I don't want to be a CNA anymore.

[Ms. Nurse Assistant]

After this experience, I don't want to be a CNA anymore. I do not have any luck in this field, I have the worst luck.

I recently spoke with the Nursing home who terminated me to get the real reason why I was let go and things got real ugly. The RN was rude, had me on speakerphone so other RNs/LPNs could chme in aganst me. I ended up crying after the conversation.

Apparently, they said that there were too many complaints against me before I even reached 90 days. One of them was being getting a write up for one diaper being soaking wet.

And then a major one that almost cost my certification being stripped away from me involving a resident and his "shoe". His shoe was put on wrong, and his toes were curled under or something like that. He has arthritis. His son came up there to visit him and said that his father was screaming in pain because of how his shoe was put on. He was so angry that he was going to call state on the Nursing home, and try to get my certification taken away from me. I was unaware that it was this serious when I was employed. I was just told that his shoe was put on wrong and that I was not allowed to get him dressed anymore.

Still, I do not see how that could have happened. He had hard leather sneakers that easily slid on his foot.

The RN who I talked to claim that I ignored the pain and agony he was in--I told her that he was not in any pain when I put his shoes on. Then she switched it up and said he was SCREAMING after I had left my shift.

Then I asked how was I supposed to know if something was wrong--his shoes were perfectly fine when I put them on, he was not in any pain.

She claimed that what I did was not intentional and it was a case of being careless. You cannot tell if something is wrong with his foot because it looks fine when you put them on. Well, I argued why is he wearing hard leather sneakers if he has arthritis then?? Why doesn't he have cloth slippers so this doesn't happen again?

She claims that I was the only person this has ever happened with and since it has not occured again with another CNA.

I really don't know what I could have done differently. What happened was the inevitable. I still assured her that if they continue to make him wear those shoes it WILL happen again, despite her claims.

The other complaint was that I was too rough with a female resident. She complained to a CNA that a girl was not very gentle with her and that she did not want her ever again.

That was the first time I had ever dealt with the woman and I had been working there for nearly 3 months. She was having major difficulty getting up so I did the best I could to help her. Maybe I was a bit too rough with her, but I don't see how I could have gotten her up if I didn't put all my strength into lifting her.

It's really hard being a CNA. It is NOT easy lifting people with a lot of dead weight, what else are we supposed to do? We can't lift them like they weight 1lbs. Just about everything we do to help these people can be classified as abuse. You try to roll patients who are very heavy and cannot help themselves and they are always going "ouch" or "you're too rough"...or if a RN/LPN walks in and sees something and is quick to say you are doing it wrong and abusing the resident.

The other complaint was getting them dressed too early. There was only one particular set that was very exhausting and stressful that I HAD to get them dressed early. They had to be up at 5am, and I would just dress them at 3:30am instead of 4am. If I hadn't of started early I would have been behind. And all the other CNAs are too preoccupied with their workload to give me a hand all the time. I specifically asked the RN if this was in the employee handbook that we were not allowed to dress them at 3:30am and she started dancing around the issue..I stressed that there was no policy in the Nursing Home that stated it was against rules to do this. As a new CNA, how are we supposed to know it's wrong?? Especially, if we have not been properly trained! When I started working there it was really up to everyone's own discretion as to what time they get their residents up. Not everyone got them up at 4am. When I told her this, she specifically asked me for names and was ready to fire other CNAs of course I refused. I am not malicious at all. And I really liked my fellows CNAs very well, and they work very hard.

Lastly, the RN claimed I had many other complaints against me, and when I asked her what they were she said, "I have many things to do right now and I don't have time to be on the phone with you all day". With persistance on my part she finally told me that the other complaints were about the way my 'sets' looked.

I asked why was I not made aware of all these issues. She said she called me but I was never picked up the phone.

I TRULY felt that I was doing the job to the best of my ability. Everyday, when I came to work I thought I was doing the RIGHT thing. I had no complaints from other CNAs, in fact I helped them dress some of their residents. Just to think that everyday I came to work I was doing EVERYTHING wrong. I am very hurt and dissappointed. My intentions were always to do a good job. I was doing what I thought was right.

Lastly, the whole confrontation between me and the LPN was such a set-up to get me fired. The confrontation was what got me written up and taken off the schedule, but when I get there it was not addressed at all!

I know this post is long but I really need to vent. But I have talked to my mother and father and told me that I do not want to work in a nursing home ever again. I still want to be a RN, but not a CNA. I truly feel like there is VERY little respect for what we do and its easy for us to make so many wrong mistakes. I don't want to go through this ever again. I might find a job in retail or something. This experience has really jaded me a bit.

