This discussion is not for everyone who gets offended easily. I worked on a subacute unit, 2 days ago as a CNA. I can admit, it was hard, but I made it the whole 12 hours, without a patient coding under my assistive care, and I was told not to do my q2 nursing rounds but instead do q4, mind you, I had 10 patients, and two of them were anxious, and one was on 2 points wrists restraints. I was so outraged. I always hear, that CNA is not nurses, because they are not licenses by the state its true, but what about being a nurse in heart. The reason why I say this, because you can have a title as a nurse, but what if everything comes so routine, that you forget, that you are suppose to be a  nurse to your patients. I know everyone is saying, what the heck is cuttie saying. I mean, you forget to connect with your patients, on a emotional level. Patients have feelings, now I see, why patients call CNA's nurse, it not because they don't know who the real nurse is, it is because they feel the caring connection that  some CNA's give their patients. I don't mean to offend nurses, but I am so tire of all the posting about not being a nurse, so stop calling yourself one, and you all know the rest. Yes I am venting, that is because I am fed up. Stop bullying CNA's, they are part of the nursing profession too.

Hey Cutie,

I think everyone knows what you are saying. I agree with you. Where did this order come from of every four hours when one was in restartaints? you need to report that and you do what you know is right.

I know what you are talking about.  CNA's are a very important part of the health care team.  With out you our job would be much harder.  I spend as much time as I can with my patients but not enough because time does not allow it. The CNA's spend a great deal of time with patients as well and if we all work together it can only be better for the patient.  I thought that's what we were there for.  I want feed back about my patients from my CNA's. They know they can talk to me without me getting the big head about being in charge of them.  That's why it's called a health care team.  It sounds like the higher ups need to remind that nurse of that. Well Good Luck.  And Good Job.

MarshaRN

cuttie............you did the right thing.  I hope the nurse who did that gets in trouble.  That is so unsafe!    Your the bomb!

cuttie you just do not give yourself credit for the strength and grace that you do have. You are a beautiful caring person

thank you CD. I need more strenght and grace.

Cuttie, I applaud you. You are a great asset to the profession and without your team work it would be a huge headache to bare. In addition, my own mother was a CNA and I do understand where you are coming from as she herself has had experiences of being treated badly by the RN's. I respect what you do, and I wish you the very best. Godbless.

Cuttie, just a query...what is the policy of that institution for rounding on restrained pts?  Depending on the reason for the restraints, some places require anywhere from q 15min to q4hr documented assessments.  Not siding with the nurse by any means, but maybe they were confused.

An issue here also is that nurses with licences, degrees etc.......should have a heart. If you don't have this heart or real true desire to help another person then take off the uniform. The same with CNA's. I rather work with a CNA with good common sense and a caring attitude than a nurse who has neither of these. Keep up the good work Cuttie. You would be an asset whereever you work.

I sure hope you have been able to get some things resolved. What a horrible situation. Glad you did the right thing and did what you could for your patients.

As an agency nurse, I feel for you. Many times, a facility will give the agency nurse the sh*t assignment that their own staff would not want, because they figure you will not come back again anyway so might as well dump on you. Real nice. I have seen staff nurses IGNORE agency nurses and CNAs when they need help. Totally unprofessional. You look around, and you are the only one on the unit. You can't find things, nobody will help you, and the whole shift is a disaster. You work as hard as you know how to work, then your agency gets a call the next day from that facility complaining you did not sign off a ______________ fill in the blank: meal percentage, toenail growth chart, whatever. You were just praying to get through the shift and not have a code, and you spent your time chasing one mess after another. No lunch, no pee break, just running to keep up.

Makes me wonder what happens to some nurses. I am sure at every graduation, that nurse's pledge is read.

hang in there Cuttie. You will find someplace that appreciates your hard work and patient care skills.

cuttie says ...

RNdude says ...

Cuttie, just a query...what is the policy of that institution for rounding on restrained pts?  Depending on the reason for the restraints, some places require anywhere from q 15min to q4hr documented assessments.  Not siding with the nurse by any means, but maybe they were confused.

It doesn't matter what the protocol for restraints were. The patient on the restraints were agitated, and all the patients were on trachs, and all were total care. I don't know if you evered worked on a sub-acute unit before, but the majority of  the patients are on feeding tubes, foley, IV piggy backs,and some are heavy, must of them had stage three decubitis ulcers, which mean they needed a diaper change q2. If, you do a q4 nursing rounds on  patients with stage three decubitis, the dressing will be be soiled with feces, and urine and you will have to do a complete bed change on all of them,the patients defacates, every hour, just imagine x4 feces in a single diaper change.The patients had a big boo-boo literally, talking about a big mess, which mean, I had to do four times the amount of work, which I could of avoided doing my q2 nursing rounds.

Cuttie, I'm not questioning the ethics of this.  I was just wondering out loud if the nurse was taking a literal view of a policy or whatnot.  Some nurses cannot see the gray...only black or white.  You, of course, did the right thing as you would always do. 

RNdude says ...

cuttie says ...

RNdude says ...

Cuttie, just a query...what is the policy of that institution for rounding on restrained pts?  Depending on the reason for the restraints, some places require anywhere from q 15min to q4hr documented assessments.  Not siding with the nurse by any means, but maybe they were confused.

It doesn't matter what the protocol for restraints were. The patient on the restraints were agitated, and all the patients were on trachs, and all were total care. I don't know if you evered worked on a sub-acute unit before, but the majority of  the patients are on feeding tubes, foley, IV piggy backs,and some are heavy, must of them had stage three decubitis ulcers, which mean they needed a diaper change q2. If, you do a q4 nursing rounds on  patients with stage three decubitis, the dressing will be be soiled with feces, and urine and you will have to do a complete bed change on all of them,the patients defacates, every hour, just imagine x4 feces in a single diaper change.The patients had a big boo-boo literally, talking about a big mess, which mean, I had to do four times the amount of work, which I could of avoided doing my q2 nursing rounds.

Cuttie, I'm not questioning the ethics of this.  I was just wondering out loud if the nurse was taking a literal view of a policy or whatnot.  Some nurses cannot see the gray...only black or white.  You, of course, did the right thing as you would always do. 

The LVN's knew the patients baselines, they were comfortable on the floor, they told me themselve,that they knew their patients. I even asked one LVN, do you have to be IV certified to work there, because I just passed my LVN nursing boards, she told me, to apply there on that same floor, because it was so routine, one LVN has worked there since 2000. but the RN charge nurse told me to apply to the Med-surg unit first because I was a new grad, mostly all the LVN's on the floor were veterans, so trust me, they were not confused, about the hospital policies on restraints, and other nursing policies.

I am a VN student and will be RN someday and used to work as a MA,CNA. I have been your position and truly understand how you feel " not being recognize as a NURSE".

If I become a patient one day and need total care, I would truly appreciate someone who really CARE me whatever position they are, CNA, LVN, RN. I would be more thankful, trust and attach to the one who cleans, feeds, dresses me .....as if a baby only wants his own mother not a nurse.  

All nurses should not forget the fundamental of nursing, we are all as a professional NURSE in Health care-team and just the responsibility/roles are different.  CNA, LVN, RN ...... "N" stand for "NURSE" ~ see!!

Keep up your Good Job every one!!

Cuttie,

I work agency too.  I'd love to run into you on a floor.  We could team up and change the world!  I worked Long Term Acute with vents and exactly what you have described for years til I hurt my back.  I would have killed to have a CNA like you on my floor! 

Like I said before ...Hold your head high, you have the right stuff!