I just started my clinicals for my CNA course and I have some concerns that I was wondering how common they appear. I realize that this work is tough, and I expected nothing less, but I also believe that we should always place the well being of the residents that are under our care first. We are here to improve health were we can, not make it worse.
Throughout the day I noticed that the majority of CNA employed at the facility were quite rough and impersonal with the residents. In class I was taught that we needed to greet the residents and state our business, what we were going to do for them, before we began any process. Yet, I saw none of this happen. The caregivers just walked in and began their duties, not once did i see anyone greet the resident before starting. While offering care there were little, or no, words spoken to the residents. It was very mechanical, and harsh.
I noticed during the range of motion exercises the aides were moving the limbs in rapid and rough manners. One resident had a stiff knee, and the aide forced the leg to bend in a very harsh fashion. It appeared that there was alot of over stimulation to the resident that could make their condition worsen. Often I noticed that the residents that could not speak showed obvious pain during these exercises, and that the aides bluntly ignored their groans and moans of discomfort.
I saw that perineal care was rushed and incomplete, leaving fecal matter on the resident. At some points I noticed aides ignore a plea from a resident to go to the restroom. Even their dining was rushed and forced. By "force" I mean that exact wording, it was as though the aide crammed huge spoon fulls into their mouth. It was such a risk for aspiration and choking.
My first day at clinicals had me heartbroken, I went home that evening and cried for those residents. Many of them had cried when my class had to go. Just in that one day I feel that I have made many friends of those residents, and it hurts me to see that their care is so disappointing. I did speak to my instructor about these concerns that I observed, and hope that they will be brought up to the DON. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the things that I noticed wrong..
Is this activity of care a common thing? Why do people that are so unconcerned for a persons well being involved in providing care in a medical facility? I appologise for my rants, but I had to get this off my chest, it is so sad for me to see this occur.
yousoldtheworld - I was not trying to offend anyone with my post..I just wanted to state the fact that A LOT of people that work in LTC just don't care...point blank..know what I mean? Its sad to hear such terrible stories and I've talked with a few that told me that they don't care about their patients. I just wanted to let the OP know that what he feels is awesome and that LTC needs more people like him. I apologize if you or anyone took my message the wrong way.
I did clinicals in this nursing home that often heard the CNAs saying that although they wished that they could sit and talk there just was not enough time. They decided to recruit volunteers in the local newspaper and they had many "able" volunteers that came in and sat with the call bell ringers for as long as they needed. All they did was a short orientation that the director set up and they now had people to sit with the bored residents and the long feeders. Maybe you guys can suggest this to your place. You would be surprised of the amount of seniors in the community that were sitting home alone because they did not have anyone to talk to either. This works well for both.
This is to the OP...your thread had me in tears! This is why these places need people like you and me...I absolutely 100% agree with you on how cruel people can be. Good god...I know people are overworked and underpaid and get burnt out but GOOD GOD these people deserve more respect! Whatever happened to respect your elder's???? If I ever have to live in a nursing home when I'm older...I sure hope the government can change things! This is just sad. And like I've said I KNOW people work their butts off and don't get the credit they deserve but some just don't give a crap either way. I will always treat my elder's with respect even when their being difficult because put yourself in their shoes and literally think about what they must think...they didn't ask to get older or be put in a home...they probably just feel violated. And the ones that have their call light on all the time are just probably bored and want company...its their way of letting people know "Hey I'm still alive in here...come talk to me!". Anyway...you show everyone that you care and I hope you continue doing a great job. I know it takes more than one person to change things but our help puts it one more notch above what it use to be!!!!
God Bless
How do you know that people don't give a crap? That we don't respect our elders? That we've never put ourselves in their shoes? Do you think we don't already know the reasons behind why some people ring the bell constantly?
Caring alone does not make someone a good CNA. The residents need more than that. Caring doesn't get all of the 4759454 things you have to do by a certain time done. It doesn't make you fast, efficient, organized, teamwork-oriented, etc. I work with someone who is caring, but she's got her head in the clouds. The residents get irritated with her because she doesn't get their baths done on time, she says she's going to do something and then forgets, never shows up when she says she will, etc. These people have a routine. It's important to them. And when this woman works, they all get disrupted because she is too busy bending over backwards trying to please those few residents who cannot be pleased (either that or wandering around without a clue).
I'm not saying that caring isn't an important quality for a CNA to have. It is. And most of us DO have it. But you told the OP that "these places need people like you and me" and you have no idea what kind of CNA she going to be. She might turn out to be caring, but otherwise useless on the job (no offense, OP!!). And the rest of us, who actually have job experience and know how to prioritize, were excluded from that statement because somehow we don't give a crap?
