CNA in LTC needing to talk

Krissy NY · Apr 9, 2004

I wanted to point out that the peer mentor was very nice, she showed me her tricks and things like that. She filled me in on what the other girls had been saying which I took to heart. I really think she meant well though (I wish someone did, it is hard to fight a battle on your own)

Hi everyone
I have posted about my work situation b4 and very much appreciated everyones thoughts
I am a CNA working in a nursing home. I am brand new to health care. I decided to make a career change 5 months ago. I have had the displeasure of working with the lowest calibur of people I have ever met on my first job as a CNA.
I work on a very "heavy" floor, hoyers, trans-aids...dementia and alzheimers patients. we have 40 residents to take care of and I am lucky if we have 3 CNA's. The CNA's I work with purposely trained me wrong...had me doing chucks backwards and than ran to the supervisor when we had a full bed change. They smile in my face and stab me in the back every second they get. I have had money stolen right out of my purse, my dinner eaten, taken right out of the fridge in the breakroom. I was driving a woman home at night who constantly told me what the others were saying and come to find out she was right along with them. I refused to drive her home and now it is impossible to get help with my 2 assists and hoyers which puts me behind which makes me look incompetant which they love.
I went to my supervisor for a floor change and she instead gave me a "PM"..peer mentor. The peer mentor came last night and showed me her way of doing things. She also repeated all the god awful things my fellow CNA's had been doing to me..showing me incorrect ways and then running to the LPN, etc.
The CNA's I work with mostly do not have a high school diploma and are single mothers at the ages of 21-25. Some have 3 or 4 kids at this young age. I have been doing everything but cartwheels to fit in or at least work with them but I do not.
I have the support of the RN's who supervise, who see me as intelligent and caring needing time to learn this. I feel my fellow CNA's see me as a bumbling idiot without a clue and are more than willing to point it out.
Do I quit? Do I find a new health care center? Has anyone experienced this? I feel I have the ability to move on to my RN, but the fact that these girls have been so viscious to me is discouraging
Regardless..I have to pay the bills, I have to take care of me
any thoughts appreciated very much

TweetiePieRN · Apr 9, 2004

Hi Krissy! I am so sorry that you are being treated this way! Your fellow CNAs you are working with are jerks! If I were you, I would find another place to work. I have NEVER encountered people like this. Every place I have worked at has fostered a sense of team work and unity. I hope you are able to find a place that fits you nicely. I am sure you are doing a great job, but have co-workers suffering from low self-esteem and feel the need to harrass the newbie. Too bad you don't live in Northern California. I work for a great hospital and they are nothing but good to me (even as a newbie). We love training new employees!! Good luck to you!! -Tweetiepie :)

mollyjeanrn · Apr 9, 2004

That sounds horrible, I am so sorry you are having to experience this! I am also a CNA (attending nursing school) and if I were in your situation I would quit immediately. You should not have to endure that for another minute more. When I have worked as a CNA we worked as a team and always helped each other out. Although I guess back-stabbing and gossip is present everywhere I have never seen it to the extreme you are describing. Are there other places where you live that you can work? The hospital maybe...my best CNA job ever was at our local hospital. (Not so much peri-care there!!) Here in New Mexico CNAs are in high demand and there are numerous job openings at any time. Quit. Take care of yourself first and foremost. Let us know how things turn out for you! I'll keep you in my prayers!

Krissy NY · Apr 9, 2004

This forum is really my most comfortable outlet. I do not want anyone to know how terrible things are going for me at work...it is embarrassing. I see myself as a highly motivated energetic positive and caring CNA. As soon as I go to work and see these girls waiting around the nurses station to see who's turn it is to float to another floor I lose who I am and feel like the bumbling doormat. My supervisor told me she did not want me to float yet, she feels I need more experience. One of my co-workers said "I'm not gonna lie to you...we are all very p*ssed off that you can't float" as she put her coat on and pulled out her pack of cigerettes and marched away

I used a sick day today because I cannot face it. My nursing director was on my voicemail saying "please come in we need you and stop listening to the viscious gossip" I am not calling her back...and god knows who said anything about viscious gossip!

I was so excited to get into this field and now I feel like a big BM

Gompers, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2004

I'm so sorry that you're having a bad experience at work, and I really hope you can look into changing jobs. I agree with maybe trying to get work as a CNA at a hospital instead.

Now, I always thought that you needed to have some sort of license to work as a CNA - hence the "C" for certified in CNA. How can these girls be CNAs if they didn't even finish high school? I thought you at least needed a diploma and then a CNA course and test to work, even in a LTC facility?

These girls sound like they are just bitter at their own situations in life. I mean, if they're all in their early 20's, they should be going out with friends and living it up, but instead they're all tied down with several kids apiece. Plus they are doing what we all know is not the prettiest and most fun job out there, and it doesn't sound like they have any aspirations to get better jobs...

GET OUT OF THERE, ASAP!!!

Good luck!

lizmatt · Apr 9, 2004

You sound like you are going to be a great CNA. I would definitley look for something else right away... and get away from these toxic people. It sucks that your coworkers have to be so mean to you - no one deserves to be treated that way. Personally, I would make a pact with myself to stick it out for another 2 weeks and work like crazy to find another job leaving no stone unturned. The internet is a great resource as a starting point for contacts for facilities. I would see who is hiring, and go in and fill out an application everywhere. Personally, I have gotten the best response by emailing the HR contact on the website for different facilities, but since you are in an unbearable situation might need to be a little more proactive. But it is true that it is easier to get a job when you have a job, so if you can stick it out a little longer it might be better .... But if that is not an option get out - you don't deserve the abuse. Don't let them get to you, you will be in a better place soon enough.

