Feeling Disappointed!

Give yourself a month there to stop feeling like crying at the end of work every day, and 3 months to feel like you've got the hang of it. If you still hate your facility at the end of 3 months, look around and see what other places are hiring. Try to get recs from other CNA's if possible. If you just hate the huge patient load, you might prefer home health, although in my experience it's almost impossible to get regular full-time hours that way.

This is a really difficult job and it's normal to be overwhelmed at first. Just try to ride it out and ignore any gossip or drama among coworkers. Once you get a feel for the job it gets much easier plus your acclimation time at new facilities wuill get much shorter. Good luck!

Hi. I really feel your frustration!!! I've been there! I just experienced my first CNA job at a LTCF and it was horrible. I had between 12 and 14 residents during my shifts and was also hounded to hurry up all the time. I was left alone at a station for two hours and then chewed out by a CNA that just came on shift....why didn't I do this and do that. It's like....I was by myself for 2 hours with call lights and people to care for....no I didn't get to the trash yet or start my final rounds!!!! There were a few CNA's that would jump in and help me out on other stations and there were others that apparently didn't remember what it was like as a brand new CNA. I never took breaks, barely got my lunch break and if I did it was 15 minutes long. I didn't want to become a CNA so I could round people up like a herd of cattle at mealtime and roll them like a sack of potatoes to change briefs and then run out of the room on to the next person. I wanted to give emotional support to residents as well....and I was told not to take time having conversation with residents, just get on to the next one. I expected it to take time to gain speed and to get it down, but even those who had been there for years just rushed through their shifts. The place I worked was understaffed, I didn't see much teamwork and I felt the residents were not treated as they should be. I left after a few weeks and right away was hired with a home health agency. :) Within 3 hours they had my first client for me. I've been there a couple weeks and starting Monday I have a client that will be 40 hours a week. I'm liking it SO much more since I can now care for someone on a one to one basis and give the quality of care in every capacity. You might consider home health care. Good luck to you!

I am probably the oldest, new CNA on this site, and I have worked in the banking industry as management for all of my career until 18 mos ago when I became a CNA. I left banking becuase I wanted a more secure position, I wanted to do something for the greater good, I am not as cut throat as I was when I was 40. I am a very kind CNA, but health care is broken..

Follow the rules, don't get used to the wrong way of doing things. Do the right thing. If more CNA's said I will not take the short cuts, they won't expect CNA's to care for more than 8 residents. Than the CNA could give the care they are supposed to. The CNA taking short cuts is trying to make the nurse manager and admin happy by doing the job quickly. Which I believe that a nurse with a 2 yr degree or admin with a 4-6 yr degree must know,and are turning a blind eye too, After all it is only the CNA that will be fired, not them.

What I see alot of good aides doing is coming in 30-45 min earlier so that they can't get their work done correctly. That is an alternative, but it isn't good for everyone. When I worked the day shift that is what I did. Do what you feel it the right thing always, and you will feel better about the job you have.

I agree with you cdicapua. You definitely tell how it SHOULD be. Where I worked you were not allowed to work "off the clock", so coming in early or even clocking out and then finishing up wasn't an option. I wasn't going to take shortcuts, nor did I want to. There were some CNA's that just copy the vitals off the chart instead of taking them.....especially respirations. I took the time to count the respirations and take vitals. There were residents left sitting on the toilet for way too long while the CNA cared for others.....finally returning to get resident off the toilet. My heart is in this job and I wanted to care for residents as if they were my own loved ones. Wasn't possible where I worked......or you'd get in trouble. I would ask an LPN or RN to help me move someone up in bed....they were too busy and put off helping me. (This was when no other CNA's were around). It was just a bad experience for me. Definitely an eye opener! I'm thrilled to be doing home health care and I can be the CNA I want to be and give the kind of care I want to give. I hope others who find frustration working in facilities will give home health care a serious thought. I leave work every day now feeling wonderful and looking forward to my next shift. Very rewarding!

Hello ALL,

And THANK YOU, very much for all of your advise. To AzDeb, her comment and description of the place sound so much like this place. To cdcapua you are right I should do what I was told to do, the right way. I am just waiting for the orientation to finish and get my own group of patients so I can do it the right way...and if the other CNA's dont like it, oh well TOO BAD I can do what is correct with my patients. I will definitely hang in there for other weeks to see if anything change once I get my own assignments.

I feel much better and your comments REALLY made me feel GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH! :redpinkhe