CNAS, what's it like at your nursing home/long term care facility?

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I'm getting really burned out with a lot of things going on in the facility I work in. Way too many things to name. What's it like where you work in terms of call-ins, scheduling, lazy cnas, mean residents, cold DONs, favoritism, work load, etc. ?

Specializes in CNA.

I have to say that my facility is pretty good. We are under-staffed yes, and we have our share of lazy aides, but for the most part the aides work together and do a good job. My complaints would be coming in to your shift and going to change someone and finding no gloves, no briefs and no towels. But you just suck it up, go get the supplies and move forward. I work the 2-10 shift and I know the day aides work their butts off (showers, two meals, etc etc) but come on, you know they have no briefs left, if you're not gonna go get them at least tell me in your 'report'. :idea:

Really though, thats the worst complaint I have so far at this place. Even most of the nurses help out and answer call lights, its pretty nice compared to some places Ive heard of.

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Specializes in Float.
I see a lot of CNAs on here going on about how lazy or incompetent other CNAs are. I think this finger pointing and backstabbing is part of the reason being a CNA in a LTC is such a horrible job. I completely blame the CNAs who have worked there a long time for the situation getting as bad as it is, as they the ones that never speak up to management unless its to blame another CNA.

What I see is a lot of CNA's venting about how difficult an already stressful position is when said CNA's are forced to work with lazy aids who use every trick in the book and then some not to work. By the way, are you seriously blaming aids for management issues, after just blasting us for our vents?

At my facility, there are quarterly reports for falls and the like. They are posted on the board so everyone can see what the comparisons are to other facilities and I bet before they were posted they were discussed in management meetings. I hardly think that management isn't aware of how staffing issues relate directly to falls or any other issues going on within a facility. One more thing, I didn't read anything about a CNA telling or placing blame on anyone about anything to management, that's why we come here.

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One more thing, I didn't read anything about a CNA telling or placing blame on anyone about anything to manangement, that's why we come here.

EXACTLY. Yes, I vent and complain here, and it's a good thing that I do, because if I didn't, I'm pretty sure one day I'd just blow up at work. I'm not a "finger pointer", I'm honest. I'm not a back stabber, but I'm not going to sugarcoat things for you. I don't spend my entire shift complaining, but I have to get it out somewhere. That's the great thing about this site, there are people on here with the same kinds of stresses and work related issues, and it helps.

Then every so often we have someone come along and say "Shame on you all, sunshine should be shining out of your butts, and if you feel the need to vent maybe you're in the wrong line of work! I can't believe you would complain about your poor residents. How dare you get mad at the lazy coworkers, it isn't THEIR fault they don't know how to wipe an @$$." (I know this poster did not say that, and maybe I've taken a few creative liberties, but you know the posts I'm talking about!) We do what we have to do to survive a job that isn't easy.

And yes, I agree with you - most of the fault when it comes to the "big picture" lies with management and the way the system is set up. But just because your job is hard doesn't give you an excuse to not work and treat your residents like crap. The management should be getting rid of these bad aides/nurses, but let's face it - then staffing would be even worse. It is what it is, and we deal with it the best we can.

...Sorry for the novel. :)

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I had my first clinical at a local facility on Wednesday night (am still taking my NA I class) and I was very disappointed with the environment of this facility. The aide I was paired with was actually a pretty good guy, but he threw everything on the floor and did not do any oral care (my class is 5pm to 10pm) on any of the residents. One lady did not want to get into her nightgown and flat out said, "No." several times but was told "You have to." What happened to respecting the residents' wishes. One aide I was with for a short while did not even check a resident's brief before getting him into his night gown and settling him down for bed. Another aide I was with went on and on about how she hates her job, but loves her people...in front of a resident whom she was hoyer-lifting into his bed at the time. The LPN passing meds was telling me about a resident who "**** in his can last week" right outside said resident's door. It just felt like there was an overall lack of recognition of the feelings of the residents and it was very de-humanizing in my view. I want to be a combo nurse aide/unit secretary while I'm taking pre-req classes for NS, but I know I may have to work in an LTC for a while in order to get some experience. I will not be applying to that one, though. Maybe the one in town that only takes private money and no medicare will be better.