Good Luck

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · Apr 9, 2004

Some working environments are beyond help. The team you are with can make all the difference in the world.

With your co-workers refusing to help you they are doing more than causing your work to be behind and making you look incompetent. By neglecting to help they are neglecting the needs of the patient. A lot of patients are never expected to be able to be moved by just one person; it will be documented that they require 2+ assistance with that. Someone needs to enforce the fact that people are just going to have to help because it is their JOB.

We have had plenty of large, immobile patients. I don't expect the CNAs to try to move them around by theirselves. I'll help. The other nurses and CNAs are expected to pitch in as well.

Don't hurt yourself trying to do more than what you can. I can really empathize with your poor working environment.....been there and done that. I hope things get better for you.

Krissy NY · Apr 9, 2004

I am in New York and you can get you CNA certificate without a high school diploma or GED. To move on to LPN you must have your GED. I grew up not even knowing someone who did not graduate high school, I was ashamed for not pursuing a 4 year degree. I am a completely different type of person then they are.

One of the girls is only 21 and she has 3 kids with 3 different fathers and started at 15. My mentor said "they are jealous of you". I hate that term, it is so "high school". I think one of the others has been in jail. I am not kidding.

Well...they don't like me. Would you believe that Christmas time we had an office party and the one with the three kids actually made a play for my boyfriend! She wanted to know what he saw in me.

I'm so sorry that you're having a bad experience at work, and I really hope you can look into changing jobs. I agree with maybe trying to get work as a CNA at a hospital instead.
Now, I always thought that you needed to have some sort of license to work as a CNA - hence the "C" for certified in CNA. How can these girls be CNAs if they didn't even finish high school? I thought you at least needed a diploma and then a CNA course and test to work, even in a LTC facility?
These girls sound like they are just bitter at their own situations in life. I mean, if they're all in their early 20's, they should be going out with friends and living it up, but instead they're all tied down with several kids apiece. Plus they are doing what we all know is not the prettiest and most fun job out there, and it doesn't sound like they have any aspirations to get better jobs...
GET OUT OF THERE, ASAP!!!
Good luck!

Krissy NY · Apr 9, 2004

Well, you all have motivated me and I am going to call a few of the local hospitals. Maybe I can get an interview for Monday. I will let you know and I will stick it out until I get something else.

Thanks so much.

I am in New York and you can get you CNA certificate without a high school diploma or GED. To move on to LPN you must have your GED. I grew up not even knowing someone who did not graduate high school, I was ashamed for not pursuing a 4 year degree. I am a completely different type of person then they are.
One of the girls is only 21 and she has 3 kids with 3 different fathers and started at 15. My mentor said "they are jealous of you". I hate that term, it is so "high school". I think one of the others has been in jail. I am not kidding.
Well...they don't like me. Would you believe that Christmas time we had an office party and the one with the three kids actually made a play for my boyfriend! She wanted to know what he saw in me.

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · Apr 9, 2004

Now, I always thought that you needed to have some sort of license to work as a CNA - hence the "C" for certified in CNA. How can these girls be CNAs if they didn't even finish high school? I thought you at least needed a diploma and then a CNA course and test to work, even in a LTC facility?
Good luck!

That is exactly what I was thinking. Here you do have to have a h.s. diploma or GED to take the CNA exam. Plus you have to have the training. The only way I know of to bypass the CNA classes are by having documentation to show that you had passed a good chunk of nursing school already and had clinical experience.

I think some places (assisted living?) can get by with hiring just "Assistants" without the certification. LTC with medicare money is not going to be able to get by doing that; I wouldn't think.

soltera · Apr 9, 2004

Hi everyone
I have posted about my work situation b4 and very much appreciated everyones thoughts
I am a CNA working in a nursing home. I am brand new to health care. I decided to make a career change 5 months ago. I have had the displeasure of working with the lowest calibur of people I have ever met on my first job as a CNA.
I work on a very "heavy" floor, hoyers, trans-aids...dementia and alzheimers patients. we have 40 residents to take care of and I am lucky if we have 3 CNA's. The CNA's I work with purposely trained me wrong...had me doing chucks backwards and than ran to the supervisor when we had a full bed change. They smile in my face and stab me in the back every second they get. I have had money stolen right out of my purse, my dinner eaten, taken right out of the fridge in the breakroom. I was driving a woman home at night who constantly told me what the others were saying and come to find out she was right along with them. I refused to drive her home and now it is impossible to get help with my 2 assists and hoyers which puts me behind which makes me look incompetant which they love.
I went to my supervisor for a floor change and she instead gave me a "PM"..peer mentor. The peer mentor came last night and showed me her way of doing things. She also repeated all the god awful things my fellow CNA's had been doing to me..showing me incorrect ways and then running to the LPN, etc.
The CNA's I work with mostly do not have a high school diploma and are single mothers at the ages of 21-25. Some have 3 or 4 kids at this young age. I have been doing everything but cartwheels to fit in or at least work with them but I do not.
I have the support of the RN's who supervise, who see me as intelligent and caring needing time to learn this. I feel my fellow CNA's see me as a bumbling idiot without a clue and are more than willing to point it out.
Do I quit? Do I find a new health care center? Has anyone experienced this? I feel I have the ability to move on to my RN, but the fact that these girls have been so viscious to me is discouraging
Regardless..I have to pay the bills, I have to take care of me
any thoughts appreciated very much

hi, it's horrible what your goingthrough!! maybe you should apply for work somewhere else. don't get discouraged and go as far as you want regarding your nursing dream. you can do it.