I have the up most respect for cnas. you guys are very important to the healthcare industry. im a RN and i always try to work with my cna. if they need help call me im there. we can tag team the job together. i dont know what i will do without you guys. cnas rock!!!!

Anonymous says ...

Anonymous says ...

First and foremost, I am sorry you had to experince that. That is truly terrible and the facility should not have allowed that, you can turn them in. But that is not the norm. And can I point out...... it is fathom, not fantum.

Woopy aren't we a smarty pants?

Hey woopy, you are one reason why we are hated. This type of disrespect is un called for. If you cannot spell,get yourself a dictionary.

If you feel so strong about your situation, why don't you do something about it, get ahead instead of wacthing American Idol, begin a on line nursing program  and get grants to pay for it, once your finished you will get the respect you sought after, besides you will double the pay with one nursing position. I mean I'm just saying.

thank you so much for the encouragement Mary

I'm a CNA who works for a nursing home. It's my first job in a nursing home and am still learning every day. I've been working in the facility for five months. I believe CNAs are the ones who know the resident more than LPNs and RNs. We're there all the time, helping them with their ADLs and other needs. We are supposed to get along, but many of us do not. 

I've had issues with certain LPNs and CNAs in the facility. When I first started out, I was not trained properly, kept on probation for a very long time over and over, not given a chance, and nearly gotten fired because the LPN I worked under reported me to the DON on every mistake I made. I finally got a transfer and thought it was finally over and better. It wasn't. I'm threatened  with the DON every weekday by another CNA who works with me. We're on the same level, are we not? I'm told I'm not pulling my weight when I do everything my LPN tells me to. At times, I feel like I'm not good enough for them.  There's no teamwork between this CNA and I. I'm told she likes to do things together and she does not. I answer every call light I can and I do what I can in my shift, but it's not ever good enough. I would quit, but economic times are hard and I need a job.  I'm labelled a liar by three people I work with and I am almost afraid to report changes to my LPN because she blames me. I cannot even trust other CNAs and it took me a long time to talk to the DON to let her know I felt terrible.

Only a few CNAs and LPNs get along with each other. I can trust those, but I cannot trust my own LPN and CNA partner. It's hard to work with someone who backstabs others.  The CNA I work with is friend and favorite. I'm not. I'm the outsider.  There's no teamwork except in two halls.  I work better in teams! I wonder if anyone else has favoritism in their workplace? I think it's wrong to do that. I don't even know if I can trust the DON anymore.

I read all these posts and I think that Theala has pretty much covered answers to them all. I normally do not like long posts, but in Theala's case they were important. Everyone has a place in healthcare, and all from the Dr.s to the CNA's to the housekeeping staff should be respected for the job they do. None of them are superior to any other. Some just have more education and more responsibility. You would think that the more education you have, the more you would understand everyone's roles. This is not always the case. There are always people in every catagory; Dr., RN's, LPN's and even CNA's that think they are better than those that are not their equals. Nothing will change unless these people can be made to understand. I wish I had an answer, but I think that this will always go on. I think the people who respect all others should make it know that they do respect them. At least they will get some positive feedback for their hard job.

Nursejohn

Theala I do not know if you remember me, but we had some heated debates on her back whenwe were discussing our opposite views on Universal Health Care. I haven't been on forims much lately because I have been picking up scads of overtime during this nursing shortage. We just hired a lot of RN's and I will be back. good to see you are still smart and witty in your posts.

Nurse john

Anonymous says ...

Hello! I just found this site because I was searching the internet for sites referring to Teamwork in Nursing homes. I'm a CNA and I'm having a lot of problems with where I work. I love my job and what I do, it's just that I can't get everyone to get along. It seems as if everyone I work with is saying negative things about everyone else. The RN's and LPN's really do look down on CNA's and our opinions and I'm so frustrated by it. I've complained to our DN, but what can she do? Nothing. It's just their attitude. I'll give a couple of examples: I was getting a resident up in the morning and to the bathroom and noticed he was wheezing with every breath. I asked another CNA to go get the charge nurse, so she could check his pulse/ox. After a bit, she came in and I told her about the situation. Without even checking on the resident, she yelled at me because she just walked ALL the way from the dining room where she was feeding to come in there! She also told me that his wheezing was nothing unusual. I felt really silly for being concerned. I apologized to her as she huffed off. Well, the next day in report, they passed on that that particular resident was having a horrible breathing problem and suggested taking him to the hospital. That charge nurse didn't even offer an apology to me.

