1st 2 weeks in clinical

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Specializes in Internal Medicine,Surgery, Wound Care.

Hello:

Well, I have made 2 weeks of clinical and this is my 3rd week.

I am finding (now don't laugh) that everything I read in my text book is a lot different in the LTC facility. Ok, some things are somewhat what the book talks about.

I am not a CNA so this is all so very new for me. I am totally green.

So those of you that went to school or in school now, do you find the one's that are CNA's "know everything". NOW, don't shoot the messenger. I do expect a CNA to know some things, like: bed-bath, which side the catheter goes on, how to make the bed, stuff like that. But I had this one girl today, talking down to me, using my name every sentence and telling me to look at the feet and what do I see, look at the hardness (for patient lifting). This girl just told the patient's nurse she knew how to use the lift. I clearly knew she didn't just by the look on her face. So the nurse leaves, this girl proceeds to say she is smart and can figure it out and starts to attach the hardness to the lift. Which doesn't look good to me... but what do I know, I don't have a clue. Ok... she finally admits she has no clue on how to do this and goes to get another lift machine that she is familiar with. Meanwhile, I fuming. She comes back with this other machine, looks at the patient, looks at the machine and walks out with it. I told her to please get the nurse. Nurse comes back and says the straps are all wrong on the original lift machine. Nurse takes over and gets the patient SAFELY into her chair.

Another thing I'd like to know: BED BATH: isn't it our moral duty to wash a patient with some sort of ease. I mean, we shouldn't be rough, especially with patients that can not communicate with us?

I know I'm green and I have a lot to learn and I have no problem learning. Everyday in our lives is a learning experience. But you do go home a night and want to be sure you have done the best job you could?...

I know some of you will have comments for me....... but I really would like to find a place that is really concerned about the patient and doing the best job. Not anyone showing off their skills, or making a new person feel inadequate. I have a long way to go.. I don't mind if someone criticizes or gives me a better way on doing a procedure.... .. but I think I would have done better today on my own, without this girls help..

Thanks for letting me vent..... I am maintaining a "B" in the classroom and will be evaluated in Dec. So of course I am so very nervous, but I am doing much better than my first week of clinical.

I'm still sticking with:

Nurses are like angels!

:balloons:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I work at a nursing home that is upscale, but very understaffed with CNAs. On occasion, the ratio is 1 aide for every 25 patients during the busy day shift. Therefore, they've got way too many patients to do things by the textbook. If they attempted to do things by the book, they wouldn't be able to go home until 4 hours after their shift was supposed to have ended.

One of my confused patients fights and slaps anyone who attempts to shower her. Therefore, we must use 3 aides to safely shower this person. It may look as if we're being rough on her to outsiders, but I think things would be even rougher if we took the easy way out, which is to not shower her at all.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine,Surgery, Wound Care.
I work at a nursing home that is upscale, but very understaffed with CNAs. On occasion, the ratio is 1 aide for every 25 patients during the busy day shift. Therefore, they've got way too many patients to do things by the textbook. If they attempted to do things by the book, they wouldn't be able to go home until 4 hours after their shift was supposed to have ended.

One of my confused patients fights and slaps anyone who attempts to shower her. Therefore, we must use 3 aides to safely shower this person. It may look as if we're being rough on her to outsiders, but I think things would be even rougher if we took the easy way out, which is to not shower her at all.

Good morning to you:

I can totally understand not doing things by the books and realize the LTC are always understaffed... I was more upset about this fellow student who was sent to assist me, was speaking down to me and trying to be the teacher. I have been put with her before and she has never done this... but lately she is rude in the classroom, calls out, demands she knows the RIGHT way cause she is a CNA, this is all towards our classroom teacher as well. Disrupts the class and lately has just been somewhat mean to me, and for no reason that I know of.

So I do know that when I get out there working, there are lots of issues (as I'm finding out), I am just hoping to work with nice people in the LTC.

Thanks so much for your information. I will be asking lots more questions and will always want to know what the right thing to do is. It's really hard being the "new person", you don't know if someone is helping you or just out to get you....

Thanks again

Have clinical today....... wish me luck!!:trout:

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As a CNA I can honestly say "we don't know everything".....We learn something new everyday....I've used many mechanical lifts and I can honestly say that they're not all the same....I still ask other CNA's how to use them....I worked in a SNF in the rehabilitation section and it's totally different from the LTC side.....I could NOT function on the LTC side because there is just way too many patients per CNA....As a previous poster stated you really can't go by the book when you're taking care of that many patients....You will not finish your work, and I don't see how a CNA can have 25 patients....that's just more than 4 times the ratio that I'm used to....Even having 6-7 patients is too much.....I for one like to give quality care and I do try my best but there is always some family member who just isn't satisfied....You will find that where ever you go.....As for a CNA that knows it all, we don't know it all.....I've just started a VN program and we haven't started clinicals yet, but from what I've heard if you already have your CNA it's going to help with the basic skills like bed baths, foley care, JP's, making beds etc etc, because we already have the experience...when it comes to med pass and charting (and other stuff) we will be familiar because we've seen other nurses do it, but it's going to be something new to us because we haven't done it....So my advise for you that has to deal with the CNA who knows it all is to go complain to the instructor and if that doesnt work then complain to the DEAN of the department.....Just say that it doesn't look professional that she is mouthing off in class, during clinicals and towards the teacher....Just mention that in your opinion it reflects on the school....Nursing is about professionalism and when you mention something like that....it seems to get their attention and work....I know because I've done it....Good Luck!!!!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I was a CNA, and many other things before I started LPN school, and yes, there are the CNAs that thought they knew everything just so that they can impress the classmates. And, yes, they are annoying. Now that you know how to use the lift, and are more familiar with things, try and ask your instructor if you can work alone and get help when you feel it is necessary. Good luck...this will all be over before you know it!

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I agree, I was a CNA for 2 years before I became an LPN (I just started a few weeks ago) and although there were many things that was second nature to me, there also were a lot of things that I didn't know. As far as clinicals I tried to keep in mind that because I was a CNA people would be looking at me to see how I interacted with the patients and if I volunteered any suggestions I could easily be seen as a know-it-all, so for the most part I kept my comments to myself and only volunteered when I saw that help was really necessary and no instructor was around. As far as that rude CNA, I would say don't take it personal. I learned from watching other know-it-alls that when you think you know everything you do yourself a disservice and you take away less from the program and you really need to take in as much as you can while your in school because before you know it you'll be on your own and when you are, being a CNA will only get you so far.

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Specializes in LTC, cardiac, ortho rehab.

always be gentle with your patients while giving a bed bath. some patients have very fragile skin that can breakdown easily... plus, even though they cant communicate well doesnt mean that they may not be in pain.

oh yeah, bed baths are a good way to assess you patient.

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Specializes in LTC, MSP, ICU.

Don't worry about the know it all's. In my class about 1/3 of us including me were CNA's. It was really hard on me to get things done in clinicals because we did clinicals in the LTC where I already worked. My classmates would sometimes get upset with me because I wouldnt show them every little thing about the patients because I didnt want to be seen as a Know it ALL. The one person in my class who was a big pain though had passed her CNA but never worked as one and tried to act like she knew everything in front of the others but had to ask me how to use a thermometer. I think that she was my true test in school because if I made it thru without killing her I can put up with any patient

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