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Specializes in Float.
EXACTLY. Yes, I vent and complain here, and it's a good thing that I do, because if I didn't, I'm pretty sure one day I'd just blow up at work. I'm not a "finger pointer", I'm honest. I'm not a back stabber, but I'm not going to sugarcoat things for you. I don't spend my entire shift complaining, but I have to get it out somewhere. That's the great thing about this site, there are people on here with the same kinds of stresses and work related issues, and it helps.

Then every so often we have someone come along and say "Shame on you all, sunshine should be shining out of your butts, and if you feel the need to vent maybe you're in the wrong line of work! I can't believe you would complain about your poor residents. How dare you get mad at the lazy coworkers, it isn't THEIR fault they don't know how to wipe an @$$." (I know this poster did not say that, and maybe I've taken a few creative liberties, but you know the posts I'm talking about!) We do what we have to do to survive a job that isn't easy.

And yes, I agree with you - most of the fault when it comes to the "big picture" lies with management and the way the system is set up. But just because your job is hard doesn't give you an excuse to not work and treat your residents like crap. The management should be getting rid of these bad aides/nurses, but let's face it - then staffing would be even worse. It is what it is, and we deal with it the best we can.

...Sorry for the novel. :)

:lol2:

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AHHH! that sounds like a disaster!!

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Specializes in Float.
Unprofessional...? Geez.

Hi arion.

I'm not too sure of the tone of this post so please let me clarify. My issue wasn't with the fact that the pt. needed to be stabilized before transfer. That's policy. My issue was the NP whining about it and trying to get someone to call the nursing home back to report the pt's RN to management.

I read this post some days ago and it just kept needling me trying to figure out what you meant. Horrible I know, I should have much more to do in this christmas season than teasing out hidden meanings in allnurses' posts!

By the way, :tree:Happy Holidays to all who reads this post.

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Happy Holidays everyone.

Keep strength through your work days!!!:heartbeat

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Hi arion.

I'm not too sure of the tone of this post so please let me clarify. My issue wasn't with the fact that the pt. needed to be stabilized before transfer. That's policy. My issue was the NP whining about it and trying to get someone to call the nursing home back to report the pt's RN to management.

I read this post some days ago and it just kept needling me trying to figure out what you meant. Horrible I know, I should have much more to do in this christmas season than teasing out hidden meanings in allnurses' posts!

By the way, :tree:Happy Holidays to all who reads this post.

I THINK arion was saying that the whining NP was being unprofessional...at least that's how I read it...and I agree with him/her. :)

And happy Holidays to you too! I won't have much holiday, lol, since I work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the two days after, and New Years Eve and day. Sigh.

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My last facility was no different than the horror stories aka reality I read on this forum. I would have nightmares and flashbacks about working conditions at the hitshole that presented itself as an LTC. It was that bad.

I left there 3 months ago and now work in home health although sometimes I cover shifts in the hospital. I enjoy what I do now and actually look forward to going to work.

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Specializes in Float.
I THINK arion was saying that the whining NP was being unprofessional...at least that's how I read it...and I agree with him/her. :)

And happy Holidays to you too! I won't have much holiday, lol, since I work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the two days after, and New Years Eve and day. Sigh.

Look at it as having a chance to bring some holiday spirit to the residents with no family members to visit them. At least they'll be clean on the birthday of our Lord. Bless you :redpinkhe.

I was thinking the same thing at first but then the question mark threw me....oh well. No harm in clarifying...I hope :o.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, corrections, long-term care..
Hi arion.

I'm not too sure of the tone of this post so please let me clarify. My issue wasn't with the fact that the pt. needed to be stabilized before transfer. That's policy. My issue was the NP whining about it and trying to get someone to call the nursing home back to report the pt's RN to management.

I read this post some days ago and it just kept needling me trying to figure out what you meant. Horrible I know, I should have much more to do in this christmas season than teasing out hidden meanings in allnurses' posts!

By the way, :tree:Happy Holidays to all who reads this post.

Oh, no!! No, no, no! My comment was directed at the NP's behavior too. He/she shouldn't be whining about a pt to everyone that wants to listen, especially if they're not involved in the pt care, IMO.

Sorry for the confusion!

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