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| No. 10 | 
Oct 09, 2009, 03:05 PM
 Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough?
Dont worry, as times go by you will get use to your routine and be more familiar with your patients. Meaning how long you spend with each person, their needs and who does what etc.. one thing that really helps me was getting points from the cna who been there longer and doing a great job.
Lol i was so scare when i first started, with no experiences and Little english... LMAO..If i made it thru, u can too. It just requires dedication, hard work and LOTS of patience
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Oct 12, 2009, 04:01 PM
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough?
Wow... it's a LOT and very overwhelming. (I just finished working my seventh day, which was my fourth on my own, since there were only 3 days of orientation.) I'm learning more every day. I always volunteer to help everyone, and I arrive early and end up staying late! The nurses seem to really like me-- one especially is very supportive and told me that she loved the way I did the work she requested without complaining, and that this was very rare around there.
Now, a bit of venting... well, not really venting, but still... The main thing is that we only have 2 techs on our hall for the day shift, and everyone else on every other shift has 3-- and that's what makes it hard. No matter how fast I get, it will not really fix things. The other very experienced tech (30+ years) has been very unhappy with the situation since the third tech quit and management didn't replace her (five months ago), so I make a point of helping her with everything and being very sympathetic (she tells me that the last person who had the job didn't help much.) We don't have a full census compared to the other hall, but the thing is, that means that we only have about 2 fewer residents than they do-- so we'd be MUCH better off with a couple more residents and then getting one more tech. The reason is that most of our people need to be moved with Hoyer or Valaro lifts, and the facility rule is that techs who are caught using a lift by themselves can be fired then and there. So you see the problem with only two techs. Even if I was just as fast as the experienced tech, we'd still have the time bottleneck of being required to pair up on all the lifts (and then answering all of the call lights, too).
The HR person said that she'd working on getting that third tech, and the word is that a couple more residents will be moving onto our hall, so I do think we'll be getting the third CNA. If and when we do, I think this will be a very good job; with only 2 techs, it's very difficult. But it's a real learning experience!  It's been good to find out that I'm up to the physical work. And I just LOVE the residents.
| | No. 12 |
Oct 14, 2009, 01:56 PM
Updated
Oct 14, 2009 at 02:04 PM by mgsp14
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough? Originally Posted by Anise1  Hi all... (waves)
I just started my new (first) job at a LTC a week ago, and I really would appreciate some input from others on how long it took them to get up to speed on their routines to the point where they felt comfortable with what they were doing. They only give three days of orientation at this LTC and I do NOT feel ready!!! I've had only ONE day on my own, and everything kind of hit at once, including an in-service that was supposed to be only half an hour and ended up being over an hour in the middle of the day. I share the wing with an experienced tech and she's great, but I hate feeling like I'm slowing her down. I almost feel guilty because we don't have nearly as many residents per tech as some places, BUT the families and residents do expect a LOT of us because they are all paying so much money for them to be there (everyone must be very nicely dressed and groomed at all times, hair and makeup, shave men every day, lots of service, lots of events, very particular and demanding about everything, dot the i's and cross the t's, etc.) For instance, at the end of that first day on my own (which was yesterday), we had to get everyone up and elegantly dressed and made up for the fancy barbecue dinner in the dining room!!
Anyway, I have 8 residents and 3 are total care; we also serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we have one resident who is on the call light all day and needs to be taken to the bathroom about every half hour. It really seems that once I get into the routine it will be okay, and that's what the experienced tech says too, but it's hard because you can NOT skimp with these residents, their families will notice!! Right now it just seems so impossible to fit it all in and I feel like an idiot for even thinking it's difficult... anyway, I ended up going back to my car and crying at the end of everything yesterday. I just feel like, well, I will work as hard as I have to, I will NEVER fail out of laziness, but I'm so afraid that working hard isn't enough... what if I just never get the hang of it... words of advice please!!
You're not alone... I worked as a PCA at a private home for 2 years providing 1:1 care. After earning my certification, I was hired at a LTC facility, which sounds similar to the one you are working at. There a 20 residents, and 2-3 CNAs on at a time.
I have worked as a CNA for 3 months now, and I am finally comfortable at work. I do a great job, the only problem is... I am slowwww! It takes me about 40 minutes from start to finish to shower a resident, and it only takes the other CNAs 15 minutes, tops.
