Hey guys. My LTC just went through a major hiring spree and on one of the girl's first day she asked me if I had any tips for a new CNA with her first job at a nursing home. Remembering back to how hard it was for me in the beginning, I decided to make her a list of all the things I wish I had known. If anyone has anything to add feel free! Good luck to all of you starting a new job as a CNA!
1- Go in with realistic expectations. It would be nice if being a CNA meant spending hours talking to residents, but in reality, being a CNA is about giving baths, changing people, cleaning up puke and a number of other unpleasant duties. I will never forget when a new employee came to me crying because I asked her to help clean up a resident. I offered to help her thinking she was nervous, but then she said "I'm not scared, it's just to gross, I can't do it". I'm not sure what she thought she'd be doing, but obviously the idea she might have to deal with poop never crossed her mind. If you go in knowing what the job REALLY entails, you will be more prepared to handle your job responsabilities.
2- Don't assume you know everything beacuse you passed the course. There are some things that school doesn't perpare you for. Even if you did a skill perfectly with the manaquin, you might need help doing it to a live person. I know the urge to make yourself look knowledgable is tempting, but it should never be at risk of hurting a resident. I've had new employees try to do mechanical transfers alone, just to prove they could. Yes, I understand you know how to operate a hoyer lift yourself but we use 2 people for a reason. Don't try to do more than you're comfortable with just so everyone thinks you're a star.
3- Ask Questions. If you hve a question ask! I've been a CNA 5 years and whenever we get a new resident I alsways drill the nurse about them before giving care. Yes you can find out a lot for the care plan, but I like to know what kind of mindset the resident is in, when they like to wake up, etc.. If someone is hateful to you because you ask questions, find someone else! Never do anything you are unsure of because if you hurt someone it's your behind.
4- Don't get sucked into the trap. The trap meaning gossip of course. Whenever all the older CNA's start ripping so and so a new one, the urge to join in might tempt you. You want to fit in with these new co workers. But trust me- in the long run you will get branded a gossiper and the people who really count won't want to deal with you. Also, there is always work to do, so if you have time to gossip, you have time to do nail care, or fit in another hall check!
5- You will be slow at first! Everyone who says they rocked it their first day is lying. I have seen countless CNA's come and go, and not one of them was awesome at first. what matters is your effort and attitude. My first day on the hall by myself I had 7 baths and about 5 1/2 hours to do them if you take out meal times and such. I got done 22 minutes before my shift was over! I was awful! I was so nervous and scatterbrained! Not to mention my co workers wouldn't help me with anything and later complained they would NEVER work with me again. Talk about a first day! But after 6 months I was voted rookie of the year. It took me a month to get in my groove but once I did I was fine. And you will be to!
6- If you see something that goes against what you were taught ask before you complain.
Sometimes we do things differently than you were taught in class. As long as it's safe (obviously any kind of abuse is grounds to immediatly tell the nurse!) then before you complain ask the nurse aide why she does it like that. I had a new CNA get snippy with me passing a tray and not setting it up. Had she been polite and said "why did you not set up that residents tray" i would have told her how the resident in question is independant and won't let anyone touch her tray. Instead i told her at lunch she could pass the tray. Sure enough after she just started arranging the tray the resident started having a fit. Yes it was a little tough love but she had to understand that I know my residents, and if she has a question about how i handle my residents she should ask, not accuse me of being a negligant CNA.
7- Don't let the other CNAs abuse you. Yes, you will be told what to do and that's okay at first. but never let a CNA bully you, give you an unfair workload of not allow you to have your breaks. (yes i'm speaking from expirience). In my first week I was given 2 mechanical lift residents who both had no mobility and weighed over 300 pounds each. Not all that bad but that morning they both had to be ready to go out at 7:00. There was no way it would have been done. Thankfully the nurse overheard and told them absolutly not. Another time after the other 3 nurse aides had taken breaks they told me I didn't have time for one. Well I took one anyways. Other nurse aides will try to pass off whatever they don't want to do on you. If you are being treated badly tell someone.If you always have 10 baths while the others have 6, tell someone.
8- Know that you can do it. I always joke that I was the worlds worst CNA, and that if I can be where I am today then anyone can. This is not like other jobs. You have the overall job to get down as well as 35 different residents to learn. It will take some time but when you get a routine down you will be fine. Don't get discouraged because after a week you aren't doing as well as you thought you would. It will get easier the longer you work there.
9- Never be disrespectful when a resident has passed away.
The only girl I have ever gotten fired was over a residents death. We had a very picky woman on our hall but she was nice, just a lot of work. As a result a lot of new people didn't like her (she took a while to grow on you). She died unexpectaly one day and after I had finished her bath I went out in the hall to talk to her family. A few feet away a new employee was laughing and having a good ole time. when the residents family went in the room I calmly told the girl it was disrespectful of her to be laughing so close to the family and could she go down the hall. She replied"i'm not sad that old bi*** is dead, because now I don't have to deal with her stinky a**" I saw RED> I told her to get off my hall immediatly. There is no excuse for behavior like that. Even if you didn't care for a resident, they were someone's family and should be treated with respect.
I hope that this has helped someone out there. I hope you guys get jobs at awesome facilities where the other nurse aides are nice to you, and there is an awesome training program. If not just hang in there. CNA's are the unsung heros of the healthcare world but what every one of you guys do makes a difference.
Many thanks. I've just started as an AIN (the Aussie version of the CNA) and have been pretty cranky and sad about my slowness. I was partnered with an awesome experienced AIN and I think I may have been guilty of setting my speed and time managements too high for the moment. I always take longer than him because I want to do it right before fast. Here's hoping that speed will build!
Be a teamplayer. Help out when you can. If a resident needs something (even if they aren't "yours" that day) try to get it for them instead of hunting down their CNA and telling them to do it. Also, if someone really helps you out try to help them out.
Nobody likes the CNA who gets done with their baths an hour before everyone else and then wanders the hall doing nothing.
Take responsibilty. If you make a mistake it is better to come clean, than to try to put blame on someone else or deny it. Just admit your mistake, go on about your day, and learn from it. Everyone makes them. You aren't the only one. You'll gain credibility with your coworkers if you don't dwell on it.
I only hope that I get to work with a thoughtful and helpful person like you... clearly have the best interests of those we are there to help at heart ... it's people like you who give me courage to do this in the first place! thanks!! :)
Such kind words from all of you! I only started ths thread because I feel like a lot of more expirienced CNA's sometimes forget what it feels like to be new, so they dont think to tell you guys this kind of stuff. I hope you all keep your heads up the first few months of a new job!
Oh and another pearl drop of wisdom (LOL)
Don't come down the hall and say "man it F***** stinks in here!"
Here's hoping that speed will build!
greeniebean
447 Posts
Good Luck! I'm sure you'll do great! (although being a float is tough! LOL)