All excited and then they disappear? How long have you been an aide?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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So many people post to the CNA section. They are so excited about starting class, passing their exam, getting their first job, etc. Then, they post about their shock and disappointment. After that, they disappear from this forum. I guess they had no idea what they were getting into.

So, how long have you been an aide?

Specializes in 12 years exp in corporate healthcare.

yeah I noticed that too..lol!..i just became certified and looking to get my "feet wet" into nursing..I plan on staying with this forum for a looonnnggg time!..lol!...it's very informative and everyday is interesting to see what people post on here =)

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Many of the CNAs I work with are careerist CNAs and seem content with it. I have been certified since October of last year, then worked in a nursing home for 3 wks PRN. I began working at a hospital in January. I have thoroughly enjoyed working as a CNA. I don't plan to be a CNA forever but I am enjoying the hands on healthcare experience I am getting and think this is great exposure for nursing school. I have been working on my RN prereqs and hope to get into a program next year. So far my experience as a CNA has been very rewarding.

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I got laid off but it was the BEST thing that could ever happen to me. I worked my rear end off all day long, obeyed every rule, and what a nightmare it was! I went into thinking I would be helping people, that I would at least get some job satisfaction from that.

The truth was I was so freaking busy taking care of so many residents that I didn't have time to make each one feel special. And theres no satisfaction in knowing you're leaving someones room who really needs just a few more minutes that you can't give because your supervisor is all over you because of the days to do list! You want to spend time with every one you want to do every task at 150 percent and theres just no way. That made me feel bad every time I had to do it.

Then there are the smells and sights! One word, honestly, disgusting! We had a GI bug that hung around for over a month. It was horrid! The smells, the sounds, and getting yelled at by residents because we're not moving fast enough, can't make their pain go away, can't make them stop throwing up, pooping ect! Then again throw in nurses who always find more things wrong with the way you're doing your job and add tasks to your to do list!

Toss in residents who throw fists and kick, and care charts that don't allow for lifts when the person weighs over 200 pounds and you have in my mind the HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD! I thought nothing could be worse then retail. I was wrong! The job should be about helping people and its not. The reality of it is something most classes don't tell people. But then again they don't because who would sign up?

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I have been a cna for 2 years. I am in NS and I graduate next year. I love being a cna. I love caring for the patients. It makes me feel like I am making a difference in the lives of others in a very big way. I know that nursing is where I am suppose to be because when I go home after a long 12 hr night shift and my legs hurt from moving so much I remember the smiles I put on the faces of my patients and it makes me happy. I remember the tears I wiped away, the hugs I gave and the prayers I prayed that makes me happy also. Sometimes we are all our patients have and I hate to see them neglected. I hate to see them not getting what they need so I bust my behind trying to make sure the get it. The job is hard but we never know where we are going to be when we get old so its good to treat people how we would want to be treated.

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Specializes in CNA.

That last post really touched me. I know what I am getting into and I still want to do it for the residents and for my daughter. I am going to do this.

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

yeah the turnaround rate is very high with cna positions. IMO, this is because we are overworked, underpaid, and many times bullied by "overzealous" or just plainly nasty nurses. being a cna is not at all a glorious job, especially in LTC. I worked in a LTC for many months and hated it, mostly because of the overload of work they gave us and secondly because of the neglect that I saw towards our residents. It was, however, a humbling experience. I now work in a childrens hospital and i like it. It sucks being a aide sometimes here only because the nurses can be jerks. But, im not leaving because the hospital itself is a great place to work with wonderful benefits. And im not gonna let some a few silly nurses run me away...

oh, and to answer your question..ive been a cna for about a yr now

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I've been an aide for 3 months and honestly I don't like it. I think the shock of how different things are done in the real world setting compared to in class training are discouraging. In the LTC facility where I work NOTHING is done by the book, it's all cutting corners to get the job done a.s.a.p. Unless of course the state comes in, then everybody suddenly worries about resident's dignity and infection control, it's truly horrible. The workload is high, along with uppermanagement's expectations while staffing and employees desire to come to work, and pay remains low. All around a bad situation for the resident's and the workers. I realize alot of people make a career out of this but it's not for me, I'm heading back to school.

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Specializes in LTC.

Was everyone told about the realities of the job when they took their class?

I was. My instructor told us several times that we were going to be overworked, that we'd rarely have time for nail care and things like that, that we'd do a lot of stuff our own way, instead of by the book, etc.

I wonder if that's where the shock and disappointment that other people experience comes from.

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I cant say I was shocked by the real world experience since before I became a cna I worked with people with developmental dissabilities and it sort of prepared me for ltc, the sights the sound and the smells. What I hate is the high patient ratio since these folks rarely get the quality care they pay for. It breaks my heart to only spend 5-10 min tops after am care with each resident. A lot of problem behaviour we see at my facility stems from residents just wanting a little more time with someone. It can be depressing and heartbreaking at times but I wont ever leave this feild.

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I was somewhat prepared but my instructor pretty much covered by the book stuff when we did our clinicals we were instructed to do the stuff the na didn't have time to do so like nail care, mouthcare stuff like that. So my clinicals were not like reality AT ALL. I wasn't prepared for the nurses staying on my back though. If it wasn't for that me - personally I would be cool with all of it. The poop, the urine, the rushing....I just don't like the added stress of the nurses who act like they own the place.

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:eek: oh wow... and I was considering becoming an STNA while going to nursing school just to get my feet wet. Didn't know I was going to drown myself too. Is it a good idea to become a CNA/STNA first or just go straight into nursing school?
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disgirldat in my opinion it is good idea. It is HARD job but I love it and I think as a nurse I will be more appreciated of the work CNAs have to do. Also, you learn how to approach the different residents and how to talk with them. As I said, I am happy and proud that I have an opportunity to work as a CNA.

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