Totally Stressed

[Hishands66]

Hello friends,

I have been very stressed at work lately. We're constantly being understaffed in the CNA department because many new aides are coming in, and right when things get rough they jump ship and leave us in a lurch.

We've only had two aides for the night shift for a while now and it's starting to get to me. I try to take it well and thought I had but something just happened that made me so ashamed of myself.

I was asked to help out with the day shift, which were also short of aides and stressed out with the understaffing. I tried to tell them nicely that I couldn't do it (I was so tired from having to take care of 30 people and the night shift can get really stressful at times) but they begged me to stay and help, so I did.

Well, when I went back to work the following night we were (drum roll please) understaffed again.

I also did something very foolish. I attempted to do extra cares for the day shift even though we didn't have much help. I wanted to help my fellow aides who were going to come in after me because I felt bad for them.

During the last rounds I got so stressed out that I did something I've never done before in my profession as a CNA: I lost my cool with an agitated resident. I'm usually very patient and understanding toward the residents, which is what makes me so well liked in the facility. I didn't hurt this dear resident physically but I lost my temper.

I'm so ashamed of myself that I feel like crying. What kind of an aide am I?

I know I brought this on myself by attempting to do more than I could and I wish greatly that I didn't attempt to do the extra cares.

Fellow aides and nurses, please help me. I really need encouragment and some suggestions from you all.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

It's hard to tell from the lack of details how severe the incident was. Did you grab her, shake her, curse at her? Or did you merely speak harshly and a little too loud?

In a perfect world, we would all remain perfectly composed at all times, no matter how stressed and tired we may be or how obnoxious our patients may be. But as you know, it's far from perfect and so are we. I'm sure you haven't done anything that the rest of us haven't at least thought of. And the take home lesson is that you shouldn't push yourself beyond your limits to help other aides and other shifts.

Now comes the hard part: You must report the incident to your supervisor. Things like this get around a facility---the residents talk, the staff members talk, and the next thing you know you're called into the DNS's office and written up, or worse. Best for you to be forthright and show you have integrity than let her find out on her own. This also proves that you're taking responsibility for the incident AND serves notice on the facility that you aides are spread too thin.

Wishing you the best. Being a CNA is one of the toughest jobs on the planet as far as I'm concerned (I was one prior to becoming an RN) and it seems like the powers that be are always pushing healthcare workers to do more and more with less and less. It's never been an easy job, but IMHO it's harder now than ever in modern times.

[TriciaJ, RN]

You just gave yourself a good reason to know your limits. You cannot do everything for everyone. No matter how much you want to. I agree with the above poster: report the incident to your supervisor. Tell him/her how bad you feel and emphasize that you were trying to do too much.

Next time you have to say no to someone, you don't have to feel guilty because you already know what happens when you say yes to too many things. Hang in there.

[Hishands66]

Hey friends,

Thank you for answering back. I didn't physically hurt the resident or cuss at her. I just spoke harshly to her and my tone may have been a little too loud.

As far as telling the supervisor about the incident I really can't do that. On the weekends we have a supervisor that is very unreasonable. You can't tell her anything without her biting your head off. Even if you ask her a very simple question she'll yell for no reason at all. So I'm pretty much carrying the burden alone.

I will not be that foolish again and I hope that everyone at the facility will give me a chance. I'm well liked there by both the residents and the staff so I just hope that everything will work out fine.

[ponymom]

Honey, you get that weekend super and your DON in an office, with some representation (If you have any and if they have any teeth) and (respectfully now)#1 call her out on her big mouth and bluffing (I dislike the word 'bullying'). Get out a pen & paper, sit down and ask her how she would like you to accomplish all your tasks with the amount of staffing you have, and you'll take notes because you're all out of ideas. Why would you let someone yell at you? I mean, you stayed above and beyond the call of duty and let someone treat you that way?

You really cannot afford to be timid and for God sakes, why oh why is darn near everybody crying all the time when these situations occur. Turn your tears into something tangible, like pissedofednes ( and determination to either return nursing to what is really meant to be (as least in your facility) or get the heck out (if it's a lost cause) and save yourself. I chose to eventually get the heck out, because an incredible opportunity came about (that I could not afford to pass up), but when I was in the NH environment, I was never afraid of losing my job. I mean, I knew I could lose it, but I was never afraid of loosing it. This is the attitude that the nursing profession needs to have more of. Lots of facilities count on staff being afraid.

[Hishands66]

Wow, thank you ponymom!

My tears are now turned into determination and my heart is ready to go and take care of the needs of the residents. I really care about them and I will do my best to make their lives better to my ability.

I will show everyone at the facility what nursing is all about by my patience, love, understanding, and determination.

And most of all I will rely on a Higher Power to pull me through the difficult times.

Thank you very much. And a thank you to everyone who has read my post and commented on it. You have all helped me through my discouragement and sorrow.