[jackson145]

Also, Ms Nursing Assistant, don't let some of these posts make you feel bad.

I've been where you're coming from. When I was supporting a 4-person household all by myself on a tech's pay, the last thing on my mind was jeopardizing my only income to stand up to administration about policies that I felt were unfair to the patients.

Years later, with a degree under my belt and many more options for supporting my family, I'd be much more inclined to stand up to the powers-that-be in the workplace and try to change things for the better.

When you are faced with losing the roof over your head and wondering how you will buy groceries for your kids, you're less inclined to put your job on the line for your principles.

If my actions only affected me and my kids wouldn't suffer for it, I'd always stand up to the big bosses when I see things at work that are clearly not humane.

Most of the issues you've asked for help with aren't something that can be fixed. More training and accepting blame won't fix problems that are caused by understaffing and unrealistic expectations of what a worker can accomplish.

Go on to nursing school. Yeah, the problems will be the same, but it doesn't sting as bad when you're getting paid enough to keep the lights on and the water running.

And, try to go somewhere besides LTC. Maybe you'll find a better atmosphere!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Ms. Nurse Assistant:

No matter how much you've been wrongfully treated by the people at your previous workplace(s), you are not a victim in these situations.

Unless, of course, you actually want to assume the role of the victim who has been wronged by coworkers and management. I know I'm digressing, but it is easier to be victimized than it is to accept even a morsel of personal responsibility for one's own actions.

The best nurses are able to accept criticism, take steps to change some aspects of their practice, and assume personal accountability for every single action they take.

What if you make a medication error when you're an RN? You cannot become the victim, and blame anyone else for the outcome. Learn to accept feeback, even if it might not be what you wish to hear.

[jojotoo, RN]

I think that some of the posters are being a little hard on the OP. Either they've forgotten what it's like to be at the bottom of the totem pole or they've never been there at all. It's all well and good that a CNA is being advised to be a patient advocate, but where is the role model that she is supposed to learn that from? If the RNs and LPNs are not active in that role, how can we hold her to a higher standard.

It seemed to me that all the OP wanted in her original post was a little support and maybe a few strokes for the good job that she was trying to do. The reasonable suggestions that were made to her - approaching administration, asking for more help - she's tried those. If she refuses to do the tasks assigned to her, in the time frame given, she'll probably lose her job. That's not going to solve anything.

The one viable suggestion that I read - report the nursing home to its regulatory body - this may not have been something that she knew about. But now she does.

And for the posters that thought she was making excuses or not acknowledging her errors, I don't see any thing that she's done wrong. True, getting people up and dressed that early may not be ideal, but I don't think that it's abusive - unless she's dragging them out of bed against their will.

So to Ms. Nurse Assistant: My advice to you is to go back to school, get a degree and a license, so that you will be in a better position to advocate change.

[TazziRN, RN]

I think that some of the posters are being a little hard on the OP. Either they've forgotten what it's like to be at the bottom of the totem pole or they've never been there at all. It's all well and good that a CNA is being advised to be a patient advocate, but where is the role model that she is supposed to learn that from? If the RNs and LPNs are not active in that role, how can we hold her to a higher standard.

It seemed to me that all the OP wanted in her original post was a little support and maybe a few strokes for the good job that she was trying to do. The reasonable suggestions that were made to her - approaching administration, asking for more help - she's tried those. If she refuses to do the tasks assigned to her, in the time frame given, she'll probably lose her job. That's not going to solve anything.

The one viable suggestion that I read - report the nursing home to its regulatory body - this may not have been something that she knew about. But now she does.

And for the posters that thought she was making excuses or not acknowledging her errors, I don't see any thing that she's done wrong. True, getting people up and dressed that early may not be ideal, but I don't think that it's abusive - unless she's dragging them out of bed against their will.

So to Ms. Nurse Assistant: My advice to you is to go back to school, get a degree and a license, so that you will be in a better position to advocate change.

I do remember what it's like to be at the bottom. And the suggestions given to her she has not tried, and she has made excuses for everything without accepting responsibility for her part in this. Not once did she acknowledge that getting someone dressed that early is wrong, she only repeats that there's no other way to do her job. And I promise you, depriving someone of sleep is considered abuse.

[jojotoo, RN]

I do remember what it's like to be at the bottom. And the suggestions given to her she has not tried, and she has made excuses for everything without accepting responsibility for her part in this. Not once did she acknowledge that getting someone dressed that early is wrong, she only repeats that there's no other way to do her job. And I promise you, depriving someone of sleep is considered abuse.

