help! patient refusing care

[sabby09]

i recently got a cna job(1st job) working at a nursing home and this is my 3rd week there. i work 2nd shift and was taking care of 13 people by myself last night. well this patient refused my care and didnt want me to change,talk or even touch her. i tried to help her but she wouldnt even talk to me so i left her alone. well the nurse told me that "almost all my patients were wet and how i should get help if i need it" well theres 5 cnas taking care of 11-13 residents each and nobody is there to be found! and now im getting blamed for this in which the nurse decided to tell everyone on the floor about my mistake. i wasnt even able to pass snacks because of the problem with this resident which the nurse knew about twice last night. im so stressed out and i dont want to lose my job! how can i take care of this matter??? the nurse is blaming me for this and shes not even doing her job herself only gossiping

[CoffeemateCNA]

First of all, give yourself some time to get into the groove of your new job. It may seem overwhelming right now, but you'll really get the hang of things in a few months.

Second, that nurse was wrong to discuss this with other CNAs. If she does it again, politely inform her that it is nobody else's business but yours and hers.

If a resident refuses care, then leave and come back in 10-15 minutes. Sometimes that does the trick.

If that doesn't, then see if another CNA will take care of her for you, and in return you will put one of his/her residents to bed. Give and take. Many CNAs are willing to help if you help in return.

If you don't immediately see an available aide, then walk down their assignment and FIND them. More often than not, I have found "busy" CNAs watching TV or reading magazines in residents' rooms.

Be honest with the nurse and let her know that such-and-such resident is refusing HS cares so that it can be documented in the resident's chart.

[sabby09]

thanks coffeemate for your reply it made me feel a little better. what made me feel worst was it was a simple mistake that the staff made me feel like was the worst thing ever. and trust me i have been in search of the other cnas and even asked for help yet once again nowhere in the building to be found im guessing 3 out of the 5 are on breaks together(all friends). also the nurses already knows that this resident refuses care and hates everyone even when i did return to her she still didnt want me to talk or touch her. i offered her the restroom,food,bed everything and she didnt want me at all. it took 2 other cnas and the nurse to finally get her to get changed. hopefully things will get better

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

So the nurse was gossiping about you having trouble with this resident and she didn't even try to help? Really nice. When you're new these kinds of things happen. It sucks but it gets better. Some residents give new CNAs a hard time because they only want someone they're familiar with. I know your time management probably sucks right now but I'd save this person for last. It seems like people like that can just tell when you're stressed and afraid no matter how much you think you're hiding it. If she's last on your list you'll be more relaxed and in turn she might be more relaxed too.

[rosey2007cna]

Well if you are lucky, see if you can team up with another CNA and work together to get yours and their residents done. As far as the resident who was refusing was concerned, ask another CNA (if they are familar with the resident) if they could try and help the resident. I have worked in skilled nursing before and did not like it because you really have to have a strong skin to take the abuse that the residents, the staff and family give you.