Panic mode! help with keeping up on my assignments...

[HayleyLara]

I just passed my cna test and started orientation at a nursing home. All my co-workers have been there for a long time and know all the residents, and of course I no clue what the residents like or what their schedule is. So, we were short(sometime called in sick) and they asked me to take a list. I think I did all right, and they said I did fine...but it seems like their system is just "remembering" who they should get up first, who likes to get up late, who needs extensive assistance, who is mostly independent, etc. I just can't remember all of it! There's too many people! And the whole time I was worried sick that I was forgetting something important. UFFDA! How do you keep track of your assignments and make sure you've got everything done? Every time I ask they say that you just remember it, and it takes time...kinda freaking out here! I want to take good care of these folks...and I have only 4 days of orientation before my 1st solo shift. Also, I find it hard to find out who needs what degree of assistance...like, who needs help with their oral cares, who has to have the ez stand, etc. That should be on the care plan, right?

ANY tips and advice is welcome!!

[tnicnat]

Don't panic, you will be fine. Talk to your residents, talk about anything, the weather, the food, use humor. Ask them about where they were born, what their likes are....just talk and be personable. Thats how I got to know my residents, but then I'm not afraid to talk and talk and talk. If your afraid or panicking the resident will pick up on that and they rely on you, so be calm.

[Zalina]

It does take time to remember everybody's routine. Everybody go trough that. It took me a while to remember who to get up in the morning. Keep a little notebook. Ask a nurse or a fellow cna if you are not sure if the resident needs to get up. Communication is a key. If you talk to your residents, they will let you know what and how needs to be done. Good luck

[verene, MSN]

Take a deep breath. It's normal for things to feel a little crazy until you get the routine down. If you can for now, take notes to help yourself remember who does what when, and do not be afraid to ask residents if they do or do not need help with something. Communication with staff and residents and a good sense of humor should get you through the learning curve. Good luck. :-)

[Missingyou, CNA]

my first solo day I thought "WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO!!!?"

It really does take time, you will get the hang of it. Go easy on yourself.

The care plan will tell you everything important that you need to know. Write down things like times a resident likes to get up or go to bed. Ask the residents that can tell you, ask other CNA's if the resident can't communicate those things to you.

There are also those "non-verbal" cues. If you're going to get a resident up for breakfast and they are clinging and otherwise "uncooperative" then just leave them be and move on to another resident and go back later. If a non-verbal resident is "slumped over" in their wheelchair after lunch, that should tell you they need to lay in bed for a nap....

[HayleyLara]

Thank you for the advice, this is really helpful... nice to know that I'm not the only one who has felt sort of the same! Trying to just hang in there and work my butt off until I get it!