Favorite kind of facility to work in...

I work in a state psychiatric hospital and would not want to work anywhere else. I don't do butt-wiping or brief changing, showering, dressing, feeding, etc. The therapeutic difference I make is interacting with the chronically mentally ill, and I find it fascinating and gratifying. For the most part these are adults who were damaged early in life and have suffered various psychological and developmental injuries, some more extreme than others. Many have committed crimes that would make me throw up, or at least presume that no human could do such a thing.

I like the idea that I can be someone a mentally ill patient feels comfortable just being around. Our goal is to get our acutely psychotic patients stabilized, on a proven track, and ready for discharge, and that's often difficult and sometimes not even possible. I want to hear what they have to say, and just knowing all they need from me is someone who listens and takes them seriously. I have so many patients that I have witnessed come from maximum security to ready for discharge. I don't think people realize how scary it is to be both psychotic and sent to the "funny farm" simultaneously. Even people I work with forget that our clientele are just as human as any of us. Sad.

I work in a nursing home/rehab. My favorite place to work is the dementia unit. They're all so funny and I feel like they really need me. When i work over there I leave feeling happy.

Rehab is okay too. It's busy, but easy. Most of them are pretty low-maintenance.

Then we have non-demented residents who are total care and some who require limited assistance. The total care residents are cool but the minimal assist ones are the neediest/most demanding of them all! All day long they've got their finger on the call bell and it's a constant game to see how much they can get you to do for them. Fluff my pillow, move my box of tissues a half inch closer, hand me this or that, etc. All things they could easily do themselves, but won't. They are all extremely picky about everything too. When I work on that hall I leave feeling completely drained.

i work in a state psychiatric hospital and would not want to work anywhere else. i don't do butt-wiping or brief changing, showering, dressing, feeding, etc. the therapeutic difference i make is interacting with the chronically mentally ill, and i find it fascinating and gratifying. for the most part these are adults who were damaged early in life and have suffered various psychological and developmental injuries, some more extreme than others. many have committed crimes that would make me throw up, or at least presume that no human could do such a thing.

i like the idea that i can be someone a mentally ill patient feels comfortable just being around. our goal is to get our acutely psychotic patients stabilized, on a proven track, and ready for discharge, and that's often difficult and sometimes not even possible. i want to hear what they have to say, and just knowing all they need from me is someone who listens and takes them seriously. i have so many patients that i have witnessed come from maximum security to ready for discharge. i don't think people realize how scary it is to be both psychotic and sent to the "funny farm" simultaneously. even people i work with forget that our clientele are just as human as any of us. sad.

i just had to comment after i read your post..i am so impressed -- your post really makes me understand why you love the facility you are in, and how gratifying it is at the end of the day to know you made a difference! you have such empathy/understanding for those in your facility and that is a wonderful trait to have... i just got my cna license!! looking for work while trying to figure out which area you wish to work in is a little overwhelming. i feel my calling is within a psych unit, years ago i helped in a psych ward and it was so rewarding.. my family and friends think i am crazy, but i really want to work in trauma or a psych ward or even thought about working at the county jail.... i will have to look online as i do not know if we have a psychiatric hospital in our area.. i guess i could just look into the private psych hospitals in the area.. thanks so much for your post it is very encouraging.

I work in Assisted Living and I love it. My passion is working with Alzheimer's/Dementia residents... I'm also really interested in psych.

I work at a Drug & Alcohol facility. I do vital signs, health assessments & other miscellaneous things. It is much different than working at an LTC. I have more responsibility, so sometimes I miss working at an LTC. I work right under the doctor and nurses, so it gets to be really stressfull, especially with the population I work with. I love it though. The day almost always goes by quickly when you work as a CNA. There is always so much for you to do. At first, it is overwhelming, but eventually you get the hang of things and it gets much better with time. I also do Home Health per diem and I enjoy that as well. As a CNA you can branch out but getting out of the LTC business can be hard. You will have great experiences no matter what population you work with as a CNA.

Good Luck and congrats!!!!!