New CNA & New Job

[robynnel]

I recently got my CNA certification (by recently, I mean yesterday...) and this morning I was contacted by a LTC facility and they offered me a fulltime position with them during the evening shift working in their dementia unit. Does anyone have any advice for me on what I can expect or tips they could share? I am very nervous and will be doing my orientation next week. This is the very first time that I will ever actually be caring for patients on my own. Of course we had the clinicals experience but I am not naive enough to believe that real life is going to be anything like what they taught us in our class. Please help me!

[colli646]

Congrats on receiving your certification! I'm a new certified aide as well since May. I think the best advice I received was to have an open mind and realize that my first shifts by myself weren't going to be the best. Us aides at my facility are allowed two ten minute breaks and a thirty minute meal break, but for my first two weeks, I never found myself having time to even take those breaks. Obviously reality is much different than the classroom, so also be aware of that. Residents with dementia aren't always the easiest, so you have to be patient. Very, very, patient. I was extremely nervous too, but it gets way better and hopefully you have great coworkers. All the aides I work with are super helpful and if they aren't doing anything, they'll jump right in to help me with my section of residents. But really, keep an open mind! Good luck.

[futureBSNmegan]

Hope your orientation/training is going well!! I started my first CNA job at an LTC/Rehab facility in January. Most likely, you won't get many days with a trainer. So while you have one, take advantage of them!! Ask lots of questions-- about specific residents/their routines, about the facility, meal times, etc. I know with my training, they made it slightly longer than normal because this was my first CNA job and they knew I wouldn't be as fast of a learner as people with experience. One more piece of advice: help out as much as you can while training! Don't be afraid to ask if you can do something instead of just watching. Have them watch you and let them critique you. My trainer was surprised and happy that I helped out so much on my first day. Having done that, it made me feel much more confident when I got off training because I had so much practice time while in it. Good luck!