Do we know that these residents are being deprived of sleep? Perhaps they're going to bed at 7PM or 8PM. Those times seem odd to me too, but not abusive. If I ever had to go into a nursing home, I would want to get up at 5PM and go to bed at 10AM. I've been a "night" person for so long now, that's what would seem natural to me. Do I think that the nursing home would be willing to accomodate me? Most likely not. Almost everything is done for the convenience of the institution - whether it's a nursing home or a hospital.

Is it really necessary to start AM lab draws at 4AM? Well, somebody has to be first if they're all going to be done by 6AM. (And why do they have to be done by 6AM?)

Don't you think that it's odd that hospital patients get three meals in ten hours - from 7AM to 5PM? I don't eat like that at home. But it's for the convenience of the institution.

Why do we make hospital patients wait ALL day for the MD to dischage them home? So the doctors can finish their office hours. That's certainly not for the patient's convenience.

My whole point in the previous post, is that this CNA has very little power over her work situation and she appears to be doing the best that she can. I have no doubt that if she rocks the boat she will be fired. Then what? That won't help either her or the patients.

Is there a way that one of the moderators can get some suggestions from the LTC nurses? Is it really that unusual to get residents up that early?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am mixed, here. I can see some areas where the OP has probably not taken a look at her own behavior, however, I also know what it is like to be a CNA in long term care. I have worked nights with 20 bedridden, heavy patients and 10 of them had to be out of bed by around 6am. Other aides would hide when you searched for their help, and some of the nurses would blow me off. The only way I worked my way around it was to make sure everyone got an excellent bed bath, and around 4:30am, I used to dress the heavier ones while they were sleeping, and get them up last, after I awakened the ones that were not so heavy or needed that much care before getting ready for breakfast.

Many times, they used communal showers, so, you had to wait on line to get your client a shower, wasting more time. And, goodness forgive if you left one patient wet without realizing it, because you spent more time with a person who had diarrhea. I remember saying to myself that I changed all of my patients, and had time to give that extra bath, or whatever, and then, sure enough, the next tour would arrive and make a big deal; even though nursing care is 24 hours a day. I am not saying that the person should sit and suffer in wet clothes or briefs, but that no one can be in two places at the same time.

I do say that the OP needs to look at herself a bit, sure, but I know that it hard, hard, hard, in LTC for CNAs and LPNs based on my experience. I ran out of that nursing home after two years, and had been so horrified with what I saw that I don't want to go back to one as a nurse. I KNOW I could not live with myself working in LTC under those conditions I saw.

[scrubsnhugsRN]

Well here is my two cents having worked as a CNA for eight years and a majority of that in LTC..I can truly understand your frustration. I have not forgotten the back breaking work that I had to endure.

For everybody else..yes having to get the residents up by 6 am is ridiculous..and I had to start getting them up earlier than that. The ones who were scheduled morning baths unfortunately had to get up first at an ungodly hour!

And I mean ungodly..but everyone had to be dressed and ready for breakfast at 7 am.

And now, as far as giving up on being a CNA well, have to tell you not everyone is cut out to be a CNA. Yes the facility should have guided you better if things were not working out instead of hitting you all at once with everything. But having been a CNA, you must realize on of your most important assets as a CNA is observation. If that patient had been uncomfortable then you should have noticed.

Not saying this was the case, but if it was, I am sure this would have been a major consideration of the other aides and nurses.

Also, if you are considering being a nurse well, time management is a major issue! I learned time management from being a CNA..I also learned observation, and imagnitive problem solving techniques as well!

I suggest you hang in there...being a great CNA is an art...and it takes time to perfect....it took me a year to get it together, time saving techniques...etc.

It is so much more than dressing people.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I remember being told that I would be written up because I placed a patient with a broken hip on the toilet instead of watching the other patients in the dayhall eating breakfast. Now, this was a A&O x3 patient who had the right to tell me that he needed to use the bathroom toilet to move his bowels. Now, if I had told him I could not help him, I would have been labeled as cruel; if I left him to his own devices and he fell, then, I would have been written up.

Another time, I was told that if all of the patients who were assigned to be out of bed by 6am were not, that we would have been written up. Sorry, there is no way to safely get 10 patients or more out of bed for the next shift unless you begin early. Basically, all of us operated out of rush and fear because of the whip that was constantly on our backs; and this, unfortunately, affects patient care as well.

