Am I Too Slow?

DizzyLizard · Jan 30, 2007

When I started out as a CNA I thought I was always the slow one. Other shifts constantly complained about me and I was frequently in the DONs office for one thing or another. I too made sure the residents were always clean and dry and hair was looking nice, glasses were cleaned, earrings on, clothes matched etc. I finally lost my cool one day about the whining and had a long discussion with the DON. Long story short, I asked the DON if I could follow one of the two aides to see how and why they do things so quickly and efficiently. All I can say is wow, how did they get away with what they were doing for so long. The aides were severely reprimanded and eventually left. So, you may not be "slow" after all. Don't take shortcuts, keep doing what your doing. Speed will come in time. Once you find your rhythm it'll be much easier.

chadash · Jan 30, 2007

I agree with everyone here. I also have some personal experience to share with you.
About twenty years ago, I was notoriously slow. And I was a 3 year "veteran" at the time.
However, like you - all of my patients were well groomed, fully dressed and wore glasses they could see through and hearing aids that were turned up to the proper volume. Nails were clean and teeth (or dentures) were always brushed.
When she handed my assignment to me one morning, the charge nurse said "If your beds aren't made by 11, I'm writing you up".
On my way to make my last bed at 10:52, one of my patients was sitting in the doorway of her room, rocking back and forth in her wheelchair and had to go to the bathroom ("bad"). So what was I supposed to do?
Long story short... I got "written up". As I was getting Mrs. M. back into her wheelchair while she gave a sigh of relief, the charge nurse was standing in the doorway at 11:01 with a smirk.
Later that day, the DON called me into the office, and upon hearing this story, tore up the "write-up" and tossed it, and proceeded to tell me I was doing a fantastic job - although I could work on the speed a bit.
Moral of the story is - your job is patient care, and if your patients are getting your best, the furniture can wait.
You will put on more speed during your patient care routine, and as you find little shortcuts you can make with the "furniture", you can continue your excellent care.
- Sara

Sara, this is really it, isnt it? If you are going to put the patient first, you are always battling the system that was put in place to supposively serve the patient. A real conumdrum!

theofficegirl · Feb 1, 2007

Sara, this is really it, isnt it? If you are going to put the patient first, you are always battling the system that was put in place to supposively serve the patient. A real conumdrum!

This is what always bugged me about "the system". Someone else here mentioned that when she shadowed others to see what made them so quick, she found out they cut necessary corners. Odds are, the nursing supervisors were totally unaware - they just perceived a job well done - even when it wasn't.

But I hope - like my past supervisors - yours will listen when you get called to the mat for "being too slow".

squeakykitty · Feb 7, 2007

I was slow, too. One time I did tell the DON that the people were more important than the beds. She did agree with me and told me to just take the linen off and I could wait until later.

shadchan · Feb 8, 2007

Thought I was the only CNA that was slow... The girls on the next shift were ALWAYS complaining about me. Other aides would fly through their work and help out the next shift.
Then I realized something. The residents I had washed, dressed and helped were the ones that had the neatest hair, cleanest fingernails and smiles on their faces for the day. The beds were made with ALWAYS linen that was clean, and the garbage was out of their rooms.
One resident told me I was the only aide that made his bed in the morning (and he was not on my list). Once the preacher had been there and the resident was embarressed his bed had not been made and the only chair was cluttered. He had tears streaming down his face as he told me this. I have since made it a point to make his bed and tidy his room before I leave for the day (I work nights).
Sometimes being slower is Gods way of slowing me down to be proud of my time helping these residents.
Stay in step, but be proud of your work and your step may just be slower for a reason .... :balloons:

Amen, amen, amen!! I am not anywhere near the fastest one on my team, but I absolutely make sure that my residents have smiles on their faces each and every day. I am very proud of the work that I do, though I have my less than stellar days like everyone else. I had a rough time of it in the beginning because it seemed like I was just drowning in work, but I've picked up speed and work comfortably now.

One of my little secrets is to answer a call light, do what I need to do, and before I leave the room, ask the resident if there is anything else I can get/do for them. If they say no, I make sure to tell them to call me if they need ANYTHING at all, and I quote! It means that I have a few more call lights than I would otherwise, but I honestly think it balances out. My residents trust me. That means they are happier, and in some cases that means that they will not put on the call light so much.

Like today, we got a new admission - someone that had been here before (referred to by a coworker I am friendly with as a "mean old bat" - she meant this in dry humor and meant no real offense) that at best, has a few screws loose. Very nervous, overreactive, etc. I went in there to change her diaper while she was arguing with a nurse about her meds, introduced myself, and talked with her and answered her questions while I worked. By the time I left the room, I had got her calmed down and I think she only put the call light on twice more the whole day.

Trust me, take a moment to earn the residents' trust and your life will be so much easier! "An ounce of prevention..." :)

jules3978 · Mar 1, 2007

I'm paranoid about being 'too slow.' The first place I worked as a CNA I was told by the lead CNA that I was working too slowly and no one was going to want to have to work with me. That was my 2nd day off of orientation (I'd never been a CNA before). There were about 15-20 residents per CNA and they wanted everyone in bed by 8-8:30 at the latest (they'd get out of dinner around 6:30). To me, that was ridiculous. I got fed up and moved to a different LTC facility after only 3 months. By the time I left, I had several people tell me they were sad to see me go because they liked working with me. So speed with come with time and experience. :)

RN BSN 2009 · Mar 1, 2007

It'll get better! *Hugs*