One more example, I knew of an instance where a resident slipped out of a sit to stand lift. She had a bruise on her bottom and behind her knee. For days after that, I kept telling the charge nurse (a different one than previously mentioned) that there was something very wrong with her leg. I couldn't even take off her sock without her screaming. I was just told, "well, she has a bruise", and no one would even come look. Every day for five days, I reported that there was something wrong with her leg. One day, out of frustration, I wheeled her out into the hall and called a charge nurse over and demanded that someone look at her leg. I felt so horrible for her. I knew she was in so much pain. Finally, this charge nurse listened to me and notified the DN who got an x-ray ordered. And guess what? Her leg was broken all along!

It's things like this that make me want to leave my job. Like I said, I love what I do. I'm just having a hard time accepting that my opinion doesn't matter when I'm the one spending the most amount of time with them. And it's not just the big issues as I described, it's all the little things. Like, a nurse rolling her eyes at me when I ask a simple question. Or the frustrated huff when I report something.

I'm sorry this is so long. I'm just venting. I just got home from another frustrating day of work and I'm hoping to find others who can relate and maybe offer some advice on how to promote teamwork.

Thanks for your time. Oh, and as far as why everyone is posting anonymously, all I see is a "post anonymously" link. My screen name is Deeder.

 

@ Deeder - In our facility, we have a system like this: If we notice any bruise, growth, or anything unusual to a resident, we have a duplicate form to fill up and a dot to affected part of the body in the drawing. One copy goes to the Nurse and the other to the DON. Aside from telling the Nurse about your observation, you also have to have them look at it, assess and report. The report is carried on to the next shift. If the Nurses fail to give attention to your report, you are sure the DON will take a look at it. If the matter has been noticed before you did, they must tell you that they know about it. 

 

I beg to differ with you. You are NOT a nurse. You are a CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT. You assist the nurses. You do not have a license, you can not pass meds, you can not make nursing diagnosis you are not a nurse. I respect my CNA's but all of them know they are not nurses. You can not take one word out of your title and call yourself a nurse. As Theala said, if you are not licensed as a nurse and you practice as a nurse you are in violation of all states licensing laws.

Hmmm... QMA's pass meds right?  As a matter of fact, they do. I have read on websites that they may be of danger to the patient. Well, if passing meds makes us nurses....  Either way, you are all making me think twice about using my certification. I think I'll stick to law so that I can help overworked CNA's understand their rights through the law. Sounds like there are some C.N.A.'s doing the nurses work. Assisting means helping, as several nurses have taken their precious time to point out. We all know how busy you are with your "more pressing issues". I am here to help you do your work, not to do it for you. Fine line.

CNAs are very important to the healthcare team!

Generally, they are the main link between the patients and the nurse staff. They learn the patients better by spending more time with them. So, they are CRITICAL to patient care, both from a effectiveness/ efficiency POV and from a patient advocacy view.  

However, being completely realistic concerning your question/ issue of gaining better pay, any increase in aide pay would result in additional increases in all nurse staffing pay. That's just something we're not going to see until the current recession is over. 

I worked as a KY-certified aide in the mid-90s, and then made the switch to EMT (a pay CUT, believe it or not). So, when my wife entered  the nursing field in 2004, I was shocked and surpised that she was making as little with an agency in California as I'd made at a KY nursing home in 1996 ($8/ hr). Returning to Kentucky, I discovered that nursing home aides there made more than hospital CNAs in CA. It made no sense to me, considering the tremendously higher cost of living in CA. This is a perfect example of how wages have been frozen or decreased since the recession.  

