New CNA problems?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

First off I'd like to say I'm sorry if this not in the right category. I'll start with some background..I was born prematurely at 32 weeks. I've had extensive health problems most of my life. Because of it I have this weird normal that comes with the hospital. I love hospitals. The minute I go to one it feels like home. Anyways between me being premature and my youngest son being in the nicu I decided I wanted to get into nursing. I got my CNA license this January even though I completed the hours in November. July 1st I finally land a job that doesn't require experience at a local ltc facility. Although I'd love to work in a hospital I need the experience. It's been almost a month working there and it has been pure hell. I found out a few days into my training that I was going to be a float meaning who I take care of will vary. I'm on 2nd shift which isn't a problem. But I have no help. Tonight I had 12 residents (normal for this facility) but sometimes I'll have 14. Anyways I hate my job. I don't mind the work that's not the problem. It's the lack of team work. The other girls on the floor with me are all best friends and don't talk to me. If I have a hoyer they'll help when they can but other than that they pretty much forget I'm even there. Yesterday I passed by a room and was asked to help a lady who was in the bathroom because her aide was busy in another room. I go to help her and her aide walked in and got mad at me for helping her.. Then at dinner time some weird smell was coming out of a room and it was the air but lpn in charge told me I needed to do rounds on all my people right then and there because they smelled bad. The dinner trays weren't even off the floor get but she didn't back down. So I start my rounds and the other firms were giving me dirty looks because they were left to clean up dinner. Start to finally feel better and get on top of things and the lpn comes to me again and says why isn't so and so in night clothes and I told her I hadn't gotten there yet. She didn't like that answer. A few minutes later she comes out of a room (by this time it's about 830 or 9 I started my round at 7. I'm really slow still..) And she said the lady told her she was wet and I was ignoring her because I hadn't changed her all shift. I again told her I didn't have time yet to do her and again and gets mad at me. Now tonight I had different lpns but more not picking. I had 4 200lb plus residents that I had to change and I could barely roll them therefore that puts me even further behind tonight and again no help except from the girl I started with but she only helped me with hoyer patients. Anyways I didn't get everyone done before dinner and I don't chart if I didn't get to them. Well the lpn comes to me and says how come so and so want charted on until after dinner I told her I didn't get to that person and she said that's not an excuse. Then I go and put all my hoyers down after dinner and the way I do it is I go in do the lift then go to the next patient until all my lifts are down then go back and do the rest of the care. Well apparently I'm doing this wrong too..I got yelled at by yet anther lpn because the lift pads were still under them and I forgot to lower 3 different beds (that I understand is a huge problem but it was an accident but again I'm aware of my mistake) I just didn't see what the problem was with leaving the pad under them for a little bit. I didn't leave tonight until 30 minutes after my shift. The one girl asked the lpn if she could help me and she told her no. I don't know how much more I can take of this place. There's no communication between the lpns and cnas and there's no teamwork. I'm so tired of crying at least once sometimes twice during the shift and again when I'm on my way home. There is never a hey can I help you or a you made this mistake but it's okay you'll get it soon. I've never done this before. I'm slow. I can only change some people once during my shift and if I'm lucky twice. I'd like to do it more but I'm not fast enough and some of these people are so heavy. I've even broken the rule and put an extra sheet under them and used it to help me roll them and that helps but I'm scared what will happen if I get caught using them. I'm sorry this is all over the place and so long but this has been built up inside me for so long. I hate this place. I really do. Any advice?

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Wow this story is my life too. I work as a cna in ltc and it is pure hell! I keep to myself cuz I stay out of the drama. The staff are all rude and very angry people. I hate it too and no matter how or what you do someone has to complain. I'm going to stick it out for a year total and then figure out something else. I cry a lot too because it's too much to handle and people are just sooooo rude and cruel and I work my butt off every single minute. Just hang in there and stay strong! Know you're not alone and it is the exact same way for me. I'm just trying to get through it all day by day. Good luck. I also learned people are so cruel and you have to just try to ignore their rude comments. No one is ever ever satisfied! I'm going for my RN so this isn't permanent at this place for me and hopefully we both find better places.

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Specializes in PCT, RN.

Welcome to LTC.

But really, once you get into your routine and get more comfortable with your residents and duties, you'll do just fine :)

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Sorry this is happening to you. Not all places are that tough but sounds like you got a real doozy.

Talk to someone like the Inservice Nurse and explain that you are trying.

I am concerned though because I hope you're doing your hoyers safely. Most facilities absolutely require that 2 people work the hoyer for safety. Be careful you're not breaking some policy rule!

Just to tell you, speed will come with repeated practice and in time pretty quickly. And as you begin to know all the residents and their families, it will improve also.

I respect CNAs - you guys have the toughest job in the place and most do try to do a good job.

I thank you and I think pts do too (even when they can't tell you so).

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One of the girls on nightshift has seen me struggling and still working when she is there and she went and talked to the lpns for me to see if they could move me to an easier unit. I'm hoping I can be moved.

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Did you ever get moved? I requested to be moved because I had a terrible, mean rude as they come partner. I'm so happy where I'm at now.

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