I feel your pain. CNAs are at the bottom of the ladder. Their workload is hard and endless. I was a CNA before becoming a LPN. I know. It's a thankless job. But CNAs are the ones closest to the patients. They are the ones the patients rely on and trust and will tell things to that they won't to the nurses. CNAs are the eyes and ears for the nurses. Nurses can't be everywhere so they rely heavily on CNAs. If you are burnt out as a CNA perhaps you could try going to school for a MA. You may enjoy working in a doctor's office and the school isn't that long-maybe a year.  Good luck to you!

You know, that's a sad commentary on our profession, that CNA's and PCT's feel so unappreciated by LPN's and RN's.  And LPN's feel unappreciated by RN's - and yet we all have vital roles in the healthcare team.  I've worked as a CNA (still have the certification!) and know how tough the job is.  Sometimes it feels like you're being ordered around and unappreciated by a busy nurse who is actually trying to prioritze care for a cohort of patients, get meds pulled, clarify an ambiguous medication order, figure out why a lab result hasn't come in yet, get a pre-surgical form filled out, wait for a call from a doctor, finish assessments on the new admit, and chart on his/her other six patients ... you get the picture.  We are all under tremendous pressure to do a critical job with limited time and resources - the crucial difference that I tried to remember as a CNA is that the RN is responsible for the job *I* did as well as the LPN's job and her own.  That's a lot of pressure.

That said, now that I am the RN (or will be) - I know that a good CNA/PCT is worth their weight in gold.  They care for the patient's basic needs, and can often spot changes in condition that might get missed - and are diligent about bringing that to our attention.  I know that when I was a student nurse I paid a lot of attention to what the PCT's said about trends in patient condition - it was incredibly valuable.

As a Paramedic, I always remembered that I was still an EMT.  The title is actually EMT-Paramedic - as opposed to EMT-Basic.  There's a saying in EMS - Paramedics save lives - EMT's save Paramedics.  The EMT's are trained in assessment - and that's the meat of EMS.  Everything else builds on that.  I always counted on my partner to assess right along with me - b/c 2 sets of eyes were better than one - and 2 sets of ears, etc.  It's what makes us more than just "ambulance drivers" - it makes us a team of professionals.  And it's the same way in a larger sense in the hospital/LTC setting.  Any nurse that forgets that is missing out on a hugely valuable resource, IMO. 

The fact is that the tasks that CNA's and PCT's are doing today used to be the essential purview of the bedside nurse - because that's how you get to know your patients - by doing bed baths, assisting with ADL's, and taking vital signs.  It's where you can find out where the patient is along that health continuum - and sadly, we don't get the time to do that much anymore.  It's the CNA/PCT who gets to know their patients, who gets to really see them along the entire continuum of care - and I hope I always remember to include that resource in my care - and thank them for it.

Happy Nurse's week, all you CNA's/PCT's - you deserve a huge round of applause, too! 

Surgical Tech isnt a bad field to get into also. They get alittile more $ than MAs and CNAs/PCT/PCA!

 

You would think it wouldn't be the case, but there are nurses who were pct's/cna's prior to becoming licensed who seemed to forget that part of their past. 

Two things that I live by in this arena:  1. Everything in the pct's job description is also in mine.  2. I remember the way certain nurses made me feel when they asked me for something...when it felt like I was doing them a personal favor and they were grateful for it.  I try to be that nurse.

Its also unfair to theLPN when her back is against the wall the cna think you are an elitist and your boss thinks you are arrogant when all you want is for the aid to answer the call light of a dying patient who could be just like your grand parent. Yes you can do there work but how much can you do before dropping dead on the floor they are getting a pay check too.

 Then it seems like you are the only one that cares and if you open your mouth they think you are being a show off rather than a caring nurse who is the patients advocate. 

Then you wonder why did I ever become a nurse when noone wants to help, when you follow the rules and the laws you are considered a looser because you havent compramized your integrity to suit the mass.

Where is the support for the struggling LPN. The aids are overworked and becomes ansy when a request is made. Your Boss is annoyed at you because you are annoyed at the lousy aids what do you do. 

I am not refering to all cnas but some and they know themselves I have met many Cnas That I had to bow down to and worship they were good mature and responsible but just like some  lousy nurses there are some lousy cnas who would and could just kill the nurse for asking them to take a patient to the bathroom or to just put them to bed.

Your right I have been burnt and burnt out.

But mad at the world no. The world is my play ground. the world reminds me there is hope, there is the possibility of change sometimes one is forced to change because of circumstance but its usually for better.  

One statement is true a good CNA is worth more than gold.She is the right hand of the nurse and the patient.  She often steers the nurse on the right track and God loves a "good" CNa above all else even a Doctor.

I have never used or abuse any cnas or anyone.I have only tried to do the job I was hired to do.

I have been abused by a few CNAS from obscene language to right out lies told against me .From harrassment calling the nurse repeatedly just to stress, resenting there assignment and arguing unnecessarily, especially if there are no other supervisors around. 

Then your boss lauch out on you next. 

There have been Cnas that have stood by me supported me and I consider layol and friends but the story has two sides maybe three or four.

There are some bad Cnas as there are some bad people in the world and then there are the "Good "   

I just read the title to this thread again..."advocate for cna and lpn vs large nurses (rn's)".    I don't exactly have the metabolism I once had, but I'm not really "large".

Being new to all of this (going for CNA while I take nursing classes), the 'pecking order' of  a hospital or a care facility never ceases to amaze and confuse me!

I suppose my only advice is that, as individuals, we most likely will not change the system. But it's best to be the most caring, efficient, best that you can be at your specific job. Try to understand the hardships and tribulations of your superiors as well as subordinates. If everyone is working together and sensitive to coworker's needs, than it will be better for the  work environment... which, of course, makes things better for the patients.

Best of luck!

margaritka

excellent response. Respect is required on every level.The appreciation for the difficulty of each person task and then act accordingly does help.I have seen that work superbly.

Im sorry but I have never heard the term "large" to describe a RN. Who came up with that?

Joelslilnurse, one thing you may want to work on is getting your point across without resorting to overt profanity. 

Sure, that's a great story.  And look...you did it this time without the profanity.  The words don't faze me.  Being a former sailor, they're pretty much ingrained into my vocabulary.  However, I do view this as a forum for professionals.  You'll notice that the rest of your peers here are typically able to express extremes of emotion without using colorful metaphors.  Passion is great, especially in the field of nursing.  Being able to reign yourself in and actually be diplomatic is a strength you'll need to master.  'nuff said.  Good luck with your pregnancy and education.

I don't think RNdude was being condescending at all.  I think the tone of his post was gentle, constructive, intelligent, and meant to help you.

An understanding of what "professionalism" means will go a long way towards helping you in your chosen field, both educationally and professionally.  Recognize that when you express yourself in the way that you have here, people will find that unprofessional, and call you on it.

Deal with it or don't, but recognize that it's going to happen.

Well said cdnurse, and RNdude your first response was an admirable attempt to give constructive criticism that missed it's mark by no fault of your own.

Joelslilnurse,  I think you articulated appropriately  well when you wrote "I am currently doing an essay on the difference between nurses and CNA's. I hope that when i become a nurse i never forget what it is like to be a CNA."

I sincerely hope that you become a nurse that you indeed DO NOT forget what it is like to be a CNA. Meanwhile, the most underused phrase in this thread is teamwork. "Why can't we all just get along?" (for the record none of my remarks in this post are meant to be condescending).