Are all CNAs mean

IdianaCNA1993 · May 3, 2012

I think that it all depends on the facility. Where I did my training some of the CNAs were nice and others not so much. There was this one resident who was on waterpills and I guess she pee'd the bed like times a night and the CNAs were telling us how much of a hassle it was. some of the CNAs were respectful and didnt saying anything to us in front of her and then there was one I remember that did all the time. like she had spilt some grape juice and it got on the pad and the CNA that we were teamed with was freaked out and was like "what did you do did you **** yourself again!" then she looked and then was like "oh its just juice." I was standing there thinking, How is she still working here? I was even the demetia department and we were giving this resident a shower the resident looks at the aide and says "I dont like you!" and the aide then said "Yeah well I dont like you either." and even then I was like what the F. I thought just because he isnt going to remember it dosnt give you the right to say things like that. There was even a few CNAs in the demetia unit that I thought did things to provoke behavior out of the residence. I know where I work there are a lot of nice CNAs atleast to the residences face. Just the other day a CNA got fired for going off on a resident for being incontenant twice within an hour. So I think that it just depends on the facility and the person them selfs in my opinion not everyone can be a CNA and I think the ones that are rude and act like there lifes suck because they have to work where they work are the ones that need to find a different job like pushing carts at krogers. And everyone is entitled to a bad day so maybe some of the CNAs that you were paired with where having a bad day but they should have checked there bad day in at the door. when it comes to team work it depends on what shif you work. during the day its always well staffed so theres always another Aaide to help you at night they try and keep it understaffed and the nurses think that they are better than you and that they dont have to help you when in fact they do. I have worked with a lot of good nurses that dont mind answering call lights for a little while after there meds have been passed and they help you if you need it. I know that when I have worked a day shift I never go down the other hall because there are two aides already down there and my halls are bussy. but at night its the other way around my halls are calm and the other hall is lit up like a christmas tree and there is only one aide and they are working as fast as huminly possible and the nurses are still working on there jobs then I go down and start helping and check on my halls after every light I answer so my hall isnt neglected. I will say to that I have denied helping another aide out and that was only because she sat on her but and talked to the nurses allnight and left her call lights go she asked me if I would collect her I and Os and I said "ooh sorry I cant I still need to do my last round" that I had completed a half hour ago. It would have been different if she was actually working and did her job then I would have went down there and answered lights and collected her I and Os.

I hope this helps you out because I thought the same thing too when I first started! :)

nursetabitha · May 4, 2012

They're probably jealous because you are training to be a step above them? That would be my guess. Plus, some people are just born mean.

bbtwins06 · May 4, 2012

I'm a CNA (at a hospital) but my mom is a resident in a NH so ive seen it all. CNA's get burned out. i cnnot fathom being a CNA as a career choice. For me, I became one to be exposed to the medical world (and boy have I learned a lot!) and I start full time RN program in the fall. CNAs are overworked and overpaid. I feel like quitting now instead of in August and ive only been a CNA not even two years. we put up with SO MUCH ****. im over it!

However, there is NEVER any excuse for abusing a pt or resident.

As for the aides you encountered, part of it is probably that theyre frustrated with being a cna and here is this grp of people moving up in the med world.

Juniper248 · May 4, 2012

. CNAs are overworked and overpaid.
.

i'm assuming you meant underpaid? just wanted to clear that up before people rip you apart...

yousoldtheworld · May 4, 2012

First of all, CNAs are not a separate species. There are mean CNAs, nice CNAs, and everything else under the sun, just like every other career.

Maybe they were having a day from hell. Maybe you misinterpreted their looks as "dirty" (people often think I'm angry when I'm not, it's just how my face is sometimes). Maybe they could sense your attitude about them (lack of education? I am quite educated, thank you, as are many other aides. How dare you make that assumption about people?)

Maybe they're bossy because if students, who don't know the normal routine, do something wrong and leave it, THEY are the ones who get their butts chewed. And yes, having students around can really slow you down and mess up your routine. It's not the students' fault, but that's just how it is. As someone who was once written up because a nursing student left a resident's bed way up in the air, I know that annoyance well.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · May 4, 2012

All CNAs are not mean. And while we're on the subject, all nurses are not mean & unhelpful (I see new CNA students complain of this alot :-/ ) . I too did my clinicals for my LPN program at a nursing home on a subacute rehab floor( I had already had about 2 yrs experience as a CNA so I knew how things were..) and I felt bad for all the CNA's on the floor. It seemed like they had to juggle 10 pts who all seemed to go to therapy at the same time. And then deal with the OT's, PT's, and the nursing supervisor breathing down their necks, YELLING at them that they are not working fast enough. They were doing the best that they could! And then on top of it, deal with annoying students lol. So I say all that to say this: you can't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Being a CNA is one of the hardest & unappreciated jobs out there.

yousoldtheworld · May 4, 2012

Yep! No matter how nice of a person you are, sometimes you just can't work up a fake smile when you're trying to juggle 20 things at once.

2bthelpngirl · May 4, 2012

@yousoldtheworld When I said lack of education I didn't mean that CNAs was stupid. Just that they only have to complete a 90 hours course. Some of the CNAs (80%) at the LTC I'm at are mean, or sobbish and this is a evey day thing. Some of the CNAs been there years while other only a few weeks but they still all act like they know more than the RNs and doctors. I know CNAs are with the patient more than we are but sometime they (we) all need to sit back and listen and take advice. Because at the end of the day we are here for the patient. Also if you is having a bad day be an adult and leave it were you got it before coming to work we are dealing people lifes not their food.

catebsn25 · May 4, 2012

all CNA's are not mean. they are definitely overworked, underpaid and depending on how long they have been in their facility, are burnt out. they see a new group of students and might feel overwhelmed at the extra work they now have... I wouldn't say they are jealous of your education, probably just exhausted.

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · May 4, 2012

Yep! No matter how nice of a person you are, sometimes you just can't work up a fake smile when you're trying to juggle 20 things at once.

Got that right - no, all CNA's aren't mean. Pretty much like any other group of people, you'll get some that you'll get along with, and some that you won't. Lots of times we're working under the gun, taking care of between 9 and 20 patients, plus fielding questions from nurses, family members, etc. Plus vitals, I&O, charting, etc. so we're typically on the run from the minute we clock in. And...sometimes politeness & courtesy get tossed right out the window in our frantic attempts to get eveything done by the end of the shift.

For what it's worth - I tend to agree that the comments mentioned are highly unprofessional and uncalled-for; but, given how verbally and physically abusive some of these patients can be (not to mention the family members) I'm somewhat surprised that it doesn't end up much, much worse at times.

Incidentally, don't be too surprised to find that the CNA you're working with has more professional credentials than you do - in my case, I hold both A.A. & Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science, along with being currently enrolled in a local community college where I'm working towards my LVN and ultimately my BSN.

It's a tough line of work, no two ways about it - but, speaking solely for myself, I wouldn't have it any other way.

----- Dave

whatdidigetmyselfin2 · May 4, 2012

I dont believe all CNAs are mean. Some days are tougher than others. It's hard to be really nice and conversational when you have 5 call lights, 15-20 pts, charting, meals, assisting other CNAs, nurses, family members and now a group of people who really know nothing about the resident and are expecting you to help them. CNAs are under-appreciated, under-paid, and stretched to their limits.