I am a new-ish CNA. I have been working at my first CNA job since July 12, so I just had my 90 day review, which went fine. I work in a long term care facility. I am feeling pretty conflicted about whether or not I want to stay at this job. If you have time, please read this post and share any opinions/advice you have for me. Here is what is stressing me out at work. I have no problem with any of the things we do for residents - "poop", "pee" and "wiping butts" do not bother me in the least, as I know these folks need help and I hope one day, if I need it, someone will help me!!! I also don't mind working hard. I am not lazy, and I want to do the best job I can. HOWEVER.... I do NOT enjoy the general atmosphere of "hurry, hurry, HURRY!!!!" that exists in my workplace.
Apparently I am still too slow at my job, and my coworkers frequently voice their frustrations to me. I understand that they might be stressed because me being slow makes "more work for them." I work 1st shift and the morning get-ups are the worst part of my day. We have 26 residents on our wing, and we are supposed to have them all up for breakfast by 7:45am. Right now, we have maybe 4 who are "independent," but we also have 15 who are an assist of 2, so you can't just do them by yourself. We are supposed to have 3 aids and a bath aid, who usually gets up about 3 people, as they get their baths before breakfast. Anyhow, I have been told to make it a goal to spend only 15 minutes getting a resident up, washed and dressed for breakfast. I am down to 15 minutes once they are on the "potty chair", but then it takes a few minutes to clean up the bathroom and get to the next room... and that doesn't include the time actually getting them up out of bed. In reality, it is taking me about 20 minutes per resident. I am working to improve my speed, but I refuse to forgo the gait belt (which many of my coworkers do) or the basin, because I think it is silly to have one way to do things when State is in the building and another when they are not. I want to do my job so that State could walk in at any minute and they would think it was just fine. Even with starting at 6:15am, the most people I have had up and done by 7:45 was 4 people.
It seems there is a double standard going on here. The DON and ADON, and also the nurse on our hall, have told me they appreciate my thoroughness and that I should do my job right and not worry about the "hurrying" factor. My fellow CNA's, however, will poke their heads into a room where I am helping someone and stand there and say "Let's go!! Get a move on here!" Which does not help, by the way, as it just stresses me out and makes me fumble things. I feel like there is some sort of weird conspiracy where the administration tells you to do things the right way, but really wants you to cut corners as long as you don't get caught. That is what most of my coworkers do, and they get mad at me because I won't do it.
OK - I am sort of rambling here. I guess what I am wondering is this - is there an environment where a CNA could work where patience and thoroughness are valued more than speed? I have applied at the two local hospitals, but I feel kind of guilty about it, like I am a quitter or a traitor. I do not look down on LTC - I applied there because I wanted to care for older people who need help. But this environment feels toxic for me. I just can't spend my days hurrying and being yelled at. I also will not hurry a 95 year old woman as she is getting out of bed. Is this what I will always find in LTC? Would hospital work be any different? I don't personally know anyone who works as a CNA at a hospital, so I don't have anyone to ask.
I would appreciate any feedback. Please know that it is not the work that bothers me - body fluids and messes are no problem for me, it is life and folks need help with it. I just hate to hurry all day long and feel like a loser when I am not the fastest one in the bunch. I hope I don't get burned too much for this...