Just remember, your co-workers have probably been at this facility, or worked as CNAs, for a few years. After a while, I am sure you'll be just as quick as them. As long as you are getting the job done correctly, and providing safe, private care to the residents, I am sure you'll be fine! | | No. 13 |
Oct 15, 2009, 04:50 PM
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough?
Anise,
Are you doing any better?  I have a feeling I will just like u....
| | No. 14 |
Oct 15, 2009, 09:49 PM
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough?
I'm learning more every day. But it's a LOT. The thing is that every other shift on both B halls has THREE techs and we have TWO. They even have three on our hall for the NIGHT shift, and because we serve all 3 meals, the night shift really does not do that much. So that's why the more experienced tech on my hall is not very happy with the situation-- it's definitely more than just the issue of me still getting up to speed. A friend from the CNA training school where I went said she would apply this week, and hopefully she will get hired... they keep saying they will hire more people, so we will see! | | No. 15 |
Oct 15, 2009, 09:53 PM
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough?
Working short gets on everyone's nerves after awhile. The entire unit ends up suffering, and that includes the residents.
I hope you get that third aide soon. That's quite a load for two, especially on days.
| | No. 16 |
Oct 16, 2009, 09:26 AM
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough?
I hope they hire the 3rd aide soon! I bet they wonder why the moral is down....the residents should be the priority, don't you think? You go girl! I have a feeling that I am going to be a bit slow as well. But, it all comes in time. How do u like being a CNA? Is it what you thought it would be? The day shift is the one that I want initially, but seems to be the busiest. Thanks!
| | No. 17 |
Oct 16, 2009, 11:11 AM
Updated
Oct 16, 2009 at 11:17 AM by sirI
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough? Originally Posted by Anise1 Hi all... (waves)
I just started my new (first) job at a LTC a week ago, and I really would appreciate some input from others on how long it took them to get up to speed on their routines to the point where they felt comfortable with what they were doing. They only give three days of orientation at this LTC and I do NOT feel ready!!! I've had only ONE day on my own, and everything kind of hit at once, including an in-service that was supposed to be only half an hour and ended up being over an hour in the middle of the day. I share the wing with an experienced tech and she's great, but I hate feeling like I'm slowing her down. I almost feel guilty because we don't have nearly as many residents per tech as some places, BUT the families and residents do expect a LOT of us because they are all paying so much money for them to be there (everyone must be very nicely dressed and groomed at all times, hair and makeup, shave men every day, lots of service, lots of events, very particular and demanding about everything, dot the i's and cross the t's, etc.) For instance, at the end of that first day on my own (which was yesterday), we had to get everyone up and elegantly dressed and made up for the fancy barbecue dinner in the dining room!!
Anyway, I have 8 residents and 3 are total care; we also serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we have one resident who is on the call light all day and needs to be taken to the bathroom about every half hour. It really seems that once I get into the routine it will be okay, and that's what the experienced tech says too, but it's hard because you can NOT skimp with these residents, their families will notice!! Right now it just seems so impossible to fit it all in and I feel like an idiot for even thinking it's difficult... anyway, I ended up going back to my car and crying at the end of everything yesterday. I just feel like, well, I will work as hard as I have to, I will NEVER fail out of laziness, but I'm so afraid that working hard isn't enough... what if I just never get the hang of it... words of advice please!!
I use to go behind the curtain and cry. You are not alone. It took me about a month to get it together. It's worse when you are a floater because they can pull you from a floor even though you might have started your assignment. I faked being sick one time because I had such a difficult assignment. It also doesn't help when the staff are nasty and have no remorse. Hopefully you wont have to deal with that. I was stressed but it all came together. Good Luck to you.
| | No. 18 |
Oct 16, 2009, 11:14 AM
Re: Willl I ever be able to go fast enough? Originally Posted by Floridadreamer I hope they hire the 3rd aide soon! I bet they wonder why the moral is down....the residents should be the priority, don't you think? You go girl! I have a feeling that I am going to be a bit slow as well. But, it all comes in time. How do u like being a CNA? Is it what you thought it would be? The day shift is the one that I want initially, but seems to be the busiest. Thanks!
the day shift is the hardest and of course when all the staff is there.i worked every shift but eventually went to the nite shift.much calmer and no one on ur back
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