tiffannij says ...

I don't see what the big deal is. Your right they are not nurses but the word nurse is in the title. But they should introduce themselves as nursing assistant but the patient will still call them nurse if the patient has something to ask them. I'm a home health aide and some nurse one day told me no she doesn't work here she's just a home attentdent and i wanted so bad to correct her but then i said to myself what is the point of getting into an argument over what my title is. I know who i am and the cna's know there title. They don't get paid like nurses and can't do they same duties as them so who really cares.

I have worked with CNA's who think they know what a nurse has spent years of education to learn, and then gives patients wrong information. This is wrong and unethical. I do not really care if a patient calls a CNA a nurse as long as the CNA doesn't try and be the RN. This does happen and so it is frustrating. We had a CNA who was way off base on alot of stuff, but really thought she knew what she was talking about with the patients. This is dangerous, and out of her scope of practice. She is no longer with us, because she just did not realize that she did not know what she thought she knew.

No one should call you or anyone else" Just a Aide", unless someone is giving information that they have no business giving. Nurses do not go over tests with patients because that is the Dr's job. They would kill us if we gave wrong info. So I think the most important thing is to know your scope of practice, and practice within those boundries.

If a patient asks an Aide about something, they should always refer them to the Nurse, if a patient asks us about test results we always refer them to the MD, or at least I do because that is his responsibility not ours... Some people have no idea what others learn in school and think nurses just pass meds, there is alot more to it than that believe me. We know alot more than some Aides think.

This is not directed at you, but this is some of the frustration with Aides allowing themselves to be called nurses. The patient doesn't know unless they are corrected, and will ask questions of the aide's that the aide's are not educated to answer in most cases.

Not a bad idea, eliminating the title - but every state is different... In NJ a CMA must first be a CNA or HHA (home health aide). The term CNA applies only to long term care. Hospitals make their own rules - usually call them Personal Care Assistants. I think we need more uniformity, but how do you get all the states to agree?

I think the titles are a problem - especially if everyone gets to choose their own color for scrubs. The problem is when a patient asks a question, they kind of assume the person in scrubs is a "nurse."  Many people assume the person giving them care is a nurse, not realizing the actual nurse is behind the desk doing charting.

No offense, I was an aide myself, and my wife has been was one for many years - but there's a big difference between what an aide knows and what a "nurse " knows. The aides do a fine job (and a tough and thankless job), but have little knowledge of anatomy, pharmacology, etc.

May not be 'politically correct,' but I think it would help if nurses wore a standard uniform, and aides a different one.

I was a CNA for a number of years and while attending college. I agreethat LTC work differs tremendously from the clinical setting, however, the training for nurses is essentially universal, and gets more detailed if you go into specialty nursing.  Why couldn't the initial training be the same for CNA's and MA's...the only differenvce is the setting.  The basic knowledge base is the same. That way the elimination of the title would be appropriate.

BTW lawyerRN, I like your idea of the different colored uniforms to easily differentiate.  I think however that the one way you'd be able to separate the two is for nurses only to wear white.  With all of the different styles, patterns, and colors available, I think you'd have a huge fight on your hands from a number of women in particular!  ; )

dictionary.com meaning:

Main Entry: nurse

 Part of Speech: verb

Definition: care for, tend Synonyms: advance, aid, attend, baby-sit, cherish, cradle, cultivate, encourage, father, feed, forward, foster, further, harbor, humor, immunize, indulge, inoculate, irradiate, keep alive, keep an eye on, keep tabs on, look after, medicate, minister to, mother, nourish, nurture, pamper, preserve, promote, see to, serve, sit, succor, support, take care of, take charge of, treat, vaccinate, wait on, watch out for, watch over

I am a CMA and can do EKG's phlebotomy, injections & immunizations, breathing treatments, assist with minor procedures & biopsies, if trained by a Dr. I work for I can do IV's.........I do not call myself a nurse but a Medical Assistant....but, I do know Med term, A&P, math for drug dosage, I can what needs done from when the pt. walks in the door to the pt. walking out....besides being the Dr.

CNA's LPN's or RN they're all nurses...they're all "nursing" people back to health...arent they?

DaMomb,

You are right..I dont want to work in nursing homes or Ltc's..I helped with my Aunt who had lung cancer and an Uncle who had pancreatic cancer .

I also helped my mother withmy granny who is now living at an LTC...

Its not for me...

Geriatrics is definately not my niche....

I went last night and sat with my granny...she is prescious and I held her hand till she went to sleep...all of us in our family do this every evening..signing a calender to know who went last...

Granny is in love with the male CNA...LOL

lexi468 says ...

You know what,guys&girls.....I have been reading through this topic&I love how some of you guys talk about NA's/CNA's.Like for instance how hard&thankless the work is,and how we have little knowledge of anatomy,medical terminology,chemistry....etc.Those  aren't the only important things when it comes to working in the nursing FIELD. Ironically enough, being a NA/CNA is a very important part of becoming a nurse.You can't become one without first becoming a certified nurses assistant.At least in the state where I live.

