I had a terrible day at school today... Accused and feel awful.

[jval]

I'm in a very competitive CNA program in which you will get dropped if the instructor doesn't think you're right to be a CNA. She is very passionate about nursing and we're her 72nd CNA class.

Today is day 4 of the program. Up until today we've only had lecture. Today we actually got to apply some of what we learned about mechanical lifts. We have a Marissa lift and a bed to practice with. We were told that everyone in the class needs to rotate into 3 different postions for practice; the one who operated the lift, the assistant and the patient/resident.

Our instructor was busy but still in the room. Everyone was practicing as she had said until it was the loud (the one who knows everything, and interjects it), heavy set women's turn. She did all of the positions except the patient because of her size. She didn't want to get into the cradle to be lifted. She was loud about her objection, but my instructor didn't notice. Finally I get to practice... I did all of the positions until it was time for me to lift the student next to me who is also a very large women. In fact, her and the other women that objected are usually together because they are about the same age, both have been CNA's before, and they both are mothers. They're friends, in other words. Well, the large lady that I was supposed to lift didn't want me to lift her. I agreed. She has had two knee replacements and it seemed to be fine to not be lifted because the loud girl wasn't getting lifted. Practice continued and two more heavy girls decided they wouldn't get lifted.

After all was said and done, we sat down and the instructor asked if we were done.

FINALLY, loud girl gets up and says "Fine! I'll do it, geez!". She made a show about how the people around her were pressuring her to do it, although it didn't seem like they were...

Loud girl finally gets into the cradle and gets lifted, but never off the bed because she was yelling the whole time about having an audience and joking about wanting to speak to the charge nurse because she was being "threatened".

Amongst it all... She says, "Since I'm up here doing this, all the rest of you better do it!"

My teacher got real ****** REAL fast and demanded to know if there were people that didn't get lifted. My teacher said it's part of the exercise and EVERYONE must participate. Loud girl said she didn't want to rat anyone out so they better do it.

I started sweating... The heavy lady next to me hadn't done it...

No one said anything about those that didn't get lifted. Those that chose not to be lifted didn't say anything. My teacher was FURIOUS and said she absolutely couldn't believe it. She said she didn't know if she would ever get over it. She said we were ALL liars. Every single one of us. She said we can't be trusted to be honest. She said that if we saw someone doing something wrong on the job or abusing an elder that we wouldn't report it. Finally, I don't know how, but the heavy lady next to me was found out. We all had to do the exercise again.

Class ended afterwards and I felt HORRIBLE.

I waited for the students to leave so I could talk to the instructor to explain myself. I didn't want to be thought of as a liar. Especially when it's OBVIOUS I knew that the heavy lady wasn't lifted because she sits next to me.

My teacher kinda let me know she wasn't mad at me and shifted the blame onto those that chose not to lift and didn't confess.

I still feel terrible though... To be told that I wouldn't report elder abuse! I've wanted to be a nurse for such a long time, and I know I'll be a good one. I work very hard and I LOVE it.

This crushed me.

I have learned a HUGE lesson today.

[Glenna, LPN]

You learn something new everyday. That sure does sound like a roller coaster of emotions. When you are working in LTC/SNF you are always lifting someone up who can be rather heavy, it's no big deal to be on one of those machines. I'm not liking the sound of some of your classmates being dishonest. Since you are writing this and speaking of what has happened I think will make you a better nurse someday.

[jval]

Thank you Glenna. I can't believe I was even put in that situation. The lift we have can lift 400 lbs, I think the ladies were just facing insecurities and since one refused, they thought it was optional...

One of the ladies lied to my teacher's face... It's very upsetting and I can't believe how ridiculous it is.

5 students will be dropped by Tuesday, we'll see which ones make it past the cut...

I just emailed a letter to my instructor explaining that I didn't expose the girls on the spot because I didn't want to be the black sheep and hated for ratting everyone out. However, in a setting where residents or others can be affected by people taking short cuts or not following orders I will always come forward.

[Glenna, LPN]

The thing is, those ladies will be dealing with people in a very intimate matter. I find nothing wrong with the whole role reversal thing. When I was in school I allowed my follow classmates to put depends on me over my clothes and what not. Also, I would try the thickened fluids because I want to have an idea what my residents are eating and drinking.

You are forth coming, that is always a good thing. Plus, I'm sure your teacher already has a good idea what is going on since this is her 72nd class. Some of the things you will see will really bother you. I used to work evenings as a CNA and my co-worker refused to change the residant all day long! I even tired to sneak in there and change the poor residant and she was like NOOOO. I would always complain to the DNS about things I didn't like...I would even threaten to quit. I was one of the good ones the nurses would say. haha...even won two awards...but yeah when I would threaten to quit I would get a raise.

