CNA Clinicals

TazziRN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

It's not uncommon, unfortunately. My daughter took a CNA class this past year through ROP and told me the same thing after her first week at clinicals. CNAs are overworked and the abusive ones, sometimes, can't get hired anywhere other than LTC. They get away with their behavior because residents either can't or won't complain. Especially the ones without families. All you can do is do your best while you're there and don't let yourself fall into the same behavior pattern.

And yes, they do allow students to do all the work.....that way they don't have to do anything.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

it's not uncommon, unfortunately. my daughter took a cna class this past year through rop and told me the same thing after her first week at clinicals. cnas are overworked and the abusive ones, sometimes, can't get hired anywhere other than ltc. they get away with their behavior because residents either can't or won't complain. especially the ones without families. all you can do is do your best while you're there and don't let yourself fall into the same behavior pattern.
and yes, they do allow students to do all the work.....that way they don't have to do anything.

speaking of which, don't you wish you got paid being a cna/rn student during clinicals, since we find ourselves doing most if not all the work. lol just a contraversial thought to liven things up!!

VenaKavaRN · Jul 27, 2007

I noticed the same thing at my CNA clinicals, and it scared me to death. I was thinking that was how you "had to be" to be able to deal with how emotionally draining nursing home CNA work can be, and I knew I never wanted to get to be that way. But that's definitely NOT true! Unfortunately, some CNAs don't take as much pride in what they do as you seem to, and as a result the resident care suffers.

Don't look to such aides as examples. You know in your heart how to treat patients/residents with dignity and respect, so do it!

As for what to do at clinicals - don't let them take advantage of you. Even as a student, if you make a mistake - it's still your fault, not the employee who was supposed to be with you. God forbid a resident falls while you're with them! Ask them nicely if they'd come show you how they do this or that, or state you'd feel much more comfortable having help for a particular task. If that still doesn't work, talk to your clinical director. You're there to LEARN, not do someone else's work :uhoh3:

candygirlshar · Jul 27, 2007

Hi, i feel exactly what your are saying because I finished my clinicals last month at a nursing home that I would never apply at. I though that the nurses were very mean and they tried to be mean to us but I am the type of person who don't take crap from nobody. The person that was my trainer had the nerve to go behind my back and tell other students in my class that I did not want to do nothing, its not that I didn't want to do anything she just got mad because she wanted me to do her job while she finish off the rest of her other patients, but to top it off she tried to put me with the patients that bad bowel movements on themselves and I stopped her right there and told her that I was a student and I am her to learn I am not here to do someone else's job especially if I am not getting paid for it. They were also mean to the residents there in my presence as well but my instructor gave us full warning and told us to just keep our mouths shut because she warned us ahead of time that we will see things that we will not approve of. So all I have to say to you is that you use your good judgement and not follow into those bad foot steps because I promise you all of the ones that's being mean to the residents if you go on the nursing board website you will see their license REVOKED or SUSPENDED for abuse.

buildingmyfaith57 · Jul 27, 2007

why would any c.n.a instructor tell their students to be quiet when they are observing abuse,neglecting the residents. and as for the c.n.a's that are c.n.a's what role model are they setting? to all you new c.n.a i hope after you grad you don't apply at this facilty. and as for that c.n.a instructor it makes you kind of wonder how she takes care of her residents when she or he is on the floor.

candygirlshar · Jul 28, 2007

why would any c.n.a instructor tell their students to be quiet when they are observing abuse,neglecting the residents. and as for the c.n.a's that are c.n.a's what role model are they setting? to all you new c.n.a i hope after you grad you don't apply at this facility. and as for that c.n.a instructor it makes you kind of wonder how she takes care of her residents when she or he is on the floor.[/quote
No don't get me wrong my instructor was not saying don't say anything about the abuse she was just telling us to sit back and watch how they mistreat the resident and told us that once we get into the field you should report it. No one would have to tell me to report anything because if I witness it i would tell off the break because we have to keep in mind that this could be one of our family members and I REFUSE to sit back and let anybody mistreat older people because they feel like they can't defend themselves and if you sit back and don't say anything what kind of person would that make you!!!!

kcochrane · Jul 28, 2007

I don't see it as wrong to have you answer the lights. Most times residents want something simple as something moved or a light turned off. But if it is something beyond what you are trained to do or comfortable to do, you should be getting the CNA on the floor involved. Usually when we have someone in clinical they are assigned to one resident and we do not expect them to take care of any others. Just having them do one resident helps us out and we are greatful for their help.

As far a CNAs being mean...yes we have a few on our unit. I don't get the mentality of some of them. They are one step from being in that same position or having a family member being in that position. To me if you see that patient as yourself or your family member, you will never go wrong and your compassion will be there. Some CNAs and Nurses just don't get it. And yes, I have reported what I see to the Nurse Manager. The CNAs/Nurses are still there and we all get an inservice or a speech. I don't get it.

bethin · Jul 28, 2007

No don't get me wrong my instructor was not saying don't say anything about the abuse she was just telling us to sit back and watch how they mistreat the resident and told us that once we get into the field you should report it. No one would have to tell me to report anything because if I witness it i would tell off the break because we have to keep in mind that this could be one of our family members and I REFUSE to sit back and let anybody mistreat older people because they feel like they can't defend themselves and if you sit back and don't say anything what kind of person would that make you!!!!

You have the right attitude. If you witness abuse, go straight to the DON. Unfortunately, this occurs in alot of LTCF. People do abuse their pts because they have no family and the resident can't speak, so who's going to tell - you are! Stand up and be an advocate.

You can't get kicked out of clinicals for standing up for your residents. Management may not like you making a ruckus, but then again who cares? If management has a problem with anyone reporting abuse then you are in the wrong LTCF. I would suggest as soon as you are certified to find a different job if this continues to occur.

Good luck on your state test!

bethin · Jul 28, 2007

I am on my 4th day of CNA clinicals and the CNA that we are working with has been having us answer all the call lights on our own why they do other things. Is this normal to leave students to attend to pts on their own? I would think this would be unsafe as do not know anything about these pts, not to mention the majority of them have breathing tubes? I thought clinicals was considered a training experience? Am I mistaken?

If you are uncomfortable speak to your instructor. I assume she's there on the floor with you?

I had the same problem when I was doing my CNA clinicals. What I did was show up about 15 mins early one day with a sheet of paper in hand. I asked the nurses and aides about each resident: could they walk, HOH?, previous CVA's?, swallowing difficulties, 1 assist to get up or 2, diet, etc. I carried this with me everyday in my pocket.

I don't think it's unusual for you to answer lights. If you are unsure about anything ask.

For my clinicals we were paired up with another woman from clinicals. We were told we were swim buddies meaning wherever one goes the other goes. This really helped. I felt more confident with another person even though she knew about as much as I did. Also, I had my cheat sheet so if I had a question re: transfers I just had to look at my paper. And, our class was small and our wonderful instructor was there each day with us. She was always patient with us and answered any questions we had.

Also, I don't know if you're taking care of the same resident's everyday like we did. That certainly helped getting to know them. It takes a while to get to know each resident and their quirks.

Don't despair, keep going in with a positive attitude. It does get better and it does get easier.