And for the record,I don't think that it's thankless work.You are thanked every day by residents/patients for what you do for them.And at least where I work,you are thanked by nurses,and management staff when you assist them with certain procedures.I always feel like I'm doing something important when a resident/patient wants to give me a hug after I have helped them do something.I feel important when I get to hold someones hand to calm them down if they are scared about something.I feel like I belong when a resident/patient wants to share with me stories about their life.I just in general feel like I'm doing something good and worth while for these people.

And yes,I am going to try to get into the nursing program.....when I get done with my CNA&Medical Terminology courses&get my pre reqs done.And I hope I still get to do some of the things that I do now as a NA.So if you don't already know,I think being an NA/CNA is very important&worthwhile work:)

It is extremely important work, so sorry if you feel like those of us who are RN's or LPN's do not think so. I however was never a CNA first and the one's who were I think the first semester or so was easier for them. Best of luck and if no one has told you today, you are making a difference!!!

Back in the day, I started out as a CNA. I always introduced myself saying 'I'm the nursing assistant assigned to your care,ect"..Patients view most people dressed in a uniform as "Nurse". I feel that you should wear the title of CNA, LPN, or RN proudly. Each type of nurse plays an important part in direct care. As an LPN (RN student),I often have to remind the surgeons that I work with in the hospital that  I can not take their verbal orders. Am I embarrassed! NO, Not at all. As you become seasoned in your job, if your a CNA, you may want to reflex advancing your education to LPN, or RN. But credit deserved, is CREDIT EARNED! You can only appreciate A NURSE'pride after you have sacified family, money and time to earn the title and licencure of a "NURSE". SO, don't be afraid to say what you ARE!

A CNA is a CNA.....

AN LPN is an LPN

AN RN is an RN

AN NP is an NP

A Pa is a PA

A DR is a DR

A Surgeon is a Surgeon!

A Surgeon is a doctor who happens to choose surgery

I'm in agreement that CNA's should not call themselves a nurse and also should correct a family member that mistakes her/him for a nurse!  There have been a few incidents at my facility where a family member mistook a CNA for a nurse and had complained to the nurse manager that her mothers nurse (actually a CNA mistaken for a nurse) didn't give her mom pain meds when asked to do so and other such incidents!  Therefore it is Very Important that the CNA correct patient's and family members when they mistake them for a nurse!

DaMomb says ...

I know that they are two different things, but what if the classification of CNA was eliminated (ONLY to avoid confusion) and the term medical assistant was used on a broader basis?  It's easier not to add the term "nurse" to that title.  And MA's are now required to have certification...how much different is a CMA than a CNA?  I think that the training may even be more intensive...

That's a great idea, but remember, only CNA's can do patient care, not CMA, that is the difference, that's what I was told, CMA don't  assist with bath, lifting, adl's are change diapers., the next step is the LVN, which in my opinion should be a nursing assistant, just like a physician assistant is to a physician. That would eliminate the title altogether, although I like CMA for the title LVN.

I love this discussion because as a nursing student, correction as an LPN student, I think we learn alot.   I am amazed at some of the things I have learn so far and I'm just 1/3 of the way through the course.  I hear the best is yet to come.  I know as an LPN there are some things that we cannot do (havent learned what exactly that is yet).  But everything else it seems we can.  From what I understand most LPN are in nursing homes and do the bulk of the work, so when I graduate I would definetly classifiy myself as a NURSE!!

Jazzy,

Sorry but we do much more than meds! It may seem like that is the majority of our job but there is much more to it, and a lot of knowledge I might add. In posts further above I have stated how much I deeply appreciate my CNA's and know that we couldn't do it without them but lets face it, you couldn't do it without us either. I'm fed up with cna's thinking we are nothing more than pill pushers. Do you not come get a NURSE when something is not right with your patient so the NURSE can assess them?

Point in place.... CNA's are so so so important to the nursing team but they are NOT nurses and need to respect those that are. I am sorry if this seems a little out of line but where I work I am the youngest employee. Most of the CNA's are old enough to be my mother and I have a very difficult time with the respect issue because of my age. Let alone the fact that I have a difficult time asserting my authority when needed because of the age thing as well.

 I think something got lost in transcription here, A nurse is an RN and an LVN or LPN depending on where you live in the country.

A CNA is a certified nurses AIDE.   This AIDE can work in the hospital only doing patient care and assisting nurses, hence the name  "NURSE AIDE   A  NURSE AIDE cannot work in home health ONLY a hospital

A   MA is a medical assistant, this class is about 4 months in length, you get a certificate upon completion and you can work in a doctors office only, you can NOT work in a hospital or a home health agency seeing patients as a  MA.

A   CHHA  is a certified home health ASSISTANT - this aide can work in home health this class is approx 3-4 months in length depending on your state

RN - Registered Nurse either 2 year ADN  or 4 year degree BSN, an RN can work where ever the RN wants to work

LVN or LPN is a licensed Vocational Nurse or Lic Practical Nurse can do many duties that an RN can do except they need an IV certification class to do IV's or blood draws, and they can NOT infuse any antibiotic or care for any central lines or draw any labs from a central line. A few other things they can not do, but for the most part they can do many other things an RN can do.

Then of course you have your Masters degree an Rn with a BSN can obtain and then a Phd that can be obtained after that. I should have mine done by next year I hope. I hope this all helps.

I hope this clears up any further confusion.