CNA that would like clinical experience with less lifting.. back hurts

allnurses Guide · Sep 13, 2012

Some things are absolutely worth making waves for... new or not.

No breaks?

That would be illegal.

Being pressured not to use a lift... a safety tool for you and your resident?

Complete and total CRAP.

This sounds like a place you don't want to be.

Start looking for another job now.

Insist on using a lift and getting some sort of break.

Who cares if you make waves?

I wouldn't, because I would figure I'm getting out of Dodge ASAP!

You have to protect yourself.

Compassion_x · Sep 13, 2012

Yeah, no breaks would be illegal. No lifts for residents who would require one (sounds like that resident would need one) is extremely dangerous to the aides and the resident. If state is coming they need to get their act together because if you're not using lifts when you should be, they could get into trouble, at least where I'm from (Iowa).

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

If the nursing home isn't considered sub acute experience, and the hospital wants sub acute experience, why are you still working there? If you're looking for a CNA job with less physical demands you should consider home health, it's not sub acute, but you're not getting that experience anyways. I thought rehabs were considered sub acute, maybe look for a "health and rehab" facility. Like the other posters said, what your facility is doing is considered illegal. You need to be given breaks, and if state does come around and asks you questions, tell them that you are not allowed breaks and discouraged from using necessary lifting equipment.

I'm sorry this is happening, good luck to you!

funtimes · Sep 13, 2012

I hate to say this, but the break thing is part of being a CNA from my experience. I can probably count on both hands the number of shifts Ive worked the last year in which I have taken 2 full 15 minute breaks and a full half hour lunch. I will often work a 12 and a half hour shift with NO breaks, including a lunch break, simply because we are too swamped, and if I took a break the RNs I work with(Who also frequently dont get a break) would be in serious trouble.

When I worked in LTC, the situation was essentially the same. I worked an 8 hour shift and we didnt get a lunch break per se, as we ate our lunch while we fed a resident in the dining room. Sometimes I would take a morning break, again usually while assisting or keeping an eye on someone eating their breakfast in the dining room.

The break thing doesnt really bother me that much, but when it comes to injuring my back, I make no exceptions. If I feel its unsafe, I dont do it, period. I dont care if the person urging me to do something unsafe is an MD or an RN, if I think its going to injure me, I wont do it.

I wont even risk injury as an EMT. If someones arrival to the hospital is delayed because I cannot safely move them, and their chances for survival decrease as a result, so be it. That sounds harsh, but I learned early on that if you treat every call like your superman and are willing to sacrifice yourself for this ONE patient, your career in EMS would probably last a few months before you wind up seriously injured. Thats not to say I havent sacrificed my health and safety on a call, there are times when I have, but I try to keep those times to a minimum. But as a CNA....nope, wont do it. Theres no reason to.

MahzieLPN, LPN · Sep 14, 2012

Total agreement with all of the above. Lunch and breaks are a part of the whole employment partnership, even though there may be occasional exceptions to the timing of them. DO NOT risk your own health and safety - much less that of a patient - to perform tasks without the proper equipment on which you have been trained.

Yes, start looking for a new job IMMEDIATELY. This facility is taking advantage of you - don't let them...if you choose your words appropriately and carefully, you can say anything to anyone. Might be good to reheorifice a couple of refusals, etc., to have at the ready.

Get OUTTA there! Good luck, too.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

I disagree on the break thing. The nurse supervising the CNA's will get in trouble at my facility if we don't take a 30 minute lunch break. Even if we're down to two CNA's for 50 patients, we still need to figure out how to take a lunch break because our employer requires it. That leaves the nurses and the one CNA on the 50 patients while the other CNA goes to lunch for 30 minutes.

MahzieLPN, LPN · Sep 14, 2012

Kudos to your employer, SuperMeghan91. The remark about the timing of lunch and breaks meant only that, not a complete disregard for them. Personally, I don't know of any place where you get to have your lunch at the same time every day, hence, timing.......

Graduation2016 · Sep 14, 2012

If we don't take our 30 minute lunch we get in trouble!!!!!! I agree that every once in a while we can't make it but it is very rarely this happens and I work L&D where you never know what's going to happen.

Get out of there before you hurt yourself or one of your patients and then ruin your medical field career.

Good luck!

Got CPR? · Sep 15, 2012

I agree with what everyone else said. Also, if you aren't getting a lunch (you cannot work at all during those 30 min) you must be paid that extra 30 minutes. I seriously hope you aren't working through your lunch without compensation. That is illegal on their part. I would check out the Labor Laws in your state. Hang in there, I hope you stay injury free and things get better.

mindyfromcali · Sep 15, 2012

Have you tried applying for somewhere that does rehab? Usually the rehab part of a skilled nursing facility has less lifting. The only issue is more time on your feet because the Residents are going to be using their call lights more.