1st Night on the floor as an "Uncertified" CNA....

a "too caring" c · Jan 30, 2009

I am a registered cna. I am learning slowly that the other co workers will not be of much help to you. For some reason they don't welcome new staff. Anyway thats what I have found out on 3 other jobs besides the one i am at now. You have to learn quickly and do things that help you to do a good job. I have bought things for myself to use, such as a large clothes basket for the laundry rm. Walkie talkies, my own gait belt that clips unstead of the threading kind. If someone yells at you across the room for a mistake, finish what you are doing, go directly to that person and say, that is not respectful, please take me aside the next time. Don't ever let the resident know that you are not familiar with their needs, act the part of a professional. I have had to suck up a lot of things until my 90 days were up and then you can stand your ground a lot firmer. A cna has to work very fast and has many things to do. If you get behind it's very hard to catch up.When I first go in (2nd shift) i start right away on my showers, linen,personal clothes. I tell the other cna i am in the shower so they will know to answer call bells. We split the halls and figure out what resident works best with who. It's a lot of fun being a cna, but the work load is tremendous. The residents will keep you laughing at times. It's a great job, lots of rewards.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Jan 30, 2009

Time management and communication are really important. You have to plan ahead, be prepared to change your plan, and do a lot of multi-tasking.

Make sure you have everything you need in the room before you do care. Be ready when you ask someone to help you with a 2-person transfer- don't get them in the room and then make them wait while you go get the lift or put on the gait belt.

Move quickly. If I'm stressed out by working on an unfamiliar wing I sometimes find myself puttering around and have to remind myself to MOVE FASTER.

Let the other CNAs know what you're doing- I always warn someone, "I'm going to clean up Mrs. X right now and after that I'll need help with Mr. Y... when are you doing Z because I can help you with her" etc. Do the same with the residents. Some of the other CNAs think they don't "owe" it to PITA residents to "check in" with them all the time, but I do, and I never have trouble with those residents! I tell them I'm going on lunch break for 30 minutes, or I will be down the hall giving someone a shower. I ask them if they'd like to go the the bathroom even if I know they're going to say no, just so they know that I'm thinking of them. When I do this, they use their call bell a lot less and never throw hissy fits. When the other aides have them, they end up having to deal with tantrums.

Kwontor · Feb 1, 2009

Thanks for the replies, they were definitely helpful and true to form. My first few nights have not gone so well. Between the short staff, lack of proper orientation, unfriendly and jaded coworkers, and bad examples set by all, I am definitely discouraged at this point

I want to stick with it as long as I need to in order to get my cna certification, but I'm worried. There are so many call-ins by the other aides, and now the staff is telling me once I get off orientation that if my relieving shift does not come in I am REQUIRED to stay. It is the norm around this place to pull double shifts!

I have another job and school on top of this one. I am becoming increasingly concerned.

Well, thanks for listening to me rant! With so many people losing their jobs now I guess I am grateful to have 2, but this is not going to be easy! :uhoh3:

Miss_Piggy.RN · Feb 1, 2009

once I get off orientation that if my relieving shift does not come in I am REQUIRED to stay. It is the norm around this place to pull double shifts!
I have another job and school on top of this one. I am becoming increasingly concerned.
Well, thanks for listening to me rant! With so many people losing their jobs now I guess I am grateful to have 2, but this is not going to be easy!

Things are you concerned about where the reasons why I took CNA class at college. Yes, I have to paid for it, but if I will go to work at LTC they will give me reimbursement.

If you have another job and you love it I wouldn't be concerned about losing that one. Even, if you loose your job you will get another one. I didn't notice any problems with getting the job by CNAs

Take care!

Cuety83, CNA · Feb 1, 2009

Wow! I can't believe that that is tolerated, in my state, you can not actively work until you do the first 4 weeks of CNA classes and then on the last two weeks your whole class does clinicals and we get 1 patient. I do the orienting on new people. I am very friendly and I would never give a new person, especially a person in training too much to do. The whole thing about people calling in and being short all the time, that is how you can describe the nursing field, you never have enough help. Stick in there and just pace yourself, thats what I do. You can only do so much. Don't try to rush if you can't handle it, because that will just end up in someone getting hurt. One time, I was working the 7-3 shift and wasn't used to the routine and I was just rushing everything, I forgot to do something simple, like putting an alarm on someone. When I remembered 10 min later, I ran to his room and he was on the floor with his head split open!!! We are all human and make mistakes, but only if I took my time and went over a checklist in my head. I know as a CNA there feels like there is never enough time! But just relax, you'll get it done. When you start your shift, make sure everyone is tolieted and changed; and everyone has a drink, their call light, and linens in their room, it will save a lot of time. Make sure you know where everything is and that you have everything to start your shift, that saves a lot of time too. You don't know how many times I have seen aides running around looking for stuff in the middle of the shift. Hang in there, nursing can be fun. I quit tht first time around because of other rude people. When I started again and had control of things I loved it. The patients that make you laugh and smile, Just remember, we are there for them. I hope it gets better.....good luck..... :up:

