CNA Concerns

I understand the job description of a CNA. I'm just really scared and nervous about things like scents, sights, and post-mortem care, to be specific. I know it sounds stupid and I was even nervous to post this. Can anyone give me advice, suggestions, stories, experiences, (anything!!!)that could help me out in any way. Everyone I talk to who's done it says how great it is but I guess I want someone to just tell it to me straight. What is the most awful experience, most uncomfortable, most rewarding, most difficult, etc.

You don't sound stupid. You sound like alot of other people that have never been in this field and are understandably nervous about it. Let's see where can I begin.

Well first off I think one of the most awful/humiliating experiences was when I was bathing an elderly woman and her daughters were in the room. Apparently I wasn't bathing her according to their standards because the one daughter proceeded to ream me out about how rough I was and how I wasn't washing the soap off enough. Just the way she spoke to me, especially in front of her sister made me want to crawl into a hole. I felt so embarrassed. But then I came to realize that she was never happy with anyone taking care of her mother (tho you think she would lift a finger to do it herself? yea right) so I tried not to take it too personally. I guess thats something that can make me doubt my abilities sometimes is when family members criticize you right there in the room as loud as they can be.

Now to the better side of the job. We had a patient who was the sweetest lady and her daughter lived with her to take care of her. She was totally dependent. She loved it when a co-worker of mine and I worked. We work very well together and always bathed this lady together. When the patient got discharged, the daughter specifically gave my name and my co-worker's name and said that she wished we worked everyday and how wonderful we were to her and her mother. The nurse who was doing the discharge and heard this filled out a special form that went to management stating exactly what the lady had said. It made me feel so good to read that. It may sound egotistical to some, but some days you just need to read a good thank you to pick you up.

Good grief I'm so long winded. Bless your heart if you got this far. My advice would be to do the best you can, it will show in the end result. Do not be afraid to ask for help or ask questions, it can save you in the end. Realize that you may deal with people that are under extreme stress with either themselves or their loved ones being very ill and that sometimes what they say may not be directed towards you, so learn to roll with the punches.

Good Luck to you. And please don't ever be afraid/nervous to post anything. We are here for each other.

Thank you so much, TiggerBelly.

I appreciate your kindness and encouragement, it helps a lot.

Best,

Emma

"What is the most awful experience, most uncomfortable, most rewarding, most difficult, etc."

Most awful has to be when an elderly lady slapped me across the face, with full force as hard as she could. They heard the slap down the hall and even the next day the mark was still on my face.

She had dementia and was just a generally combative lady, I knew this but the slap came from no where, wasn't expecting it. I was getting her bed ready to transfer her to it when she called me over to her and slapped me.

I called another aide into the room and I walked out and cried because it hurt like hell, lol.

Most uncomfortable is like the poster above me said. When you're trying to care for someone and the family is telling you to do this that way, do that this way, you're not doing it right, etc. I realize most families are concerned but it can be uncomfortable.

Most rewarding is everything in between. Knowing I am doing good things for good people. When I do something for someone and they take the time to thank me, that is always nice.

Most difficult is just being a CNA - it's hard work and sometimes you're not appreciated by others. I've always thought that all nurses should have some experience as a CNA - just so they know how hard it really is.

As a new nurse and former CNA of three years, becoming a CNA is the best thing you can do before entering nursing school. You will have exposure to the worst smells, sights and personalities. I recommend working in a hospital and not a Nursing home because you will learn how to do things the right way, some nurses will be willing to show you procedures (although you cannot perform them) you will learn what you will be doing as a nurse. Also, working the the hospital as a CNA will prepare you for nursing school clinicals. You will already know medical terminology, basic clinical skills such as taking vital signs ( in nursing school my classmate cried in front of eveyone because she could not check a blood pressure). You will be prepared. In working as a CNA, you will also develop communication skills. You will know how to talk to your patients, anticipate their needs, and communicate with staff. Many classmates that were not CNA's would walk into a patients room and not know what to say. You will. You will learn as a CNA how to deal with patients that yell at you, poop on you, vomit on you, complain, and how to deal with family. That can be scary to a nursing student with no experience. I know it may sound gross and unappealing, but as our nursing school instructors said "welcome to nursing". Believe me, even if you work as a CNA for 6 months and enter nursing school full time, the experience is crucial. Those of us who were CNA's had an easier time in school. The people who were not had a difficult time. The experience will also let you know if this is the career for you.