Okay, I am a true newbie. I have worked 3 days shifts and 2 evenings in my two weeks at a LTC facility. I have never done this type of work before and I am not certified. I haven't started any classes, but I have gone through a two day orientation of the facility. The idea is that I do "on-the-job" training for my probationary period, then start my classes to be certified. So I must be certified (federal-law) within 4 months.
Now here is my dilemma. I am being "trained" by CNA's that are doing things differently from each other. One will tell me one thing, another something totally different. I am not shadowing. I am doing the work. On the evening shift, I am being trained by a CNA that is lazy!! She will tell me to put a nightgown on a lady that has all kinds of IV tubes, feeding tubes, etc. in a wheelchair and then disappear from the room. I couldn't find her for 10 minutes last night. I had no idea what I was doing. The night before we were supposed to give 2 baths. Before dinner (when the shift is slow), I suggested maybe we should do the baths now. She replied, I'm tired or they like their baths after dinner. Okay, I'm being trained. Well, after dinner we got so busy putting residents to bed, it was 9:10 p.m. and she said, well we don't have time to do baths. That's okay, she said, they don't care. Then she told me to chart. I don't know how to, don't know the residents well enough to, etc. I was really struggled and "bothering" people for help. I was supposed to get off at 10 p.m., and at 10, she said we have to do ROUNDS. Sorry, I just don't know what that means! When she told me, I was furious!!! Meanwhile, she still had time for her break and texting her friends. Well, long story, I know...the nurse wrote her up and now it's my fault (they all said). The following night, she didn't do restorative care on a resident, got the resident up at 10 p.m. (mind you we are supposed to leave then) and convinced another CNA to do it for her. HOW IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED PROPERLY??? And how can other CNA's snap at me and say, you've worked 5 days, you should know the ropes by now???? And blame me. Now I'm afraid of the other CNA's and nurses! After I get home at night, I am exhausted and in tears. I know this work is my calling. I know I can overcome this. I just think some CNA's are working against me and now I'm afraid for my job.
I work Agency as a CNA - the facilities with the big turn overs - smart people get out of there. They over work you, the staff is usualy hostile, they are usualy dumps. I do agree for you to take the CNA training at a school may be a wiser choice. Most facilities that offer to train you will take their time until they get you certified-and many facilties have come up with this we will train you thing because they cannot get CNAs to work in their facilites because of pay and conditions. The bottom line is they are looking for cheap labor and don't care about you. Wishing you the best.
Then she told me to chart. I don't know how to, don't know the residents well enough to, etc. I was really struggled and "bothering" people for help. I was supposed to get off at 10 p.m., and at 10, she said we have to do ROUNDS. Sorry, I just don't know what that means! When she told me, I was furious!!! Meanwhile, she still had time for her break and texting her friends. Well, long story, I know...the nurse wrote her up and now it's my fault (they all said). The following night, she didn't do restorative care on a resident, got the resident up at 10 p.m. (mind you we are supposed to leave then) and convinced another CNA to do it for her. HOW IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED PROPERLY??? And how can other CNA's snap at me and say, you've worked 5 days, you should know the ropes by now???? And blame me. Now I'm afraid of the other CNA's and nurses! After I get home at night, I am exhausted and in tears. I know this work is my calling. I know I can overcome this. I just think some CNA's are working against me and now I'm afraid for my job.
texastaz
207 Posts
I work Agency as a CNA - the facilities with the big turn overs - smart people get out of there. They over work you, the staff is usualy hostile, they are usualy dumps. I do agree for you to take the CNA training at a school may be a wiser choice. Most facilities that offer to train you will take their time until they get you certified-and many facilties have come up with this we will train you thing because they cannot get CNAs to work in their facilites because of pay and conditions. The bottom line is they are looking for cheap labor and don't care about you. Wishing you the best.