One Flew Over · Feb 2, 2009

I forgot to do something simple, like putting an alarm on someone. When I remembered 10 min later, I ran to his room and he was on the floor with his head split open!!!

I work 7-3 and it does get pretty crazy. When I was new, I did the same thing once. My resident had the alarm unplugged and slid onto her bum on the floor. Luckily she wasn't hurt. But now, ever since, I have a little thing that works for me...

Before I leave someone's room I just take a second.

Stop. (this is important)

And look around me to make sure that all my safety devices are in place. Alarms (including door alarms) and call bells.

Even if you forget little things, those two things are veryyy important and will keep your resident safe.

It only takes an extra secons and I haven't had an accident happen involving any of my residents ever since.

Just a little tip :heartbeat

ctmed · Feb 2, 2009

I have been a registered CNA for 4 years.

I usually tell folks to go get the cert and try to go hospital or agency

as soon as they can. (Hospital experience is very important if you

want to get the higher paying CNA/PCT gigs) You can also do

Mental Health Tech work with a CNA cert which, if you can stomach

it, much better pay and easier then LTC. Home health is also very

lucritive if you have a good car and driving record.

LTC, from my experience, works thier CNA staff a bit too hard. The patient

load is a bit much considering the condition of the patient. The pay is also

usually alot less than Hospitals and Agency. Also, I have never found LTC

culture too much to my liking. Sad, too.. I like helping folks. But not to the

point of poisonous atmospheres, workloads of questionable legality, and

pay that resembles what I would get from Ronald McDonald!

Your mileage may vary, but stick with LTC for a bit, see how you like it..

but remember you can do alot more with CNA than LTC if it isn't to your liking.

sonomala · Feb 2, 2009

Watch GIJane,lol. I hate it but I've found this job calls for a very tough skin, great physical shape, and an iron gut because of what both the residents and staff will throw at you non stop. Its not supposed to be like that but as you'll read from the other great cnas around here :) :bigwave: the job can't be all caring and kindness if you want to get through your day without screaming.

You're required to do double shifts? No way no how no why thats wrong.

casi, ASN, RN · Feb 3, 2009

No matter what else is going on, before you go into a residents room take a deep breath, put on a smile, and make that resident be the center of your attention.

Unlike an above poster I've found that telling people I don't know their routine helps. I simply say, "I haven't worked with you before, so if I do something different let me know."

greeniebean · Feb 6, 2009

I got a job at a nursing home to get my cert. Every day for like the first month i just wanted to cry!! my coworkers wouldn't help me fr some reason, and everything i saw them do was the opposite of what i knew was right. you just have to hang in there until you hit your stride. it will get better.

a "too caring" c · Feb 6, 2009

You said it just right! They sometimes are like that, You see a lot of abuse and neglect at some facilities. When I first started here at my job now I was yelled at for taking a lady out of her room past 9 pm, and she is so pitiful, very isolating kind, and scared, no self worth. I was only helping her get out a bit after most were gone to bed. That girl is fired now , not because of me, but the bad attitude workers usually get theirs. Takes time. I just do my job and what ever they say to me i ignore it or take it to my boss. She listens and is good to me. Now I get along well with the co workers and do what i know was taught thru my class, if they want to do it the sloppy way then they always get caught, either by the residents families or the other staff on another shift. We document a lot so write everything in there u see and someone will see it. We all make mistakes and leave stuff undone at times but when it is a habit and keeps going on , it is not good. The main thing that keeps me going some days is the residents, they take up for me cause I am good to them and it really means a lot to me just for them to like me as i do them. Even the mean ones have a big heart at times. ha.........hang in there or leave like I did til I found one that I was determined to stay at. They are all pretty much alike until u break in. love ya now!