The point is, it will be extremely difficult for any position in the nursing staff to gain an average pay raise without the rest of the nursing staff getting the same. Healthcare agencies all around are cutting BACK now, making it harder for RNs like myself to even get a job (check your local listings and you'll see that most RN positions are for admin/ management, not for direct patient care; the demand for RN management has increased drastically faster than the rate of qualified RNs have been trained).

Despite the constant BS that nursing is in "high demand", there has been no significant increase in hiring for nursing staff in most states. Nursing homes are showing much more improved patient census numbers, but are responding primarily with "renovations" to existing facilities, spending profits on facility improvements instead of on increased staffing. Therefore, we are actually seeing a decrease in quality patient care. Home health agencies are also increasing in usage, but very few of them are providing full-time jobs and benefits to most of their employees.  

Please, count yourself lucky to even have a job in these rough times. Despite over 8 years of healthcare experience, I have been unable to gain full-time employment as an RN since April of this year. 

This topic is old, but so is the subject. Yes CNA's are treated with the least respect in health care. I work in a hospital with added responsibilites such as blood draws and EKG's. The extra skills mean nothing as far as respect is concerend. Not too long ago, a nurse on my floor wanted help with a patient. I was wallking past the door and she said, "Get in here and help me!" When I walked in the room their were several family members looking at me. I put on my gloves and said to her, "Please is the appropriate word." She looked irritated, but said nothing. She has never spoken to me like that again and I'm sure she understood my point. I'm currently taking my prerequsites for nursing.  I can assure anyone that when I becomes a R.N., I will treat CNA's with absolute respect.  I have a wonderful work relationship with the nurses on my floor. We work together and share in patient care. The bad apples are usually just as miserable to nurses as they are to the PCA's ( that's what were called in hopitals). You just have to be mature and let someone know if they have spoken down to you or made you feel bad. The number one priority is the patient, we all have to work together reguardless of title.

On behalf of those NL, members that are seeking this route into the medical field, I would like to thank you for posting this link........ALOHA~

GITANO_RN

Nursing Link Moderator

Consequently, I can fathom all the work CNA's do since I began my career as CNA.  Having said that, the scenario you have just describe is one of the reasons I decided to go into management, because I experienced it shift after shift.  However, this situation needs to start with upper management getting involved with what truly is happening with their staff.  Furthermore, I have ZERO TOLERANCE, when I witness a situation like the one you described, it could happen once but twice it will not occur while I'm the CNO/DON of the facility; because I have made it my business to surprise several departments and units by showing up un-announced just to see how our patients are being taken care of. The situation you mention is not only unfair to you, but also to the patients not to mention if JACHO pays a visit unknown to the staff involved, everyone would have to answer to their questioning.  Moreover, if I ever caught any RN's, LPN's, sitting  while one CNA is taking care of 30 patients!!!! they would be handed a PINK/SLIP the following morning.   Unquestionably, I'm aware that there are call out's and this affects the performance of everyone, however, I would demand every single RN & LPN to roll their sleeves up and work side by side assisting the CNA with those 30 patients since they are resposible as well for their well being. Certainly, I have been known to roll-up my sleeves as well and assist my staff when the situation calls for; I don't ask or expect any more or less from myself than what I ask of them.    Lastly, a high quality patient care shouldn't be jeopardize because short staffing, one has to remember this is not the patient's fault, we work as a team and together we will strive.

GITANO_RN

Nursing Link Moderator

THIS IS TO THE PERSON THAT STATED "MOST CNA'S CANNOT TAKE AN MANUAL BLOOD PRESSURE",THAT IS TRUE IN SOME CASES, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TRAININNG CLASSES ARE ABOUT MONEY!!,AND THEY DON'T CARE IF THE STUDENT LEA.RN'S IT OR NOT.THESE COURSES ARE ABOUT MONEY ONLY.THE CLINICAL TRAINING THESE COURSES PROVIDE ARE RUSHED,AND HURRIED,I PAID $300.00 FOR ONE OF THESE COURSES,AND STILL STRUGGLE WITH MANUAL BLOOD PRESSURE,IT IS NOT EASY,AT FIRST ,IT TAKES PRACTICE,BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE ON MY OWN UNTIL I MASTER IT!,AND NOBODY WANT'S TO HELP!EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF IN THIS WORLD! SIGH!

