Quitting first CNA job

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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So tell me if I'm crazy. A couple weeks ago I started my first CNA job, and I was so excited. I'm a pre nursing student applying to nursing schools in the fall and I thought it would be best for me to get my CNA this year, and I'm glad I did. I got a job in a LTC facility, and lets just say that after about seven shifts in i'm calling it quits. Its not the work or the residents but more so the establishment. They are cutting back nurses and CNAs on the floor and everyone is constantly stressed and angry and some are refusing to help me with anything, while I have another person telling me if no one will help me then don't do the work. I'm still on orientation and I was going to come off today but I feel it is best to quit while still on orientation rather than quit a couple weeks from now. I would try and stick it out but I am always anxious before going into work, I can't enjoy my days off and I can't kick this stress, I just do not see myself long term with this company. It's a good thing I cut my hours at my previous job and didn't quit hah. This place hasn't turned me off to wanting to be a nurse, I just feel most LTC facilities are like this and it just isn't for me, I am thinking about getting into a home health job in the fall.

Anyways sorry about the long post but am I crazy for quitting this job so early?? Anyone have a similar story?

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Sounds like a typical LTC CNA job to me. Did it for a couple years and generally hated it, although I did get attached to many of the residents. They almost become like family.

If you stuck it out it probably would have gotten better eventually, although it takes a while. Lots of successful RNs out there that took a stab at being a CNA and hated it, or failed miserably at it, so just use it as a learning experience.

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All of what you described are reasons why I left my LTC job after two years of the same thing. They couldn't keep adequate staff, the management couldn't follow through on promises, those of us who came in on time, did our jobs well, and didn't cause problems were punished for the "crimes" of those who didn't come in on time, didn't do their jobs, and caused problems. We were expected to do our jobs, other CNAs' jobs, and the dietary department's jobs. I put up with it for far too long. My mental health suffered, my family suffered, and it was time to get out. If you see these signs this early, it probably is a good time to get out before you get sucked into the mire, too.

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I feel for you! I only lasted 2 months in LTC before I quit.

Try to get into a hospital, home health, or assisted living. Easier on your body and mind.

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Thanks for the feedback everybody! This whole quitting thing happened so fast. My manager said she was very surprised and thought things were going well and other cna's were giving excellent feedback for me (which surprised me) but she understood and said LTC isn't for everyone. I still want to be a CNA but I will stick it out with my job i have had the past few years for the rest of the summer and then look into home health during school. Just glad I did this now so now I won't be living a miserable summer!

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Specializes in Long term care.

It generally takes a good solid month in LTC to get the hang of things. It probably would have gotten easier for you eventually but, if the facility isn't a good one, you will never be able to really do your job the way it should be done, and that is frustrating and stressful.

I can't do home care...it isn't for me.

LTC isn't for everyone. Home care isn't for everyone...neither is assisted living! You just have to find where you fit best.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I would have stuck it out for two months. I usually find the first month of any job to be a little harder because I'm just getting used to the job and the people around me. The second month is really the deal breaker because by then I'm no longer "new" and people start acting more like themselves than a "nice coworker."

I also work in long-term care and it can get stressful but know that you don't have to do EVERYTHING like its suppose to be at the time you want it to. I use to be so stressed and anxious before work because I couldn't do my work fast enough plus with all the other things that had to be done in-between patient care like watching the patients in the dayroom, smoke duty, 1-to-1, dining room, showers. I was running around like a chicken with its head cut-off.

After countless seasoned CNAs told me that nursing is 24 hours so I shouldn't fear about getting everything done and stress myself out because if it didn't get done then it will be done the next shift, I relaxed a bit more.

Don't let this work stress you out! Its not worth the money. What really matters is that 1) the patients' butts are clean and moisture barrier cream is applied 2) the patients do not fall 3) the patients who should be repositioned every 2 hours are repositioned

Besides that, everything else could wait or be done at a reasonable pace :)

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