First Day Blues

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Yesterday was my very first day working as a CNA in a hospital. I have never done this kind of work before. I worked in finance and am starting NS this fall.

I felt like a total idiot. I got lost more than once, was sent to get supplies and forgot what room to take them back to. To top it all off, I could not get an accurate BP all day. Well, twice out of about fifteen times. Not only have I been practicing on friends and family for about a year, we were told in CNA class that we should silence the room. My preceptor says we can not turn down the TV or ask family members to be quiet. She has been a CNA for eight years. She even takes BP over sleeves. We have been using a steth with two sets of ear pieces. I hate to think that she takes pride in me not getting the same reading that she does. She also loudly announces that she wants me to count respirations. We were told in class that if the pt knows u are counting, they subconsciously alter them.

It was my first day and I was frustrated and nervous. This was also the first time in my life that I have ever worked twelve hours straight. I know that I must concentrate. That is the key. I just can't help feeling that after practicing for such a long time, my BP skill should be more accurate. Any advice would be appreciated. My hospital uses the disposable steths and cuffs because of isolation.

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It sounds like your preceptor is just being hard on you. This is common because they may feel their job is threatened, and they often get annoyed with having to train a vast amount of people because of the high turnover rate.

As for the TV thing, I always turn it off (or down) when doing a BP. I politely say something along the lines of "I'm going to mute your TV for just a moment while I take your blood pressure. It's easier to get a more accurate reading when everything is quiet." They usually get the picture that it's time to hush (and families do as well :)). God forbid they miss 30 seconds of American Idol while I do care on them. They're in the hospital to get better, not to play catch-up on all of their favorite TV shows. There are these cool things at home we like to call VCRs and DVRs. :D

BPs take a lot of experience to be able to do!! It's one thing to be able to take BP on your classmates, and it's an entirely different thing to do on sick patients. Just practice, practice, practice. During my first year, I practically broke out in a cold sweat every time my nurse asked me to do a manual BP.

You're right about the respirations thing. It's not a good idea to announce it to everyone. You can always "fake" the patient out by putting your fingers on their radial pulse and count the respiratory rate for the first 30 seconds, pulse rate for the last 30 seconds. They never expect respirations to come first!

Hang in there. It takes time to get used to a new position. Everybody has the same feelings that you do. You will get more comfortable and experienced in time.

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as for the bp, your trainer is obviously using a short cut (needle jumps, multiplying rates to 1 min, etc) to figure the bp or her hearing is a better than your's, bp isn't rocket science.

sounds like you lucked out getting a cna job in hospital, it's one of the better places to get a cna job.

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Specializes in Forensics, Trauma, Pediatrics,.

You're instructor sounds a lot like the one I had. It is rough now, but I PROMISE it will be worth it in the long run because her strict guidelines are going to make it so you have blood pressures down perfect by the end! I had a lot of trouble with them too in the beginning, and I think it is one of those skills where you don't get it, you don't get it, you don't get it, then POOF! One day a light turns on in your mind and you just "get it". I wouldn't stress out too much about it, part of being a student is learning! And for the record, I always ask the patient if I can mute their TV in order to make sure I get the correct reading. 99% of the time they don't mind- and the few times they do, I just wait until a commercial so I am able to mute their show. Keep that head up, it will get easier!!

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It will get better, keep your head up. In every job I've ever had, my first day was always kind of rough. Getting lost in a hospital is not uncommon, just make mental notes to remember things like room numbers. Hope your second day goes better. :)

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Well, the second and third days were much better than the first. I got to practice vital signs and improve my accuracy. I am supposed to work with an RN this week so I am pretty excited, but I think I did a pretty stupid thing. After my first three days, I emailed my nurse manager to touch base. I didn't say anything negative. I thanked her for assigning a knowlegable preceptor. I told her I had been nervous that first day and that by the third day I was more comfortable. I also asked direct questions that require a direct answer. Well that was two days ago and I have yet to even get a response from her. I am terrified that my preceptor said unfavorable things about me. I guess I will find out when I go back this week. I definately won't be sending anymore emails. I hope she has just been too busy to respond and doesn't think I'm a moron.

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as for the bp, your trainer is obviously using a short cut (needle jumps, multiplying rates to 1 min, etc) to figure the bp or her hearing is a better than your's, bp isn't rocket science.

sounds like you lucked out getting a cna job in hospital, it's one of the better places to get a cna job.

I know how fortunate I am. It took a long time and a lot of networking. This is the most respected and biggest teaching hospital in the area. Since I start NS this Fall, I hope to work here during school and as a RN when I get my license.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg.
Well, the second and third days were much better than the first. I got to practice vital signs and improve my accuracy. I am supposed to work with an RN this week so I am pretty excited, but I think I did a pretty stupid thing. After my first three days, I emailed my nurse manager to touch base. I didn't say anything negative. I thanked her for assigning a knowlegable preceptor. I told her I had been nervous that first day and that by the third day I was more comfortable. I also asked direct questions that require a direct answer. Well that was two days ago and I have yet to even get a response from her. I am terrified that my preceptor said unfavorable things about me. I guess I will find out when I go back this week. I definately won't be sending anymore emails. I hope she has just been too busy to respond and doesn't think I'm a moron.

The first day is always the toughest! It will all be downhill from here.

Don't worry about the email. It's good to try and keep in touch with your nurse manager rather than blindly wondering what she thinks of you. I've had times where I attempted to call my nurse manager multiple times without an answer. And you know what-- she never responded. Yet we're on good terms and she has been very supportive! Nurse managers are busy and have a lot to do. I highly doubt that she was offended by your email in any way. Just wait a few more days and see what happens.

You are very fortunate to get a job at a hospital. I'm in the process of orienting as a hospital CNA and it is an absolute dream compared to working in a nursing home.

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