But what you are going through only made you realize what your character is vs. other people. Not everyone will have the same view as you do. Some people this will be a job that they will hate. They won't give the kinda care you would give. For me, I tried to treat them as if they were my own grandparents. I always tried to keep their rooms clean and their hair brushed for when their family would visit. I still remember when my grandmother was in the nursing home and she wasn't taken care of very well....and seeing my parents cry when I was 17...oh man I didn't want other people to feel the pain my parents felt.

[Hygiene Queen]

Being a CNA is a huge responsibility.

I don't blame your instructor one bit.

Stop talking about it.

You stated your case, now leave your instructor be.

I wish you the best.

You have good conscience... But I get why you didn't tattle on a classmate.

I know you got the lesson, though.

Cheers.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I don't see why it is totally necessary to take a ride in a hoyer in order to demonstrate your competency in using it. And not tattling during a class exercise does NOT mean you will tolerate outright abuse on the job. Personally, I think your teacher is being a huge drama queen.

[minnymi]

that's one of the stupidest things i've ever heard.

first of all, everyone should not HAVE to be lifted. i get the whole "you should feel how the patients feel" thing, but when someone is obese it makes perfect sense that they wouldn't want to be put on the spot like that when it's NOT necessary. besides, that theory doesn't always hold true. we don't all have to get NG tubes or be put on ventilators so we can feel how the patients feel.

your instructor majorly overreacted. five won't make the cut? wow. it's a CNA class....not a presidential election.

i do agree that you should stop talking about it and move on.

one stupid exercise in a class gives no insight into what you would or would not do in a serious situation. that's bologna.

[RedhairedNurse2Be]

I don't see why it is totally necessary to take a ride in a hoyer in order to demonstrate your competency in using it. And not tattling during a class exercise does NOT mean you will tolerate outright abuse on the job. Personally, I think your teacher is being a huge drama queen.

I agree, but if the rules of class state everyone is required to do it, they should follow the rules. I also agree this instructor is a little odd in her teaching methods. If you can find another CNA program. This one sounds like the making of a bad reality show, like Big Brother meets healthcare. Being a good CNA takes time, and just because a person struggles and needs help doesn't mean they can't be good.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

We didn't practice using a mechanical lift in CNA class, but we all had to participate in skills that weren't all that "appealing". You mentioned the heavier ones were CNA's in the past. Maybe they have been on a shift where they had a heavy resident hanging in mid-air, and the lift suddenly stops working. Perhaps they were just embarrassed of being in the lift. Idk, but I don't see how not getting in a lift will make them a "bad aide".

I just think that this is no biggie. I know how this must upset you now, but later down the line..you probably won't remember any of these classmates' names. One isolated incident like this in no way will shape your whole career, unless YOU let it.

[KendallAZ]

This crushed me.

I have learned a HUGE lesson today.

No pun intended. :rotfl:

Sorry, I had to.

[jval]

I love these forums, thanks for your replies. I agree with dropping the issue. I sure as heck won't be bringing it up in class again unless confronted by the instructor! I LOL'd at the comment about this program seeming like the Big Brother of CNA programs... :rotfl: That's kind of how I feel! The reasons it is this way is because it is a free program offered by a local LTC facility who actually only hire CNA's that they have trained. They pay reasonably well once hired and even pay for your State exam. They start out with 20 then have to drop down to 15 before going to the clinical site. We have a test (50-70 q's) every morning! If you score lower than a 75% 3 times, you're out! If they don't like you, you're out! If you're abscence ONCE, you're out!

The rules didn't scare me off because this program is exactly what I needed for my schedule... I've been enjoying myself until that incident today.

She also said that those who were in secret about not participating in the lift would be DROPPED!!!! :uhoh21:

I was too freaking scared to say something.

Glenna, you sound like a wonderful nurse! I think I'm getting hit really hard by reality... I would have liked to think that CNA's and nurses would continue to deliver the best care possible after getting licensed or certified... I should have known better; it's a very rude awakening.

[L8RRN]

I taught a CNA course myself. I think your instructor was a bit of a drama queen about the situation also, but a few mentioned refusing to ride in the lift wasn't a big deal. I required my students to ride for one reason...to understand that positional changes can cause discomfort and how it felt to be suspended in the air. The lift we used was more uncomfortable the farther forward you were sitting because of the banding under the legs of the lift. It was more comfortable to lean back to transfer then switch to a seating position before going into a chair rather than ride around in the lift in a more seated position. Once they rode and realized this, they were more aware of the patient's position for comfort and remembered the feeling so they ensured the patient was more reclined until ready to switch to the chair. I would let two individuals do it privately if someone had big concerns about embarrassment, but I did require everyone to ride.