A letter of encouragement for New CNA's (like me)

[supraargo]

Hi there. I'm a new CNA that started a job about 2 months ago. I work part time evenings at a nursing home (every other weekend).

My first day on the job was pretty rough. One CNA had to go home sick so we were short staffed half of the day. My hall was one of the rougher ones to deal with..so I had it out for me going in there. The day couldn't pass fast enough for me. I felt perpetually behind and completely lost. I'd ask my fellow CNA's on the floor for help every few minutes. Half way through the shift I wanted to cry...once I got home I actually did. I didn't want to go in for my second day. I contemplated calling in and not going. I started doubting whether or not Nursing would be for me at all!

My boyfriend was extremely supportive and said all the right things such as " it was just your first day...it'll get better." I just kept crying and shaking my head and going "you don't understand what its like out there!!"

Eventually I sucked it up, my second day came...and it was very slightly better than the first. I breathed a heavy sight of relief after my shift ended, but still felt exhausted and beaten afterwards. I still was contemplating quitting...

Fast forward to my second weekend on the job...It was heaven! I was on a better hall (with lots of independent residents) and I was able to manage my time much better. I actually was able to get every resident on my hall into bed and changed by the end of my shift. I was very proud of my self for sticking with it!

The purpose of this post is merely to try and encourage others out there who are going through situations like I did. I'm SURE you exist. I just wanted to say...it gets slightly better! I'm sure the more I work, the more comfortable I'll get with time management and dealing with transferring residents smoothly. Hang with it (unless your facility is horrible for other reasons )!!

[BBboy]

I feel often as CNA's many of us tend to wallow in the issues that those we give care to present us. We often become self centered and forget that although this is just a Job to us, those we that provide care towards often don't get to go home and eventually will pass in the facility we work in. Not to mention in a setting such as LTC including memory care and SNF we may have a lot more hands on work but the nurses we work with also have a very difficult, if not always more difficult, job than we do. As someone who has a plethora of experience at a young age I feel this revelation of focusing on those that I'm helping rather than myself has always helped to alleviate even the most trying days. Sure we will get slammed here and there both physically and mentally but we always need to remember and be thankful for the opportunities that we have to work with such a diverse group of people and how we can learn so much about life and ourselves in the process

[onemoreday, BSN, RN]

Thanks for this encouragement!

My first MONTH was exhausting. It got easier, but about three to four months in, when the shine had really worn off and we were so often understaffed- a mix of the nursing student CNAs going back to school and the winter hit so the demanding drug seeking patients were crawling in from the cold- I felt like I was exhausted and incompetent and new all over again. Nearly burnt out. Now, nearly a year on my unit, I feel super capable, the nurses trust me, I'm in a great position.

Until I float to another floor. Then I'm a mess all over again.