Advice I'd give to New CNA/MA's

No matter how long you have been a CNA/MA or if you're aspiring to become one, this list contains some wonderful advice that anyone can learn from! From call light responsibility to professional respect it's important to remember many of these tips to make your experience easier. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Advice I'd give to New CNA/MA's

I'm very proud of my life in nursing. I cared for family at a very young age and when I was able to get certified I jumped at the opportunity. Many say they played house when they were children, I was able to play nurse and it was fantastic. There are things that I think ALL CNA/MA's need to know that they either forget or just blow off.

1) Not answering a call light that is on a different hall then yours is neglect.

There is nothing stopping you from stopping in there to say, "What can I help you with" or what not.

2) If a patient tells you they are wet and you don't change them ...that's neglect.

It takes a maximum of 5-6 minutes to change an adult depending on how bad the situation is. If you need to go get help just explain that to the patient and do it promptly. Not 5, 10, 15 minutes later.

3) If you're in this job for the "banging paycheck" you're in the wrong job.

Healthcare, like teaching, will never get you a vacation house in Spain. Its a job about being compassionate and caring about the people you work for. Remember your patients are paying YOU to take care of them. Not the other way around.

4) Your Professionals (LPNS, RNS etc) are not idiots.

Do not treat them as such. Instead consider being able to work beside them free education. If you choose to goto nursing school, skills that you've learned from helping your professionals will assist you. Plus in the long run it helps having those professionals as refrences on your resume for other jobs.

5) Nicknames (Sweetie, honey, sweetheart, grandma, grandpa etc etc) are not appropriate at anytime.

They are considered demeaning and abusive. You may mean well but it just takes ONE complaint.

6) Do not do unprescribed drugs or anything illegal when you are at or not at work.

If one med goes missing from the medication cart ALL staff members present are required to take a urine test. I have seen MANY CNA's think that just because they aren't passing meds they wont be subjected to this and get fired for THC and various other things in their system. Its NOT worth it.

7) CNA/MA work is difficult but it is an incredible experience if you work as a team.

I work with 1 professional, myself and 2 CNA's. We are able to do our job 150% every day because we dont think, "Oh I do more than you or you do more than me" we help eachother out and let each other have a bad day everyonce in a while. Your job is only as hard as YOU MAKE IT.

? Care for everyone the same as you would want yourself to be cared for.

Talk to them while your doing peri cares to make them comfortable. Learn about them, respect privacy and modesty and give the best cares possible.

9) No one cares if you're having a crappy day.

Now I know in 7 I said we allowed eachother to have a bad day BUT do not take it out on each other or your patients. Its not their fault. Vent if you need to and get it out of your system but do not treat others poorly because you're in a bad mood.

10) Be active in your education.

Don't just limit yourself to being a CNA/MA. Take it as a learning experience and go professional. If you're an excellent CNA/MA then I have no doubt that you'd be an incredible professional. Remember your professionals are your best source to free education in the work place. They've gone to college longer than you have and they do know a few things.

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miabia

About miabia, BSN, RN

miabia is a CNA/MA studying the BSN nursing program.

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I wish I could post this in our break room. I work with a couple of CNAs/CMAs who need to read this.

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

Thank you for this very sage list of advice! It is full of wisdom.

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When I was 4 years old my grandmother took custody of me and I helped do everything for her short of personal cares. When she died 7 years later I started taking care of my other grandmother after school who required skilled nursing care when a home health aide was not avaliable. I did that for 4 years. When I turned 18 I obtained my cna/ma license and have been doing it for 4.5 years professionally. I think its important that people understand these kinds of things. I have been fortunate enough to work with some of what I would call the best care givers in the world certified or licensed. These are just a few of the things I find myself repeating to new orientating CNA/MA's at the facilities I've worked for so I assumed many may like a gentle reminder of some things we should know.

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Very interesting letter and I hope that the writer who is a CNA? continues her education because she certainly has the ability to learn and do more. I believe the best way to survive in that position is to follow instructions and do the best you can. Politeness to all is a requirement considering you are at the bottom of the totem pole. I was a cna for half a year when I went on to continue my education in the military, etc. If you are not happy in the job you should look for other work which at that pay level there is plenty.

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I am a CNA/MA and have recently been accepted into the BSN nursing program. :)

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You have my best wishes and hope that you can bring your caring to patients who often do not receive the care they deserve because they are left in the hands of employees who think they are just owed a paycheck and administration that is worried about profits. thank you spell check btw

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well said. i am glad to see you in a bsn program and hope that with your background and attitude you find yourself in grad school someday so you can teach others.:heartbeat

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Well said. There are many coworkers I would like to say many of these things to.

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
There are things that I think ALL CNA/MA's need to know that they either forget or just blow off...

wow, GREAT advice! would love to have you on my team!

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I love your advice

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I loved all your tips, I wish more techs & nurses would follow your example. I was an ED Tech & some of the nurses were great but unfortunately a few of them should not have been working on the ED at all. I've seen nurses that couldn't even draw Ativan from a vial during an emergency, to pt neglect. When my shift was over I'd always check on the patients assigned to me to let them know I was leaving, see if they wanted anything before I left & wish them well. Patients would often say to me who is going to be my nurse now, which indicates some of these nurses never made contact with the pt at all. That was just the tip of the iceberg unfortunately. So, I hope the few bad ones out there read your tips & use them to become a better RN, CNA, tech or whatever position & drop the attitudes & give the pts the care & attention they deserve.

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