CNA...not superwoman...HELP

Lynnette1990 · Apr 13, 2008

that sucks girl. since i'm doing my cna i have to do clinicals at the nursing home and i deffinetly see how some cna just go in there and do just the bare essential and don't treat the residents like people. i think your doing a fine job, don't let them get you down.

love_being_an_aide · Apr 14, 2008

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. The same goes on where I work. If you are even having a short discussion with a resident and someone can't find you, then you are automatically labeled as slow and lazy. I've learned that you can't please anyone, and at the end of your shift, if you know you did everything you could for your residents, that's the most important thing--not what your co-workers think. Good luck!

AprilCNA · Apr 22, 2008

I think you're doing your best. If it's short staffed, it's gonna be crazy and you can only do the best you can. If someone makes a comment about not changing a resident on time, it's not your fault. As long as your doing your best and working hard, people should understand that you CANNOT be everywhere at once! I found that working in LTC to be the most demanding, physically and mentally. Residents wanted things done NOW and didn't understand that someone called out and u were the only aide for 12 residents. If you could stick it out for six months for the expierence, maybe try and apply to a hospital. I've worked on the surgical unit of a small hospital and love it. It's not back braking work like LTC, rarely a hoyer lift and patients can ambulate well and carry on conversations. I feel like I use my CNA cert. more and learned a ton. It's fast paced, but not nearly as stressful as LTC. You're more apt to be working alongside other hard working CNAs that value team work. Maybe give the hospital route a shot and good luck!

casi, ASN, RN · Apr 22, 2008

I would smile sweetly and say, "I'm sorry, I'm not Super Woman, I'd like to be, but I'm not."

You're still new and it sounds like you are doing awesome.

kaylee_2003 · Apr 29, 2008

I work in an LTC for several years and now I am about to graduate from nursing school. I remeber I did get yelled at once for the same thing but it turns out it was an aide who was having a bad day. I confided in another aide who precepted me and she was very nice about it. The best advice I have is to do the best job you can and do whats best for the residents. As far as the other staff, kill them with kindness! As a CENA, you are required to do so much with so little time. I have had to take care of 30 patients by myself before. You just end up learning what corners you can cut and the ones you can't. You never want to cut corners that would influence with your patient care though

chevyv, BSN, RN · May 1, 2008

I'm sorry that happened to you. Learn from this quickly! As a former 12 yr CNA, I will tell you that some places will use you until you have nothing left to give. Don't let that happen. Also, if your newer, they will take advantage of that! After going through that for awhile, you'll figure out how to handle people like that.

I had a ruthless supervisor who told me during a very hectic time to wipe this woman's mouth. (I had made homemade choc chip cookies and brought one in for this resident). Well, she was sundowning, pacing, and easily agitated.... but being the good CNA that I was I took the wash cloth and tried to wipe the melted chocolate off of her mouth. She made it known that I wasn't coming near her with the wash cloth. I figured I would give it another try in a few minutes when things were quieter. The supervisor yelled at me in front of everyone (and I just let her go on and on). I told her the resident was agitated and I would try again in a few minutes, well she grabbed the wash cloth from me (still in front of everyone) and went to wipe that womans mouth. That sweet little resident pulled her arm back and slapped her right across the face telling her not to touch her! I just looked at her and told her flat out that is why I was waiting. That supervisor never disrespected me again! Matter of fact she treated me like we were old friends after that.

You'll find your way, but speak up for yourself. Don't let them burn you out or walk all over you. I'm in 3rd semester nursing now and would love to work with a CNA as dedicated as you. I will always remember to treat those willing to work with me with respect. :bowingpurI know we all work very hard. Good luck to you

HULIYO · May 3, 2008

I have noticed that most nurses who have been CNAs are not mean to their aides because they have been there. I think it is a good thing that nursing students are now taking CNA classes. I worked with a new nurse who had been a waitress in a bar and she was really mean to the CNAs and would not help even when the aide was all alone on the floor with lots of patients but instead would be looking for all the mistakes the aides were making.

chevyv, BSN, RN · May 3, 2008

I thought it was finally going to happen.... that a nurse had to be a CNA before he/she could be a nurse. That's not the case though. They have to be CNA certified, but they don't have to ever work as a CNA. It's a great little thing the nursing schools do so they don't have to start from scratch with new nurses. I don't know how many times I've heard instructors say "I'm not going over that, you should remember that from your CNA course.". UGH!!! I am a firm believer that all nurses should work as a CNA at least 6 months before they can become a nurse. How can a nurse ever know the scope of a CNA if they haven't walked (or ran) in their shoes.....just my opinion.

Every nurse I know that has been a CNA is much better than ones who haven't. No offense to those who jumped right in, I'm sure they're exceptions, I just haven't had the experience.

love_being_an_aide · May 3, 2008

I thought it was finally going to happen.... that a nurse had to be a CNA before he/she could be a nurse. That's not the case though. They have to be CNA certified, but they don't have to ever work as a CNA. It's a great little thing the nursing schools do so they don't have to start from scratch with new nurses. I don't know how many times I've heard instructors say "I'm not going over that, you should remember that from your CNA course.". UGH!!! I am a firm believer that all nurses should work as a CNA at least 6 months before they can become a nurse. How can a nurse ever know the scope of a CNA if they haven't walked (or ran) in their shoes.....just my opinion.
Every nurse I know that has been a CNA is much better than ones who haven't. No offense to those who jumped right in, I'm sure they're exceptions, I just haven't had the experience.

I agree with you to an extent. I think that most nurses who were aides before they advanced have a better understanding of the healthcare chain of command. They were in our shoes, therefore they are more likely to have respect for our position. I've worked with nurse who were not aides and who are actually more respectful then those who were. It all depends on the person's ego. Some people who become nurses do so for selfish reasons, like money and prestige. With the shift of patient care being put more and more on the CNA's, a lot of nurses believe that they no longer have to care for the patient directly. I find this to be especially true in the hospital I work in. A lot more responsiblities are being passed on to the aides, like O2 sats., TED's and SCD's and filling med. carts. I work nights, and after I finish my vitals and water pitchers, I have to check the charts for new doctor's orders and make sure they were entered into the computer. More and more paperwork is being put on the nurses, and in reality they have a hard time going to check on a patient. I feel for them, but what makes me more angry is when I am alone on the floor with 30 patients, and need help getting someone to the bathroom. Many of them will use the excuse of being busy with paperwork to avoid helping. I think that's wrong. We are a team. Unfortunately, not everyone is a team player. I think that when I finally do decide to go to nursing school, I hope to be a better nurse because I have been in the position of an aide.