Asking Others for Help

[clarinets, CNA]

Hello everyone.

I am new here as well as a new Certified Nursing Assistant. I just earned my certificate in December, and am happy to get a job now. I am a new employee in an Assisted Living Facility. I am having difficulty getting any answers to questions I have about how to work in this facility. Currently I am in training. Recently, I got a new assignment, in which I have never worked before. I was filling in for someone who was sick that day. I asked "Which resident is in the 1st and 2nd seating at dinner?" I asked three times. No answer. Since I barely knew the residents, I asked "Who is who?, because I knew only half of the residents' faces on that list." I got no answers. Finally, someone, after I asked several times at this meeting, here is who you assist and remind for dinner. That is all I got. I ended up going door to door asking most dementia residents, what seating they are for dinner, and missed a couple. As a result, I was in trouble to next day, saying that five residents did not get dinner, and was unacceptable. Some residents said they ate something already, and did not want to eat and two others were not feeling well.

I was assigned two trainers, that is willing to help, only so much. However, ask anybody else who knows the answer, they are tight lipped. One time, one of the other staff, a substitute trainer training me, seemed frustrated doing this. One time we were in a situation in which one of the resident's had a massive bowel movement accident. We took her to the room. I have never encountered a situation like this bad before, and therefore was trying to figure out what to do. I had no trashbags, no clue about this resident or her whereabouts of her belongings. I asked the person training me, and she just looked at me in silence. Minutes later, she asked me in frustration, "What would you do in a situation like this?" I felt put on the spot, and did not know what to do. She just did everything eventually in frustration. She then asked me at a safety check, who and where are the residents? She seemed frustrated.

This place is under new management and is "at will" employment. I am not getting any help. Is it better in a hospital, SNF or as an RN?

The management seems to hide in her office, and does not want to seem to be bothered.

I need some help on how to work thru this.

BTW. I was a teacher before this career change, and do not want to go back to screaming parents.

[pookyp, LPN]

I got treated the same way when I started out as a CNA. The DON caught on to how I was being treated and told them 'none if you were born a CNA and we all started somewhere' then they kind of loosened up. I always got the hardest assignment, no one wanted to help me, etc. I think it's better in a hospital IMO.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Sorry you are having a tough time. Being a Cna is hard especially when you are new and don't know the residents. Talk up your supervisor about your concerns. If no changes are made then start looking for another job. Being a sitter or home health may be better and less stressful. I really hope it gets better....

[Inori, BSN, RN]

live and learn .. welcome to real world work. but yes do expect to be your own organizer as no one else will do it for you. Many times we as medical professionals have to adapt our memorized rules for new situations.

bring a sheet of paper, jot down your assignments, pt notes, who needs what done when and go by check off system as you do it. Keep this sheet safe leave in your pocket pocket get it its own ziplock protector if need. its kind of pointless to ask a dementia patient what seating they are suppose to be in .. how would they know that much less thier own names. identify your patients by name, someone else to ID him, look at thier wrist identifiers. See what special diet they have if none just make sure they eat dinner, document they ate and what, and does it matter what seating they're in?

if your Pt had a massive gigantic bowel movement its as if it was your home what would you do? just stand there and watch in shock and awe? no. ensure patient's safety, move him towards his room for privacy, secure pt, get all supplies you need for cleaning, so you can clean him up, pull on double gloves, start cleaning pt. sec call housekeeping to clean up the mess left in hallway.

Develop a process of doing things so you have a mental and physical checklist going on, do this with every patient encounter and that's your routine. and know your chain of command and protocol for emergencies. Watch your coworkers how do they handle things? Good luck! yes the new person is destined to be shafted and picked on by her coworkers just do your best, remember priority is this: your safety, patient safety and follow the rules to the best of your ability.