As for the nurses, what a lot of them don’t realize is, CNA’s have not been around forever. There once was a time, when the Nurse had to do the job that we Nurse Aids are doing. They used to be the ones who put them on the bed pan, dressed them, fed them, cleaned, showered, bathed, them, kept them happy, got them out of bed, etc etc, it seems as if maybe the nursing programs have gone down hill somewhat since the Nurse Aids have come about, b/c they don’t know what it is to do what used to be referred to as Nursing Care. I believe that maybe its time that these Nurses have to step back into our shoes for a while so that they can see exactly what we do, and go through on a daily basis.
To me, the best nurses were CNA’s first. Those are the ones that treat us with respect, and care, and know exactly what we are going through, and those are the ones that will jump in and lend a hand.
I think that maybe it should be required for a RN or an LPN to have to be a CNA for about 2 years before they are allowed to start taking any kind of a Nursing class.
I do get asked a lot, why don’t you go to school and get your nursing license, well, to tell you the truth, I do plan on that someday. I plan on that when My body can’t handle the stress of being a CNA any longer. I know that I won’t be able to do this kind of work forever, but while I can, I will treasure every moment of it. This may sound funny, but I will treasure every time I need to change a brief, or dump a urinal, I will treasure holding a residents hand when they are scared and forget where they are, I will forever treasure getting to be in the room as their spirit is leaving the room, knowing that I was able to give them the comfort of knowing that they are not alone during their last moments of life. I will forever treasure them, b/c without them, we wouldn’t really be here now. Without them, society would not be the same. They need us, the same way we needed them. I will forever be grateful knowing that I was there for them, the way they were once there with us.

In this work we do have far too many who are in it for the paycheck and nothing else. Management loves them because they work tons of overtime and complain little. But their ability to truly care and do good work is overlooked…the quantity is more important than the quality.

You speak of Management and front line staff being “friends”- yes, it’s a big problem. What is worse though is the floor nurse and her buddy aides. They go out after work together; they hang out on weekends off…and the nurse never sees her buddy’s work ethics and poor performance everyone else bears witness too…on a daily basis. Morale breaker big time.

Over at the PHI blog, Elise shares an interview of Barbara Bowers with readers. It’s pertinent here as well. Barbara is a tireless advocate for CNA’s and direct care givers- advocating better working conditions and wages among other things….