Burned Out and Breaking Down

awww sweetheart I am so sorry. You must be an incredibly strong individual to be working doubles and taking classes. So props to you!! I actually work LTC and work with a girl who does doubles on weekends so you remind me of her. For a minute I was like wait IS this her?? but who knows I'll pray for strength for you sweetie. I know school and this is SO hard. I am an RN student (who failed pharm last fall) so I am doing CNA work this summer until I re-take the class. Getting people up IS so hard! I feel terrible trying to get someone up "fast" bc I have so many other people to get up. I mean I love my sleep too!!! I can only say that in life there are peaks and valleys. YOU WILL get through this. THEY (patients) ARE thankful. And YOU ARE a strong, beautiful, loving caregiver. Please hang in there girl. Keep the faith!!

Much Love,

Jessica

Maybe you should call in off just for one weekend or one double shift and rest

Woah! i think we work the same place or something! I work every weekend as well, i know the feeling of frustration, where you just want to cry and get angry. And of course working the weekend their isnt a nurse there either ha?

One of my jobs is a nut house to say the least. It is consedered "asisted living" but we have some very heavy cares. Imagine 61 apt... you have to at least 5 room cleans 2 showers a shift. Make, serve, clean up, after meals (yes serve restraunt style) mop kitchen etc clean all the bathrooms and do cares. Mind you this is a 8 hour shift, And keep tabs on everyone. lol and on a good day there are 2 med passers and 3 aids, so really 3 aids do everything. and we hear things like "if "we" "have to hire a part time cook and housekeeper someone is going to lose their job" ***!

mm i am pretty much everything there, housekeeper, janitor,cook, dishwasher, aid, soon to be med passer. I am truely underpaid lol

so trust me i know the pain! and i am by no means putting your situation down, I feel awful that you were so upset, esp with the stress of school. Since i only work weekends i know how 3 days can feel like a week when everything is going wrong and i work 3-11's. I would keep bringing up the fact to you mngr's that you also need more coverage. You know what they say. "the squeeky wheel gets the oil" . I hope everything gets better, and when you get there just tell yourself, this is only for 2 days and this isnt forever. Best wishes - lissa

It might be time for a change of scenery or a nice break.

Stop working doubles, please. I was a CNA years ago, and I did the same thing. The money you make is NOT worth the toll is takes on your body and mind.

Wow did i post that in my sleep using a differant user name?? LOL! I to work weekend option and go to school full time and have another part time job. People are always saying I'm silly to be so stressed out at work "since I'm only there 2 days and How bad can that be". Well when you're understaffed both days AND you're working doubles every weekend AND no matter how fast or well you do your job the bosses will pick out the one thing you didnt do, it can be just AWFUL!!! I totally feel you. Not to mention that as soon as I get off work Saturady night I go to my home health job until 5:30 in the morning and have to be back at the LTC at 6:00 to work another double! So i basically don't get to see my kids or husband for 2 days. Then during the week I go to school full time, so I don't get the whole week to relax like some people think I do.

We are also supposed to have 4 aides for 37 people but it rarley happens(we usually have 3).

I know you're frustrated and worn out. Maybe ask for a weekend off. I recently took a weekend off using PTO time and I felt so much better going back the next week. Many weekend workers feel like they shouldn't ask for time off because they are off through the week but I think as long as you give them the time to get someone to cover you, you have as much right as the people who work throught the week to have a mini vaction!


I'll pray for you this weekend while we're both at work.

Don't feel that you shouldn't take time off. Nursing facilities are desperate for CNA's (not that I have to tell you). I used to think I would "look bad" to the management if I turned down an extra shift or refused to come in on my day off. But they need you. They're not going to fire you just because you took an day off when you were entitled to do so. And I think they would rather have healthy (somewhat) rested CNA's working than burned out, exhausted ones. Who knows, maybe if they're not able to count on you to work 60 or 70 hours in a week they might actually try to hire more CNA's and PAY them better.
Funny, the last time I worked as a CNA was 12 years ago, but I still get mad when I hear about all the understaffing and low pay.
Take care of yourself. You won't be any good to anybody if you don't.

Oh no!..I will pray for you honey ))))HUGS((((( I'm not in the field yet, I'm a new certified CNA but my cousin is one and boy oh boy..my hats are off to the veterans CNA's...I have a long ways to go...you hang in there..try to take a vacation and get some rest!