Keep a journal of things that happen and who says what. It may come in handy if the situation worsens. File an incident report, and have witnesses sign and date it.

Miwila · Oct 26, 2008

Hello there. Sorry to hear that some of the nurses you work with are so rude to you. Take it from me, I understand your pain. I was a CNA for 3 years and I experienced my fair share of Rude, Sarcastic, Degrading Nurses. I used to just take the abuse and be submissive to the verbal assaults, but then I realized that I am worth something and I need to stand up for myself. If I was ever treated rudely or negatively by a nurse, I would confront the person and DEMAND to be treated with respect. True, I was not an RN (as if this title means you are above the rules and common decency), but a valued and intergral member of the healthcare team. It still upsets me when i see some of my co-workers devaluing and disrespecting the CNA/Tech's. It is one of the factors that create a negative working environment and fosters "Get-Back" games.
My advise: Stand your ground and demand to be treated as an equal. If they can dish it out, they better be sure they can take.
Keep a journal of things that happen and who says what. It may come in handy if the situation worsens. File an incident report, and have witnesses sign and date it.

Maybe its because of my age but I just don't feel the rudeness anymore. If some nurse wants to act that way to me that is his or her trip...as Judge Judy says - sticks and stones. I actually enjoy what I do and that satisfaction keeps me above the nastiness of some a co-worker.