Well, Ijust stopped my CNA work. It was a good run, but -- boy, it's rough work.
I became a CNA because I thought that it'd make a better nurse of me. That remains to be seen but I did learn the ropes, got to work on my bedside care (because I came from an area of the hospital that was very 'task-oriented'. I needed that softness and personable way of being that nursing does requires)...and I'm a helluva lot less squeamish than I used to be.
I won't miss being a CNA, but I respect it.
I hated orking understaffed. Work was just backbreaking at times, but for some reason...my crazy residents kind of made it worthwhile. I know that's corny. I'd be in a mood, but the minute I hit the hallway and see them smiling and waving?
I put on my 'work face' and went to work.
I can't say much about my nurses. Most that I've worked with have been great. There are lazy folks in every bunch. I guess I've been fortunate to have only encountered it... seldomly. I used to work in a place where the charge nurse was on the bullhorn everytime a call-light went off. Everyone was working a busy. Why couldn't she get up and answer the light?
Had another time, where some guy in management (forget his title) was walking around calling himself supervising. I'm running around with towels and soap trying to get my people in the shower...because I had to fight for space. I couldn't stop because some other aide would muscle my resident out of the shower room. Yes, it was that serious. We had to fight to share on time.
This guy walked right past the calllight...to the nurses station...saw me and proceeded to ask me to answer a call-light.
What IS that?
I turned around real slow-like and just looked at him.
He said, "Oh, it's ok..."
He didn't even answer the call-light, either. Just sat his do-nothing butt behind the nurse's station. I wanted to drop-kick him right out of that chair. Chuck Norris Style.
But - damned right it was 'ok'. I was showering. What the ---- was he doing?
Delgating? Get outta here. Y'know -- when you're in a subordinate role, some tend to act as if you've never held title or position or done anything remotely important in life. I have and I know a crappy a-s manager when I see one!
Working for nothing?
My aide coworkers and I were discussing working understaffed and the rate of pay. Because I made $9.50 as an aide, I was surprised that I would be making above the avg for my GVN spot. $20/hr...and I'm not even a real nurse, yet!
Actually, I'd somehow rec'vd a dang raise. Initially, I was told that it was 19.50 an hour and was led to believe that this was a new nurse starting salary.
My coworkers weren't shocked though.
"Oh, they're going to pay the nurses. They take care of ya'll and want to keep you. With us, they think 'Oh, they're replaceable."
But...that's the thing. Aides aren't hard to find. Good aides... are. People who do their jobs, don't whine and complain about silly crap, don't polarize the work environment, go the extra mile and will pick up shifts when short because they care about their coworkers and the residents?
Are NOT easy to find.
We all agreed that something should be done. We finally have a good crop of aides. The problem? The long shifts, low pay and working understaffed is literally burning them out. I was the PRN. If it weren't for me coming they'd be down to 3 aides. Sometimes, 2...and on DAYSHIFT! Now that I'm gone, I'm not sure how things are going to end up now, but I'm hoping that they don't leave.
I guess it's not realistic, though. 3 aides canNOT hold a 90-100 bed facility down by themselves. Can't do it. Hell, if I didn't want to be a nurse and only wanted to do aide work? I sure as hell wouldn't do it. I'd put my 2 weeks in and go to homehealth.
Aug 22, '12 by MedChicaWell, Ijust stopped my CNA work. It was a good run, but -- boy, it's rough work.