RN's : If you work w/ a cna, do you think you should be responsivle for patient care such as baths, I&O's,

Question

toileting, etc?
I work w/ some nurses that seem to think they are "above" these tasks. I think this is SO wrong. The first think a nurse is taught in school is to perform patient care. The cna's are there to HELP, not do the tasks that RN's do not feel like doing.
What do you think?

I can't believe the attitude of some of the responses so far!! You ARE NOT paid big bucks to get away with not doing the same tasks as a cna! It is the RN's responsibility to ensure that ALL tasks are done and by and far that means getting in there and doing whatever it takes. Did you become a nurse to pass meds? or to earn the "big bucks"? I hope not. That is dispicable. If so, I hope none of my family members/loved ones never has you as a nurse.

Answer 1

nurses should provide whatever care necessary to make patients safe, happy, clean, and satisfied. Well, not whatever, but you know what I mean. I have functioned at every level, CNA, LPN, and now RN, if able, time wise, I would give a bed bath, empty a bedpan, etc. You are absolutely correct with your mindset, as long as you also use your delegation skills.

Answer 2

I can't believe some of the answers people are giving! I have been a CNA for over 5 years, and I think that RN's need to give as much respect toward CNA's as we give to them. Most of the time CNA's are the 'eyes and ears' of the unit (or wherever you work). Alot of times CNA's will know about a pt's aches and pains more than the nurse cause we tend to work with them more. I think it depends on who you work with too. I worked in the ICU at a hospital, and the majority of the nurses helped me with 'dirty work'. RN's that have worked as CNA's are usually more empathetic cause they have been where we are and know that we don't make alot of money for all the work that we do. Another factor is 'are they nurses for the money or because they like helping people?' The most caring nurses I have worked with never had a problem with cleaning poo or giving baths. Just depends on personality I guess. If you are unhappy with your job maybe you should look for another one or talk to your supervisor...CNA's are always needed.

Answer 3

I used to think the same way when I worked as an orderly. Then I became an RN. Sometimes the nurses just sit and try to solve problems. It only looks like we are doing nothing. I work harder as a nurse than I ever did as an orderly.
And being male, I still have to help with all the heavy lifting.
O.K.,I will admit that some nurses have inflated opinions of themselves. Talk to the DON if you are not happy.

Answer 4

usually if you have a cna- it means that your unit is very busy and that your patients need you to take care of much more critical things than their bath. you are spending most of your time contacting doctors, charting, administering meds, suctioning patients, etc... if you have the time though- yeah help out. I used to work at a place with a cna and we had a great working relationship- we always worked together on the harder patients... i knew she worked hard and i was willing to help out. Some of the cna's were lazy though- I was not going to do the job that they were supposed to be doing while they sat around doing nothing. Some nurses are just as lazy though- i do agree

Answer 5

Nurses are responsible for much more than a CNA, and have paid for an education to be better and more knowledgeable than a CNA. Nurses need to focus on larger aspects of patient care than bathing and toileting -- they are attending to medication, procedures, and other aspects that are not within the realm of the average CNA's knowledge.

Answer 6

i'm not in the medical profession but RN's should be humble and do the dirty work if they have to. At the same time if a CNA is available it should be their job. Whats the purpose of becoming an RN if your doing all the dirty stuff.

Answer 7

This is why nurses are paid the big bucks. After all they have the college degree that entitles them to be exempted from the dirty work when possible.