Little things that make your day

[NM nurse to be]

So this morning, I was getting up a lady who's been having a hard couple weeks. She's there for rehab from a stroke and is getting much stronger. She has a very hard time speaking though and it's tough to understand her sometimes. She is on antibiotics for a UTI now and feeling better finally.

Anyway, I had just brought her out of the bathroom and she is one of my 'dress only's so we were talking about that. She said she'd get dressed later and I helped her out of the chair. She really only needs steadying now but today she put her arms around me and told me she just wanted to give me a hug :) She gave me this huge tight hug and a big grin and then went back to bed. I really don't know what brought it on. That was just so sweet and really made my morning.

What went good for you today?

[Serendipity, PCT]

This was a very nice gesture. It would be interesting to hear positive stories. I'm sure being a CNA isn't "hell" all of the time. Being that a good number of us on the Boards are going through the certification process, it would be nice to hear the "OTHER" side of what this field is truely like.

[care_baer]

I have one resident that I get up every morning that I'm at work. She is very forgetful, but has had a routine in the morning for very many years, and if you forget part of her routine it throws everything off and everything isn't good enough for her from that point on. The CNA that trained me was really good, and showed me all the little details that are important to the residents. Every morning that I get this woman up she always tells me what a good aid I am. This is very special to me because everyday it's like I'm a new person to her and she still likes me each day.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

Yeah, it's always nice to hear good things like that. A nurse telling you that she gets a lot of compliments about you from different residents, overhearing a resident telling a family member that you're her favorite, hearing "I love you" or "you're my little girl" or "I'm so glad I have you tonight." Coworkers telling you they enjoy working with you is nice too!

[NM nurse to be]

Thanks :) I started this because it's been a very trying last few weeks. And I needed to find the good or I wouldn't go back. The residents are wonderful, even the picky ones. It's coworkers and RN's who hate their job that are making mine hell on wheels. Lots of lessons in 'how not to' for me when the time comes. I'm glad people are posting on this because there are good parts to the job. They just get lost sometimes.

I always feel like such a rock star when I stop by the dining room to say goodbye to someone. I work nights, so the early birds are just there waiting and they all want to say hello or chat. I'm far from perfect but something I like to do, that the others don't seem to, is just chat with people. I love overhearing one of the ladies at a table telling another that I'm her favorite. One of my gentleman had a dry night, right up until 10 minutes before the end of my shift. He winked at me and told me he didn't want to make my night too easy now :) He is a sweet thing, no idea what my name is but he knows me and is always happy to see me come in.

[yousoldtheworld]

Yeah, the "I'm so glad you're here tonight!" is always a great one!

When I work in the memory unit, if I'm on a group different from my usual, I have a resident that will actually walk over to the other side to find me if she needs help with something. She'll say, "That other girl just doesn't take as good care of me as you do!" Of course, it's a little annoying once in a while to have to go over to the other side when I'm in the middle of things, but at the same time, it makes you feel good.

One of the residents that I have to get up every day forgets who you are in five minutes...but still, every morning, as I get her dressed and ready, she'll say "What's your name? You're such a sweet little girl!" She's been known to be combative with some of the other aides.

I know I have tons, I just can't think of them right now. But yes, for all the bad times being an aide, there are plenty of good things, too. :)