Six months ago I got Certified as a CNA and now as of last week I have landed a job. They took me on the floor after hour hours of orientation and were really comforting in explaining that they understood I was totally new.
I did a morning shift under another CNA :nurse:and made a lot of rookie mistakes simply because I wasn't taking the initiative to do things, but regardless everyone said they loved me and uh was asking if I'd still keep the job. I said Yes! Lol. I'm already 20 but everyone is considering me to be 'so young' and 'the rookie' I don't mind though!
Tomorrow - Monday - Is my first day on the floor all by myself and though I can do it if I take my time - I'm still nervous here and there because I don't know all the residents yet or the routine to get things done in a timely manner. The whole "What can this person do" and remember every part about that.
My charge nurse told me she cried her first day because it was over-whelming and I've been hearing a lot of different stories. I thought I'd make a thread for those who were still loitering around here with CNA's and wanted to share some tips or words of encouragement to people like me.
Feel free to talk about your first day and share any insight. Whether it was 5 years ago or a few months ago, I think it'd be nice to collect all these stories in one place.
Note: I didn't find a thread like this - but I didn't look too hard so I hope mine isn't a duplicate!:redbeathe
My first day was actually as an NA back in September and I followed a gal around who taught me absolutely nothing except the importance of stocking the linen cart with everything in the closet (leaving very little for the other CNA's), taking smoke breaks as often as she could sneak out the door, and how to be rude and nasty to the residents (she got suspended and then quit a couple of weeks ago).
I knew a little about resident care because I had taken care of Mom when she was bedridden and dying of colon cancer a couple of years ago....so I just spent the night learning a little about the residents on our hall and being nice to them. I had 3 nights of orientation and then was on my own.
I worked about 2 months before going to class (they had to get a new teacher). We have 5 halls and I would often have a hall of 16 residents by myself, with help from another Aid when I had to Hoyer someone up or the resident was a two-person lift.
I have come to love all of our 68 residents and last week I told one that I was going to be off for two days because I had to take my test. She says "Oh, No, honey" as she started to cry. I said to her "But, Linda, when I come back I'll be a CERTIFIED Nurse Aid" and she said "Okey Dokey".
We are allowed to have 6 Aids on 2nd shift, but sometimes we don't have that many and then we run our butts off....but I still love my job and take care of the residents as if they were my own family.
While it might not be the best way to phrase it, I know that there are some days in some places that it seems like all you do, literally IS wipe butts. Luckily, I am not in that position but I'm not offended by the phrase. Most people I have heard utter it weren't being rude, but rather were joking around...and let's face it, some days, you need humor in whatever for you can find it.
As for having to "deal" with residents...well, that's just a fact. You have to "deal"with your family, deal with your coworkers, deal with every other person you come into contact with. Saying you have to deal with someone does not mean you regard them as less than human.
I know your post was well intentioned but if you will read on here, those of us who care to find a forum like this and post on it DO care about and respect our residents and patients. I'm not trying to argue with the idea that you need to respect and love the people you are taking care of...the way those couple of sentences were phrased just seemed preachy and like you were talking down to the new aides. They wouldn't be here if they didn't care about respecting their patients :)
I agree. Taking care of patients as best as you can and making sure they're comfortable is a form of respect to them as well as to the hospital who hired you to do the job and yourself. It's all about doing your job right and being professional. I'm not into the whole emotional thing and pc lingo.
^Yeah, a lot of people don't know what a CNA is, so when they ask me what I do I clarify it with, "you know, a professional butt-wiper." It's not degrading, it's funny (well, it all depends on how you say it, but most of the time it's not offensive).
OzarksgalCNA
30 Posts
My first day was actually as an NA back in September and I followed a gal around who taught me absolutely nothing except the importance of stocking the linen cart with everything in the closet (leaving very little for the other CNA's), taking smoke breaks as often as she could sneak out the door, and how to be rude and nasty to the residents (she got suspended and then quit a couple of weeks ago).
I knew a little about resident care because I had taken care of Mom when she was bedridden and dying of colon cancer a couple of years ago....so I just spent the night learning a little about the residents on our hall and being nice to them. I had 3 nights of orientation and then was on my own.
I worked about 2 months before going to class (they had to get a new teacher). We have 5 halls and I would often have a hall of 16 residents by myself, with help from another Aid when I had to Hoyer someone up or the resident was a two-person lift.
I have come to love all of our 68 residents and last week I told one that I was going to be off for two days because I had to take my test. She says "Oh, No, honey" as she started to cry. I said to her "But, Linda, when I come back I'll be a CERTIFIED Nurse Aid" and she said "Okey Dokey".
We are allowed to have 6 Aids on 2nd shift, but sometimes we don't have that many and then we run our butts off....but I still love my job and take care of the residents as if they were my own family.