Anonymous says ...

I worked as a CNA on a med/surg floor for 10 months after I graduated high school. Talk about feeling like the low person on the totem pole. I was hardly ever thanked or even noticed for the work that I did. I know being an RN is more challenging than being a CNA but I dont think the nurses realize all that we really do. Most days I would find myself with 13-16 pts while the nurses, at most, had 4 or 5. That means I was doing 16 bed baths by myself while feeding 16 people at once, and making 16 beds. Not to mention that somewhere in there I had to chart everything (thank god for computer charting). I could go on for days about this but I think all you CNAs get what I'm saying. We are under paid, over worked, and under appreciated and thats the worst part. All I know is after my 12 hour shift I was physically tired and emotionally run down. When will the RNs start giving us credit? I think as a pre req for RN school you should have to work as a CNA for at least 6 months!

 

I totally understand what you mean't. I was in your shoes one time and believe me I never felt so low and being over work with under pay not to mention being treated like S___. And I've promise to myself that when GOD willing and I will achieve my goal in life I will RESPECT CNA's as I respect everyone I work with. I love my CNA's... they rock... they are my EARS, MY EYES  and they make my shift easy because we can communicate eye to eye.------BSN,RN

I am a CNA and arrived at this site through by typing in, "Do CNAs count for anything?" into my search engine. I know that this topic is 3 years old, but the problem is still the same.

Here's my aguement. I know that I am not educated enough to earn a higher pay scale. I know that I work in a position that is going to give me a long to-do list of hard-physical work. I have chosen to work in a position where I will have to clean up some really "yucky" stuff. And YES I complain about it and often hear the response, "If you want to be paid/treated better then get educated!". Here's my response: DUH! I am getting educated and I will be an RN soon. I don't think it's too much to ask for the "higher ups" (as we call them and some who are NOT educated in the nursing profession because they are in housekeeping and just happened to become a department head.) to treat me as worthwhile. Not because I am a "undereducated" CNA, but because I am a HUMAN BEING and because I am 43 year old woman. Period!

CNAs are necessary! I not only get the eye rolls from the nursing department, I get it from the heads of other departments, as well! Office people and housekeeping too. If something goes wrong the CNA somehow gets the blame. For example, the DON pulled me into a resident room and asked me why the head of housekeeping complained that the room stunk. I told him that I did all that I could do to be sure it didn't. I asked the head of housekeeping when the last time the room was sanitized (insert her eye roll here) and she said she would check. Well, it was over 2 weeks previous. Should have been case closed, right? NOPE!! She then said that I should have been aware that it was that long and said something!! Pfffst!! That very same day, another CNA was pulled into the DON office about a resident showing S/S of the flu the previous day that wasn't reported according to the Charge Nurse. The CNA said that she reported it to the charge nurse, but ALSO made a note of it in the ADL charting book (which the Charge Nurse didn't know). In other words the nurse didn't do her job, so she blamed it on the CNA not doing hers to get out of trouble. Did this nurse get reprimanded? NOPE! But trust me, that CNA is in a very awkward position now!!    Later on that day, I was venting (yes, I shouldn't have been!) and an offiice person heard it. She claimed to understand where the housekeeper/nurse were coming from. I finally asked her what that place would do if every single CNA didn't come into work; what would you guys do? Finally, I got my point across to her (I think!) cause she said "We would all be screwed!" But really all nurses and "higher ups" should consider what kind of day that would be and if they realize that it's not doable without us then give us the respect we deserve!!

So whether a CNA is choosing to educate herself to be a nurse or decided to continue to be a CNA, he/she deserves the respect and professional courtesy that is enjoyed by the rest of the staff!!