Do you feel that patients look down on you because youre a CNA/HHA?

JDZ344 · Jul 13, 2012

i can't think of a nursing job, other than paeds, where you wouldn't work with the elderly on some level- and I can't really think of a nursing job that doesn't involve caring for the disabled. There is certantly no job in nursing I know of where you don't work with whiny, grumpy or mean people.

TurtleCat · Jul 13, 2012

Are (almost) all elderly patients mean and verbally abusive? :/ I always assumed that while you might get a few nasty ones, there'd still be plenty that were sweet and appreciative... and I know if the patient is suffering from dementia/Alzheimer's, you can't really take what they say to heart since they're not in their right mind... although that may be easier said than done. I really love the elderly population, which is why I wanted to work with them...

Kadambari · Jul 13, 2012

i can't think of a nursing job, other than paeds, where you wouldn't work with the elderly on some level- and I can't really think of a nursing job that doesn't involve caring for the disabled. There is certantly no job in nursing I know of where you don't work with whiny, grumpy or mean people.
Personally, for me, retail was a killer. I would rather a dozen complaining old ladies. I normally get on just fine with them!

Yeah there are jobs where you don't have to work with the disabled. Like maybe in a clinic giving vaccines

Kadambari · Jul 13, 2012

Are (almost) all elderly patients mean and verbally abusive? :/ I always assumed that while you might get a few nasty ones, there'd still be plenty that were sweet and appreciative... and I know if the patient is suffering from dementia/Alzheimer's, you can't really take what they say to heart since they're not in their right mind... although that may be easier said than done. I really love the elderly population, which is why I wanted to work with them...

Not all but quite a few were very mean and verbally abusive. In addition to being chronic complainers. I do not like working with the elderly population due to this reason. Many complain so much that CNAs lose their job

amoLucia · Jul 13, 2012

The pts who look down on CNAs and HHAs will also probably be the same ones who'll complain and look down on LPNs/LVNs too. Only RNs are good enough for them!!!(Or so they believe!) And I'm sure they'll find something wrong there also.

NOTE NOTE NOTE I'm being facietious!

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2012

You don't like to work with the disabled? They're not the same as the elderly and besides that, everybody is different. I've been in home health for my entire CNA career (only 3 years :bugeyes: ) and have only been put down twice. Once was by a parent who immediately apologized to me and the second time was with a man with some anger issues. Other CNA's had had issues with him as well and he was later dropped as a client. I find that even if the elderly have a problem with you, they won't say so to your face. One lady I worked with told my supervisor that she didn't like how I cooked, but she would never actually tell me what she wanted to eat or how she liked her food. Her real issue was that I was too young and she didn't want me to see her naked. I have rarely found issue with those from "The Greatest Generation" and I find that they are mostly very respectful. Baby-boomers are a different story, but I haven't had as many interactions with them.

Elderly people have a reason for chronic complaints. It's not like becoming less independent, losing your senses, and losing many of your family-members and friends is an not easy thing to deal with. If you treat the elderly like how you would like your own grandmother or mother to be treat you'll find that they are much easier to approach and work with.

That being said, I believe that people with disabilities still need vaccines. And just because you work in a vaccine clinic doesn't mean you get to deal with only nice people. I had to get titers for nursing school and I watched an RN be verbally abused by an angry parent. The RN was in tears.

Kadambari · Jul 13, 2012

You don't like to work with the disabled? They're not the same as the elderly and besides that, everybody is different. I've been in home health for my entire CNA career (only 3 years ) and have only been put down twice. Once was by a parent who immediately apologized to me and the second time was with a man with some anger issues. Other CNA's had had issues with him as well and he was later dropped as a client. I find that even if the elderly have a problem with you, they won't say so to your face. One lady I worked with told my supervisor that she didn't like how I cooked, but she would never actually tell me what she wanted to eat or how she liked her food. Her real issue was that I was too young and she didn't want me to see her naked. I have rarely found issue with those from "The Greatest Generation" and I find that they are mostly very respectful. Baby-boomers are a different story, but I haven't had as many interactions with them.
Elderly people have a reason for chronic complaints. It's not like becoming less independent, losing your senses, and losing many of your family-members and friends is an not easy thing to deal with. If you treat the elderly like how you would like your own grandmother or mother to be treat you'll find that they are much easier to approach and work with.
That being said, I believe that people with disabilities still need vaccines. And just because you work in a vaccine clinic doesn't mean you get to deal with only nice people. I had to get titers for nursing school and I watched an RN be verbally abused by an angry parent. The RN was in tears.

That is hard to deal with however everyone has problems. The elderly are not the only ones who deal with death and hardship therefore taking it on the world is not the answer. I have a very hard time dealing with patients who routinely put me down and call me dumb. Just because you are older and became disabled does not justify you not treating me with integrity. I cannot work with individuals who yell at me and call me an idiot.

In a clinic you only have to deal with those people for a moment, and not for a whole shift.

havehope · Jul 13, 2012

I haven't had a problem with residents looking down on me if they do I don't notice. I have trouble gaining "respect" from the RN's and even LPN/LVN's. But, thats one thing i'll always remember when I become an RN or whatever the road leads me to be and i'll treat EVERYONE with equal respect.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 14, 2012

That is hard to deal with however everyone has problems. The elderly are not the only ones who deal with death and hardship therefore taking it on the world is not the answer. I have a very hard time dealing with patients who routinely put me down and call me dumb. Just because you are older and became disabled does not justify you not treating me with integrity. I cannot work with individuals who yell at me and call me an idiot.
In a clinic you only have to deal with those people for a moment, and not for a whole shift.

I've never been treated so badly by the elderly as a group. Maybe it's the way you approach them. Why would they call you an idiot for no reason? Are you working with those with Alzheimer's? Have you had training in dealing with Alzheimer's patients or the elderly. I'm not talking about experience, I'm talking about actual CNA training where you are instructed on how to deal with people in many different situations. There are some CNA programs that are better than others and it might be good to take a refresher course. I personally can't think of a field where you will not be dealing with difficult people and you might get yelled at and berated.

That you seem to have an issue with ALL elderly shows that there's an issue with the way that you deal with them, not who they personally are and you really can't blame all elderly if you don't know how to properly interact with them.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2012

Here's a gentle reality check. :)

I was a direct care staff member (uncertified aide), then an LVN, and now I am an RN. The vast majority of patients in the healthcare system are elderly. Several reasons exist for this:

• They're all insured by Medicare at age 65, so their medical bills will be paid.

• The incidence/prevalence of chronic disease/disability goes up with age.

• Many younger adults tend to be uninsured or underinsured and will not seek healthcare unless it is a pressing emergency.

You will not be able to escape elderly, grumpy people, even if you become a nurse. The only ways to avoid them altogether would be specializing in OB, peds, postpartum, NICU, or areas where younger patients are abundant. Even the flu shot clinics consist of 50 percent elderly patients.

nguyency77, CNA · Jul 14, 2012

I don't take it personally when people call me stupid, etc. Some residents/clients/whatever are upset due to events we might not know of-- i.e. inheritance disputes, estranged family, deceased spouses, etc.

And they're most likely dying.

Patients and residents often aren't at their best when they're ill. The last thing I'm concerned about is my ego.

Most of my patients/residents actually know that I'm a college student. Many of my regulars are always asking when I'm going to be an RN and are very happy for me. :redbeathe