Dear new CNA's

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Specializes in LTC.

Dear New CNA's,

There are so many things us grizzly, seasoned CNA's would love to tell you! Feel free to add any, but here are my two cents:

1. Please don't complain that you don't make that much. Guess what, neither do we! Don't believe those colleges that charge you thousands to become an aide and then guarantee you job placement. Sure you will get a job. Just not a good paying one.

2. So you wanna work at a hospital huh? No way you would ever go to the "stinky nursing home?" Come back in six months and let's see where you are.

3. Those CNA's don't even put square corners on the bed! Believe me, once you've been a CNA for years you don't go step by step through the skills. You have to get your patients looking(and smelling) good. There's time to make the bed look good (sometimes), but not "bounce a quarter off it" good.

4. Everyone is so mean, right? Get used to it. The stress of having to clean, bathe, change, feed, and anything else that comes to mind for 15-20 patients will put a little bit of stress on ya. Use these magic words: "Can I help with anything?" Even if you're done with your work, just ask. We'll love you for it.

Being a CNA might not be what you expect, but I guarantee that once you see the smile on a residents face or have one kiss you and tell you they love you it will be worth it. Sometimes we are all they have left in the world and it is our duty, no matter how frustrating it might be, to put on a happy face every day and BE NICE! It might be your grandmother, your mother, or even YOU one day!

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omg 15-20 residents?

I'm a new CNA, my first real shift is tomorrow, 10 residents. And I thought that was a lot!!

I like your advice though! I've been nothing but polite with my fellow CNAs, and actually everyone! I say please and thank you, and greet everyone I see, and I'm always looking to see if I can assist. :)

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Specializes in LTC.

The most residents I ever had was 21. 4 aides for a 90 resident facility! :eek: Went through a period where everyone was calling off. Got a lot of overtime! But it's worth it. Good luck tomorrow and best wishes!

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Specializes in LTC.

Ah, yes. Those "new CNA" posts can be spotted a mile away.

"I am so offended! The seasoned CNAs at my clinical/new job DON'T fart roses all day before riding unicorns off into the sunset! They have the nerve to complain about some of the residents! Don't they know they could be complaining about someone's grandparent? Well, I know that *I* will NEVER experience negative feelings about my job! I am too caring and professional for that."

:lol2:

"I am so offended! The seasoned CNAs at my clinical/new job are too mean to hold my hand through every single step of my day! They run around like they're too busy to even care about lil old me (and they're so mean and lazy, they don't go by the book for everything). Obviously they've forgotten what it's like to be a new CNA. Waah!"

"I can't find a job. I made a resume, but I only listed 73 out of the 75 skills in the CNA book. Thing is, I had experience feeding a stroke patient with left-sided weakness at my clinical, but I never fed anyone with right-sided weakness! Am I getting blacklisted because of this?"

"I really want to work at XYZ Hospital... what's that? No, I haven't applied to any nursing homes... well, that's not really my style. I don't want to spend 40 hours a week dumping bedpans; plus, I think I'm just too caring and sensitive to work at a nursing home. I am just SO caring that they depress me, ya know? So anyway, has anyone ever worked at XYZ Hospital before and can put in a good word for me? [12 minutes later]: Anybody out there? Hmmph, no one can be bothered to answer? Well, then! This place isn't very helpful!"

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Specializes in LTC.

Oh and you have to love the threads where a nurse complains abut CNAs and the CNA student says, "Well I'd never do that" and launches into an explanation on why it's so vitally important to, you know, do your job. And then they explain it... "As a CNA I know I am there to assist the nurse, and if I don't accurately and promptly record and report every single tidbit of information, no matter how minor, then I am not being her eyes and ears and therefore have no business being a CNA." I always think, just wait till Captain Obvious over here starts badgering the nurse every time someone farts or sneezes and we'll see how fast she gets shut down.

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Specializes in LTC.

YES YES YES! I laughed SO hard! We think alike :up:

What about the ones who ask about the state test? Does it have 50 questions? Are they multiple choice? How many can I miss? What if they give me a skill and I forget how to do it? What if i only have 5 minutes to do my skills and i spend it all on handwashing?

And: "Do I actually have to TOUCH A member/lady parts?!?! AND CLEAN IT?!?!?! GROSS!" I don't know about y'all but I don't wipe my own butt so I don't see why I should have to do it for anyone....

And to add one more: I saw someone nervously ask if they had to shave a resident's pubic hair. I could not stop laughing because I got the picture of them pulling out the bikini wax :lol2:

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"I'm only a CNA so I can go straight on to CRNA or NP. Is it possible to do CNA to RN? I can't seem to find any programs so I want other people to do it for me. Oh, and does anybody know if NICUs hire CNAs? Working the floor would be too depressing."

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"And does anyone have any tips they'd like to share for new CNAs? I searched but can't find anything? By the way I'm 18 and I'm in nursing school. Well, really I'm only taking math but it's all the same really."

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Fuzzy, have I ever told you that I love you? Because I do.

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"I just started my new job today and my preceptor threw a dirty sheet on the floor! I am so appalled, I can't believe anyone would do such a thing. I am applying at the other facility in town tomorrow. No one THERE would have such disregard for infection control!"

"Another aide was feeding a resident at dinner and had the nerve to give her a second bite before she'd had 5 minutes to contemplate the price of tea in china! HOW CAN YOU BE SO COLD AND RUSHED?"

"I have worked at my facility for two days. Every resident here has told me that i"m the only good one and the only person who has ever spoken to them. EVER. I think I'm just too compassionate for this."

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Specializes in LTC, SNF.

I'm glad you are all having fun..lol...:lvan:

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To be fair, I was appalled at first, too. Though, not at the linens on the floor, thing. My thought always was "...it's a floor. Who gives a crap? Are you putting your shoes on your residents' faces or something??"

TBH, I avoid throwing things on the floor, not for infection control reasons, but rather because after bending over to change 50,000 residents, I don't feel like bending over again to pick them up. :D

And, new CNAs...if your trainer sucks (not "omg she dropped a towel on the FLOOR" sucks, but truly SUCKS), TALK TO YOUR DON. If the aides are truly picking on you, TALK TO YOUR DON. If the evil nurses at your facility are selling the souls of poor aides on the black market, TALK TO YOUR DON. You get the drift. Nothing can be fixed if no one knows it's broken.

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