Unique Cna

I'm a fairly new RN at a hospital and recently I've had to work with a male Cna who is also new. After working with him for I've noticed one thing. He has a massive insecurity complex about his position. I don't understand because he's a year into his program and extremely intelligent. He actually knows more at the level he's at then some of the actual nurses and I'm not sure how. Is there anyway to get this chip off his shoulder? I hear him tell pts all the time when they ask if he's their nurse "no I'm just an aide". Sometimes " nope..I'm just a lowly aide" .
is this normal?
I forgot to mention he is an rn student

And this affects you how?

Quote from FarawynAnd this affects you how?

Those statements are definitely normal....lol

Quote from Boomer434I'm a fairly new RN at a hospital and recently I've had to work with a male Cna who is also new. After working with him for I've noticed one thing. He has a massive insecurity complex about his position. I don't understand because he's a year into his program and extremely intelligent. He actually knows more at the level he's at then some of the actual nurses and I'm not sure how. Is there anyway to get this chip off his shoulder? I hear him tell pts all the time when they ask if he's their nurse "no I'm just an aide". Sometimes " nope..I'm just a lowly aide" .is this normal?

It's sad, but it's really you shouldn't interfere.

You might want to sit down and have a little chat with him and offer some friendly feedback and advice. Once you have done that, the ball really is in his court and you should then stay out of it, unless, of course, you see an incident that affects patient care. Bringing your observations to his attention should relieve you of any personal angst concerning his behavior.

My guess...the OP is actually the "lowly CNA" he's talking about.And since you and you co-worker are both CNAs, you're in the position of not knowing what you don't know, so it's highly unlikely that your co-worker knows more than the RNs you work with.Sounds like a bunch of humblebrags if you ask me.

Quote from OCNRN63My guess...the OP is actually the "lowly CNA" he's talking about.And since you and you co-worker are both CNAs, you're in the position of not knowing what you don't know, so it's highly unlikely that your co-worker knows more than the RNs you work with.Sounds like a bunch of humblebrags if you ask me.

Yes this is normal and he should NOT be acting any other way. He's NOT an RN. He IS a CNA.

My initial thought is it's good he's telling patients he's a CNA and not pretending to be anything else. At one year into a nursing program he's barely even touched on nursing classes. There's nothing scarier than a know it all student.

I don't find this concerning at all. I don't think this CNA has insecurity problems. In fact, I think he relishes being in the trenches and learning the nitty gritty of nursing from the bottom up. I'm a CNA and looking forward to becoming an RN. This is a second career for me too. In my previous career I started low and learned my way up. I encountered many who were hired/promoted beyond their experience and eventually had to inform them their lofty credentials and their degree from I'm Better Than You U didn't mean squat. As a CNA I've been asked by patients if I'm a nurse or even a doctor to which I happily respond, "Nope, I'm just a CNA here to help you with..." There's no insecurity. I'm starting a new career at the bottom, learning a ton, (and not just nursing but a lot about myself I never really knew) and enjoying every minute of it. I've also learned I set high expectations for myself and get frustrated when I don't meet them. I'm not sure how others view that. I think this CNA has an amazing future.