[eccentricRN]

yep. i had on average twenty residents to care for by myself, and three "get ups" to do every night. i had to start no later than four to have them up by six, when the day shift arrived. if i didn't have them done, day shift would complain to management that night shift wasn't doing their job. with fifteen out of twenty residents incontinent, i also had to make sure every single one was clean and dry when day shift arrived. not completely possible to do single handedly.

being a cna is a tough job, & i want to say thank you to all those out there who are wonderful helpful, i couldn't do my job without you cnas!

i worked as a cna while i went to school to become a nurse, in fact, my school required you became a cna first. i started out at assisted living facility in which management took on totally inappropriate clients, which could put both the client & staff in danger, so i looked for another job. my next position was at a large government facility. i, too, worked the noc shift. we had 4 aides to care for 60 plus residents & 1 lpn. we did rounds 3x/noc & began waking & dressing 5-6 residents at 5am to be complete by 7am when the day shift arrived. i found a rythm that worked for me, plus the sets were divided as evenly as possible as far as the total cares went, but some sets were heavier than others. it can be difficult, but it is also your responsibility as an aide to speak up... to bring it to their attention that this is just not feasible... then if you do not get the answer you were seeking, maybe you need to look into another facility.

i'm not saying the original poster was trying anything but to do her best... but regardless of anything else the safety of the residents come first. if you truly felt that your ability to complete your job safely & effectively was compromised you should have sought more training or some sort of guidance... in the end it is up to you to ensure you perform to the standards of your certification, not anyone else.

sorry it happened this way, the facility sounds dreadful, but i feel you were not proactive enough.. and if you truly want to be a nurse you have to be proactive for yourself & your patients. just my .

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Many times, CNAs, LPNs and RNs speak up for themselves by saying that certain assignments are not feasible or safe, only to be ignored. And, while many of us (including myself) say to run for the hills to another job, this is easier said than done. Depending on where we reside, sometimes, positions are far and few. Other times, travel is important, as well as health care benefits; especially for children, becomes an issue.

While I was a CNA, I found that speaking up constantly lead to being perceived as a wave-maker; so, what I would do is see what I can manage within a few days before I spoke up about what was managable and what was not. In most cases, I was able to walk my way around to making some things perceived as impossible to be doable-at least for me. As an LPN, it is a bit harder, I would say, because there is more involved, and I am sure it encompasses even for the RN.

For the OP, take anything that happens and make a lesson of it. Look at the positive and the negative, and look deep into what you could have done, may it be to admit to some carelessness, how, when, and who to address certain issues with. This becomes an art, as time goes on. You will become more observant than before, and you can make the decision if nursing, period is for you. And, also know, that sometimes, even under the best of circumstances and intent, life just sucks for a moment. It's horrible, but that is the way it can be sometimes. Start looking into other things you are interested in, just in case you decide that nursing is not for you, and if it is, just start from scratch. Good luck!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Is there a way that one of the moderators can get some suggestions from the LTC nurses?

I have been a LTC nurse for the past couple of years, and I was also an aide at one time. To be quite frank with you, getting residents dressed at 3:30am is something that would make the management at any LTC facility horribly displeased, because the state considers it 'abuse.' No facility, in their right mind, would risk fines and being tagged with state deficiencies over an aide who wants to get people up extremely early.

I currently work night shift (10pm to 6am) at a nursing home. The aides at my workplace do not start getting residents up before 5am.

My only suggestion is to learn and practice better time management strategies.

[Ms. Nurse Assistant, LPN]

. Other aides would hide when you searched for their help, and some of the nurses would blow me off.

LOL That was the problem I was having when I started working at the nursing home..when I asked for help suddenly the other cnas would disappear for almost an hour and then come into view when it's almost time to leave. Not to mention, an Aide that had been there much longer than me NEVER wanted a particular set, she would always find a clever and deceptive way to make it so that I had it. That set was VERY challenging, and it ended up sealing my fate.

To the poster who said that I did not acknowledge getting the residents dressed early was wrong, it wasn't wrong. And, no one seemed to empahtize with me WHY I got them dressed early. we were clearly under-staffed and I had to find a solution so that I could effectively care for other residents as well. I was a new CNA, and I had only once voiced my concerns about the heavy workload..but do you really think they were going to do something about it just because some employee that has barely been there for 90 days thinks it's too hard?? if they hadn't listened to the employees that's been there for months, they surely were not going to listen to me. which they didn't. also, when you're new on a job, you cannot come up in there with too many suggestions or complaints, you're on probation and they will defintely consider you not right for the job. You have to be there long enough to earn the right to suggest or complain about something.