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PaperclipPerfector  7mo ago (text post)   24923 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of October 30, 2023

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I think the way titles are used is also confusing; there's nursing staff and registered nurses and practical nurses, and different countries describe the jobs differently:

There are five levels of nursing: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Each level has different requirements, educational qualifications, and salary rates.

So a speech or a newspaper article about "we need more nurses" could mean RNs or they could mean CNAs. Pretty much you are going to need more of everyone, but the ones helping patients bathe etc. aren't the RNs:

CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT (CNA) Position description: Although a CNA is not an actual nurse, they’re the main line of communication between the patients and the nurses. CNAs typically take care of the patients’ hygiene, feeding, and mobility needs. With the help of CNAs, patients can bathe, eat, transfer from beds to wheelchairs, and perform other necessary daily activities.

Requirements: To become a CNA, the first thing you need is a high school diploma. Next, you’ll have to undergo a state-approved education program that lasts up to 8 weeks, with specific numbers of hours in the classroom or clinical practice. Last but not least, you’ll need to pass a CNA exam that tests all that you’ve learned and gives you the opportunity to start your life as a nurse.

Over here that would be a healthcare assistant or the likes, not a nurse, but Americans like fancy titles and steps up the salary ladder in an orderly progression 😁

What’s the Difference Between a Nurse and a Healthcare Assistant? While Nurses and Healthcare Assistants both care for patients, there are important differences in their roles. A Nurse is responsible for a patient’s medical care and has greater freedom when it comes to assessing and observing their health and condition. A Healthcare Assistant is involved in a patient’s basic, daily and personal care.

In Ireland, Nursing is a graduate career so involves extensive study. You don’t need to earn a degree to be a Healthcare Assistant – a QQI Level 5 qualification allows you to work in the role.

People still have the old-fashioned image of nurses in mind when they did change bedsheets and the rest of it, but now it's a much more technical role.

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