Attention CNAs

Zyprexa_Ho · Apr 30, 2016

It takes a while to get used to. There are good facilities, but there are more bad facilities. I love knowing my residents. If someone puts their light on at a certain time I already know what they want. At the end of the day I feel fulfilled knowing that I made a difference in someone's life. It's a hard job though, and you do put up with a lot of BS. You wish you could do everything for everybody, but sometimes that's just not possible.

Do body mechanics right every time. Take the time to raise up the bed before doing care on someone in bed. You only have one back. Take care of it. It is an extremely physical job.

Nurseeverywhere, CNA, LVN · May 1, 2016

It is a very tough job but if you can get into a hospital setting, from my experience, it is easier on the body. If you are easily grossed out with bodily fluids I highly recommend you get into the field now. A good nurse is not afraid or too good to change a patent's brief or toilet and then clean them. RN's have about 4-5 patients and CNA's have 9-13 patients. So if you know your patient is dirty and your CNA is let's say giving a bed bath don't leave your patient dirty. I will be starting RN program next fall and because I have CNA experience I do feel very well prepared. It helps to have your foot in the door.

Oh in an acute setting there is WAY more teamwork.

FutureLPN35 · May 1, 2016

Yes it was very hard.I've been a Can for 1 year and 8 months and it took me 6months to get use to the things. Everyday I wanted to quit. I had to go part time which made it easier.

Brink48 · May 1, 2016

If you are afraid of body fluids then you might want to reconsider your career choice unless you plan on not doing bedside nursing. There are a lot of hospitals where CNA's will do most of the "dirty" work, but you will still have to do some and deal with body fluids. Hopefully a CNA job will let you decide if you can handle it or not.

Brink48 · May 1, 2016

because I have CNA experience I do feel very well prepared. It helps to have your foot in the door.
Oh in an acute setting there is WAY more teamwork.

I think the only thing being a CNA really helped me with once in nursing school was patient communication.

Lrodrig1089 · May 1, 2016

I think the only thing being a CNA really helped me with once in nursing school was patient communication.

That's exactly another reason why I want to give it a try to establish communication skills with patients. I mean I have experience in customer service but I'm sure is not the same as introducing yourself to a sick patient to let them know you'll be changing their briefs or giving them a bed bath. I feel its just something new for me and would really like to get more familiar with. The only problem right now is that im very close to giving birth and with a newborn I don't think I'll have a chance to get my cna this summer before I begin my nursing pre reqs this fall therefore I am looking into applying for home health care for the elderly(since a certification is not required for this position)...do you think this will help me in any way as to get an idea of what its like as a health care provider and plus I'd gain experience for my future career/goals in the medical field?? Can you please help me decide if this would be of any help knowing I can't afford my certification as a nurse aide any time soon??

Lrodrig1089 · May 1, 2016

If you are afraid of body fluids then you might want to reconsider your career choice unless you plan on not doing bedside nursing. There are a lot of hospitals where CNA's will do most of the "dirty" work, but you will still have to do some and deal with body fluids. Hopefully a CNA job will let you decide if you can handle it or not.

Im afraid of what my reaction might be the moment I am in an extreme situation like seeing blood all over the place or having to be exposed to excess diarrhea or vomit...im afraid ill panic what if I don't know what to do which is why im curious to know if its something you can actually be trained how to handle or its something you'll learn to get used to with time....the closest ive been to similar situations was when my mom was impaired to walk and had many very deep open wounds all over legs and feet due to her diabetes I myself had to clean them change the dressing etc, also had to clean her bath her several times had to deal with her bowel movements since she often times suffered from constipation and or diarrhea, had to transport her bed to wheelchair, or wheelchair to bathroom and indeed assist her in many many aspects similar to a cnas essential duties...its just that im sure its not the same assisting you own mother as doing so a complete stranger...also not that im scared of seeing blood but that's how she passed from a hemorrhage she had on her groin due to an artery transplant or idk the appropriate medical term for the process she had done...so having said I would like to over come these I don't know if I should call fears or at least know that I can feel comfortable with them and be professional about it having dealt with something very personal similar in the past with my mom...dont know if I explaineed myself well haha hope you understand what im getting at after writing a whole novel about my doubts here...if not any type of feedback helps at this moment...

missourinurse2b, BSN, RN · May 2, 2016

A good nurse is not afraid or too good to change a patent's brief or toilet and then clean them. RN's have about 4-5 patients and CNA's have 9-13 patients. So if you know your patient is dirty and your CNA is let's say giving a bed bath don't leave your patient dirty.

I agree that RNs can also provide patient care...however you do realize that the 4-5 patients a nurse has also requires many meds, IV starts/meds, documentation, treatments, patient education, calling docs on change in patient status, etc. As a RN I can help my CNAs do ANY part of his or her job but he or she can NOT help me do MY job so I am behind from helping the CNA. Please don't assume to know the job of a nurse. I appreciate my CNAs more than I can say and I help out all I can but in all honestly it really irks me when CNAs presume to think they have MORE work to do than I do. That's just not fair to say.

Nurseeverywhere, CNA, LVN · May 2, 2016

missourinurse2b I do not assume I know the job of a nurse but I do know that I have worked with plenty who help their patient, not me, as much as they can. If said patient is at high risk for pressure sores or if they are giving meds and discover patient has had a bm they will call and let me know. If I say I'm in the middle of a bed bath that means I will be a while before I get there. If I am just about to start the bed bath of course I would tell the patient I have an urgent matter and attend to the incontinent one first. What I am telling OP is that it is everyone's job to be able to clean a patient up. She is concerned that she cannot handle bodily fluids and that is something she should learn to deal with in order to come into the health field.

Sunshine-Curry · May 20, 2016

I am a CNA... working on my pre- nursing classes. my experience with nurses that go straight to nursing school without working as a CNA first is they lack the understanding that the shift is eight hours and you have two or three showers to do, plus two residents that are very inpatient, family members that think they parent, brother or sister are the most important people in the building. The nurse that has NEVER walked a day in your shoes expects that YOU can do all that while she stands at a med cart with a call light ringing and she calls you to answer that very light! She lacks the understanding that you are a NURSING ASSISTANT! Which means that you are there to assist them but that is a two way street!

Nursing24/7, LVN · May 20, 2016

I'm a CNA currently working on my prereqs for nursing school. As far as the yucky stuff, if you are really squeamish about poop, urine & blood you may not like CNA work. And as a CNA you'll deal with a lot of poop especially. I'm not squeamish about most bodily fluids(vomit is the only one that still freaks me out sometimes) but it still took some getting used to. But now even strong smells don't phase me, its all second nature.

I strongly believe being a CNA is great prep & learning tool for those interested in a RN career. CNA work is really hard but you learn so much as a CNA...you really get to see all the good the bad & the ugly(& dirty)stuff, as well as really get a grasp of patient care, empathy, patient/ nurse communication, patience, family relations, bedside manner & time management. And you see & learn from doing hands on things with the patients & from the nurses. I am lucky to work in a teaching hospital & at a hospital where the RN's are nice, so the RN's are always showing us things & explaining conditions & procedures to us CNA's who ask questions & express wanting to learn.

I'll tell you this...I can work with a RN for 5 mins & I can tell right away whether or not they worked as a CNA or in healthcare prior to becoming a RN. Of course I know really good RN's too who never did CNA work or worked in healthcare prior to becoming an RN but to me, there's just something noticeably different about the bedside manner of those who already have some experience with patient care.