:redbeatheOh how I love a great CNA, I have meet some that have more caring and compassion than I have ever seen. For those of you who care, great job. To those of you who don't, you should be doing another line of work. (that goes for nurses to):heartbeat
For one thing...my post was for the OP because I wanted him to know (because he felt horrible about what was happening) that how he feels just shows that he does care...and that that is great. I HAVE NEVER said that you or whoever else DOESN'T care...just because I didn't put *You* in my post doesn't mean your not a good CNA...my comment was for *Him*. Oh and once again I was referring about the people that I have personally talked to...that don't care.
This is to the OP...your thread had me in tears! This is why these places need people like you and me...I absolutely 100% agree with you on how cruel people can be. Good god...I know people are overworked and underpaid and get burnt out but GOOD GOD these people deserve more respect! Whatever happened to respect your elder's???? If I ever have to live in a nursing home when I'm older...I sure hope the government can change things! This is just sad. And like I've said I KNOW people work their butts off and don't get the credit they deserve but some just don't give a crap either way. I will always treat my elder's with respect even when their being difficult because put yourself in their shoes and literally think about what they must think...they didn't ask to get older or be put in a home...they probably just feel violated. And the ones that have their call light on all the time are just probably bored and want company...its their way of letting people know "Hey I'm still alive in here...come talk to me!". Anyway...you show everyone that you care and I hope you continue doing a great job. I know it takes more than one person to change things but our help puts it one more notch above what it use to be!!!!
God Bless
You can't talk the talk if you've never walked the walk.
People don't respond well to people who come on these boards sounding idealistic and preachy, which is how your post came across to some of us.
Especially considering that you aren't an aide yet - you have no idea how it will feel to be working on the floor until you actually do. If you actually had a couple of CNAs say to you "I don't care about my residents", then they, in fact, should not be CNAs and are definitely in the minority. Making it sound like a large portion of us do not care is just ridiculous.
No...I'm coming on here sounding like I have a heart...that's all there is too it...I like knowing that there are people that do care, and if my post was to everyone...which by the way was not...then no one has a right to tell me I can't have an opinion. Oh and seriously how many times do I have to say that I was talking about PEOPLE I KNOW? Not anyone on this website. I've read this thread to plenty of people and they all agree with my point that it is good to know that there are people who still care (and if you are one thats great) about what they do...none of them took my opinion as insulting. They actually told me they felt like the people commenting on my post sounded kinda guilty.
No...I'm coming on here sounding like I have a heart...that's all there is too it...I like knowing that there are people that do care, and if my post was to everyone...which by the way was not...then no one has a right to tell me I can't have an opinion. Oh and seriously how many times do I have to say that I was talking about PEOPLE I KNOW? Not anyone on this website. I've read this thread to plenty of people and they all agree with my point that it is good to know that there are people who still care (and if you are one thats great) about what they do...none of them took my opinion as insulting. They actually told me they felt like the people commenting on my post sounded kinda guilty.
I'm not a CNA and *I* found your post insulting. Idealistic, too.
And I also said that if I insulted anyone...I apologize. But people still continue to reply about my first post...after I've said that. No one has the right to tell me that I cant have my own opinion, even if I'm not a CNA. I know that I'd be dang good at being one because I'm a good person and that's why I told the OP that places like that need people like me and him. I never once said that everyone else on the thread OR on this website didn't care...hince to why I said my reply was for the OP. So once again *to everyone* I apologize if I've insulted anyone.
Not to split hairs, but can't you see that perhaps others could think you're implying that if they don't measure up to your and the OP's idealistic expectations that somehow they're NOT good people and CNAs??
It's so very easy to criticize those actually doing the job when you have no realization of what the job actually entails. That's all anybody is trying to tell you. Not that you're not entitled to have an opionion, but that perhaps your opinion might be different once you are a CNA.
Yes, one should be a "good person" to be a CNA, but that's not all it takes. Just as being a "good person" doesn't necessarily make one a good nurse.
Nina2bRN
68 Posts
yousoldtheworld - I was not trying to offend anyone with my post..I just wanted to state the fact that A LOT of people that work in LTC just don't care...point blank..know what I mean? Its sad to hear such terrible stories and I've talked with a few that told me that they don't care about their patients. I just wanted to let the OP know that what he feels is awesome and that LTC needs more people like him. I apologize if you or anyone took my message the wrong way.