When going into nursing the first thing they expect you to be is
a certified nurse assistant. They are the ones who do the most strenuous and
physical work in the nursing field but they are at the bottom of the chain and
paid the less. People who work as a CNA are expected to come to work and feed,
lift, transport and clean people mainly the elderly for no more than nine or ten
dollars an hour and based on experience it may be a little bit more. The worker
is forced to work at an unlivable wage while the capitalists gain off of the
excess of labor (205). Compared to a RN they do the most physical and back
breaking work. People don’t understand the stress and strength it takes to be a
CNA and expect them to work without any complaints.
Certified nurse assistants are the ones who deal personally with
the residents and have the closest bond. When working in a skilled nursing
facility they are expected to have from twelve to sixteen residents and everyday
do the same thing over and over. New CAN’s come into a facility and once they
are done with orientation thrown on the hardest set in the building because
people who have been there longer get first say so. It’s hard to get help when
needed and a lot of times the groups are not evenly distributed on how many more
attention needed residents and ones who need to be lifted by mechanical lifts
they have. After all is said and done higher up people don’t care, you are a CAN
so your expected to do the work no matter how long you have been there and how
hard it may be.
Once you are set as a CNA you do see that it is easy money to
get so some drive their self into work overload by doing double shifts and
working on their days off. People tend to call off a lot so the help is needed
and if you have the free time of course you’re going to take it. Once the worker
starts to pick up all these shifts and over working they are now alienating from
their self. They are no longer that person you know but now that CNA who main
focus is to work not only to help the facility but to help themselves
financially. Like Marx discussed the worker is now self-estranged and has now
placed his relationship with his job (78). This alienation estranges the worker
from how they would naturally live their life and from being able to relate to
those around them (76). You are no longer yourself but now the certified nurse
assistant who takes care of the patients. Outside life is now compromise because
you put your time and effort into making your job better for you and other
workers around you.
People above certified nurse assistants need to understand that yes
everyone works hard in different forms but the CAN does the most physical work.
They are frontline with the people that they bring into the facility and they
need to make sure the workers reap the benefits of their labor. Bonuses and
raises need to be given, weekly and monthly incentives, and just the all around
appreciation of them. It is easily said that the CNA is treated how they should
but from personal experience they really aren’t.
a certified nurse assistant. They are the ones who do the most strenuous and
physical work in the nursing field but they are at the bottom of the chain and
paid the less. People who work as a CNA are expected to come to work and feed,
lift, transport and clean people mainly the elderly for no more than nine or ten
dollars an hour and based on experience it may be a little bit more. The worker
is forced to work at an unlivable wage while the capitalists gain off of the
excess of labor (205). Compared to a RN they do the most physical and back
breaking work. People don’t understand the stress and strength it takes to be a
CNA and expect them to work without any complaints.
Certified nurse assistants are the ones who deal personally with
the residents and have the closest bond. When working in a skilled nursing
facility they are expected to have from twelve to sixteen residents and everyday
do the same thing over and over. New CAN’s come into a facility and once they
are done with orientation thrown on the hardest set in the building because
people who have been there longer get first say so. It’s hard to get help when
needed and a lot of times the groups are not evenly distributed on how many more
attention needed residents and ones who need to be lifted by mechanical lifts
they have. After all is said and done higher up people don’t care, you are a CAN
so your expected to do the work no matter how long you have been there and how
hard it may be.
Once you are set as a CNA you do see that it is easy money to
get so some drive their self into work overload by doing double shifts and
working on their days off. People tend to call off a lot so the help is needed
and if you have the free time of course you’re going to take it. Once the worker
starts to pick up all these shifts and over working they are now alienating from
their self. They are no longer that person you know but now that CNA who main
focus is to work not only to help the facility but to help themselves
financially. Like Marx discussed the worker is now self-estranged and has now
placed his relationship with his job (78). This alienation estranges the worker
from how they would naturally live their life and from being able to relate to
those around them (76). You are no longer yourself but now the certified nurse
assistant who takes care of the patients. Outside life is now compromise because
you put your time and effort into making your job better for you and other
workers around you.
People above certified nurse assistants need to understand that yes
everyone works hard in different forms but the CAN does the most physical work.
They are frontline with the people that they bring into the facility and they
need to make sure the workers reap the benefits of their labor. Bonuses and
raises need to be given, weekly and monthly incentives, and just the all around
appreciation of them. It is easily said that the CNA is treated how they should
but from personal experience they really aren’t.