Bad bad day

[DaughteroftheKing]

I just started my CNA job 6 shifts ago.. and today was the worst day of any job I have ever had...

I worked on the Alzheimers unit today, which I love, but I was sick so I already wasnt feeling too great..

Then, I was moving a heavy lady from her bed to her wheelchair, and her knees gave out & she feel.. I felt horrible, but I felt I really couldnt have done anything about it..

Then, ten minutes before I was going to go home, I go to put another resident in bed, and Im moving her from her bathroom to her bed, and she just flys out of her chair onto the floor & got a big ol bloody gash in her head.. I think her foot must have got caught on the bottom of the wheelchair..

All I know is today was a horrible day & I feel like I just wanna quit because I wanted to do this job to help people & now Im just hurting them.. That, and I feel like Im not even getting very much experience, which was the whole purpose of doing this before nursing school starts..

Ok enough whining for the day...

[DaughteroftheKing]

Hey I just wanted to say thank you all so much for your posts, it really encouraged me!!

I am glad I didnt quit.. I do love being a CNA even though that may change on a daily basis.. I love the residents there.. and they do thank me and acknowledge that Im there to care for them, which from what I hear, is a lot more than most CNA's get ..

SO, Im gonna stick it out til next year when Im going to quit for nursing school..

Again, thank you all & I hope you all have great days today :)

[amanda1229]

Hello,

Im new here.Im a CNA student.I started class on July 9th,.I was in class for 1 week and than out to the floor I went. I was scared to death. I was doing so well,than yesterday,I clocked in ,went to my hall. I was doing a check of everyone and there lay a man on the floor!I ran into his room only to find that the shift before me did not put his beeper on him. (he had tried to get out of bed and into his wheelchair) I was so mad and scared.He busted his lip wide open,gash on his head and bruised his tailbone.I was so upset.As a student we can not do anything unless we have a certif.CNA beside us.I was thinking fast!I reached up and turned his call light on!A few seconds into the light being on my mentor came in and helped.Our charge nurse took me off to the side and thanked me for doing the right thing. At first I wanted to pick him up off the floor and hug him! Everyday is stressfull yet I feel good when I leave. Im sure there will be plenty more of these types of days but as the days go,our learning of handling these situtions will get better.

From time to time, when other CNAs forget their PSAs, it will only encourage you to remember it more easily. But remember, PSAs do not prevent falls, and working in a nursing home, they will happen.

You did a good job not getting too stressed out and seeking help, but you need to yell or call for help when it happens again! Getting attention was definitely the right thing to do, it just has to be more immediate next time. Just talk to the resident, leave him where he is, tell him that the nurse is coming, and try to figure out what happened. That's the only thing you need to know with falls -- on the skills test, if you don't yell "help" aloud, you will lose points for the entire skill. A lot of evaluators where I'm from are NOT forgiving with that one!

But, still, you did well. My facility often reminds us of this saying: "Less falls when you walk the halls." When you are done with your duties and actually have a few minutes at the end of the shift or whenever, don't sit down and chat -- do the side-to-side glance up and down the halls. So many falls have been prevented in our facility by just taking a stroll up and down my wing, especially in the evening!

Good luck and enjoy the rest of your clinicals. :)

[buildingmyfaith57]

to all you new c.n.a please please look over you care plan very carefully and two im not trying to get you to quit where you work at. but i do suggest that you get to a place that believes in team work, work as partners. the reason is for the safety of the residents,and the safety of yourself.