New CNA- How to deal with body pain

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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So as I posted the other day I started my first day as a CNA today at a hospital. OMG! my body feels like it is going to fall apart, i even cried after my shift walking to the bus stop because I was so weak and my body from my lower back to the tips of my toes were in so much pain. Even though I'm only 20 I have always had lower back pain when I stand for too long. The CNA that I was orienting with today said that she just got used to it. She's in her 40s and a little bigger than me but it didn't even effect her she seemed just as fine as when she started the shift I couldn't understand it. i'm going to go stretch and I will start doing some back and thigh exercises to strengthen my body. I started working out not too long ago b/c I'm 40 pounds overweight (but even the people bigger than me don't seem to be effected). Any advice about how to deal with severe pain after a working in this field?

Do any of you bother to use mechanical lifts?

I use the lifts and stands, but that doesn't help when you are told you MUST walk certain residents, even if 'walking' them means 3 aides holding them up and dragging them down the hall. One of my residents is care planned as an Arjo out of bed, and a stand into bed. But we still have to walk him. O-o That is where my broken back comes from :(

I use the lifts and stands, but that doesn't help when you are told you MUST walk certain residents, even if 'walking' them means 3 aides holding them up and dragging them down the hall. One of my residents is care planned as an Arjo out of bed, and a stand into bed. But we still have to walk him. O-o That is where my broken back comes from :(

Now that makes sense. Does the P/T have upper body strength? Or is that minimal as well? I did Nursing Assistant back in Job Corps, and will be hopefully getting a job soon as a Home Health Aide, (I want to become career-Medical, like I wanted in the first place) if the P/T has uppber body strength, has anyone looked into the use of a walker? something for him/her to put their weight into, while you support him/her from either side?

Where is the physical therapist in all of this? If they are really that bad, a physical therapist should be involved with the patients recovery.

I work in the dementia/Alzheimer unit of a LTCF. The resident doesn't really even seem to know what we are doing. The one I was speaking of would not be able to hold a walker, his hands are contracted and he isn't able to understand us telling him to hold onto one. The other resident who is the main cause of the pain is also care planned as a stand. His family is rather...unaccepting... of his illness and shows up near daily on am and pm shifts. Once 3 people LIFT him into a standing position, he lifts his feet and tries to throw the walker out in front of him, he doesn't understand. But...if we do not go up and down that hall 2 to 3 times, his family complains and we get chewed out. Did I mention this is to be done every 2 hours? I understand how crazy this sounds, I really do. I just do as I am told :/

I work in the dementia/Alzheimer unit of a LTCF. The resident doesn't really even seem to know what we are doing. The one I was speaking of would not be able to hold a walker, his hands are contracted and he isn't able to understand us telling him to hold onto one. The other resident who is the main cause of the pain is also care planned as a stand. His family is rather...unaccepting... of his illness and shows up near daily on am and pm shifts. Once 3 people LIFT him into a standing position, he lifts his feet and tries to throw the walker out in front of him, he doesn't understand. But...if we do not go up and down that hall 2 to 3 times, his family complains and we get chewed out. Did I mention this is to be done every 2 hours? I understand how crazy this sounds, I really do. I just do as I am told :/

Are you friggen kidding me?

Where is the PHYSICAL THERAPIST at? And he should be getting walked, absolutely, but where is the occupational therapist, and the physical therapist at? He is obviously NOT getting the treatment he needs. Not by YOUR doing, but by the medical institutions decision. Does the LTC's Physician know about it? If so, why isn't the P/T being sent/dealt with by the Physical Therapist and Physical Therapy Aides, and an Occupational Therapist?

His hands are contracted FOR A REASON, that's what happens when they don't recieve proper ROMEs. Don't get me wrong, you are doing what you're supposed to do/instructed to do. But holy cow, the P/T should be seeing Physical Therapist and be getting walked/dealt with by the PHysical Therapy Aides.

Kitsey, the thing that has me the most concerned, is with a patient who is THAT incapable of physical movement, and a CNA is getting them on their feet, that's SERIOUS liability. If they have that bad ROM and that low in their ambulatory capability, CNA should NOT be walking them, a PTA should be. NOT a CNA. Physical Therapy Assistants have their own area for a reason.

Just for CYA purposes, I would check to make sure it's even ALLOWED in your state for a CNA to be that involved with physical therapy, when he/she is NOT a Physical Therapy Aide.

In my state, if it takes more than ONE person to walk a patient, it HAS to be a Physical Therapist, and Physical Therapy Aides that do it. At that point, it is beyond a CNA's legal ability.

in MY state at least. I really would look to your state to see if what you're doing is even legal for your role on the Healthcare Team.

Hey Kitsey, I spoke to an Ombudsman about a hypothetical scenario, I asked him, "What if we had to move a non-ambulatory patient, with a mental disorder, with family orders to have him "walked" every two hours, without any assistance devices, because the patient was incapable of using one, and what if it was NOT Physical Therapy Aides walking the patient, and it takes 3 people to "walk" the patient?".

His answer:

"The facility would be obviously ill-equipped to handle the patient, and those involved would have to be investigated for neglect, and possible harm to the patient. If the patient fell, or was ever dropped, the Charge Nurse would possibly have their license supended for allowed a patient to be endangered in such a way. And the rest of the facility would be put under investigation for malpractice and neglect, and causing harm to other patients, because most often then not, when we hear of one patient having a bad situation, there is normally three to forty others in the facility in the same boat."

That is for the State of Washington.

I would tread lightly and follow CYA.

He also went to state, that if such a thing was discovered, the patient would be relocated to a facility better equipped to deal with it. Because of possible risk to bodily harm to the caregivers.

I have constant serious foot pain, overstep is painful, after a yearlong bout with PF in my heels, it was either quit or do something. I took 2 steroid shots in my feet. orthofeet shoes significantly reduce my pain. I can walk further which in turn is good for the pain. I will not wear another shoe. And i'm back to 8 hrs a day on my feet.

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