first CNA clinical worried me

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2005

I don't really have any helpful advice, but I had a similar experience when I did my CNA clinicals. Just thrown in there, for sure. I assisted in plenty of situations where I felt it was unsafe procedure. They are short staffed is basically what it comes down to. I remember it being quite the shell-shock too. Do you have any clinical healthcare experience. Probably not and that is why. The poeple in my class who did were not as mortified by it all (or nervous!)

I think RN's do do other things outside of changing diapers.....but they do change diapers and you have to be prepared for that. The "messy" will not go away.

We'll see what the real RN's have to say. I am just a lowly student!:)

jennyr · Jul 10, 2005

If helping to shower two patients "stressed you out". You may want to reconsider becomong a nurse. I strongly recommend that you get a job as nursing assistant in a hospital or LTC facility, before you enroll in nursing school. You will get a better idea if this is something you really want to do and will also be ahead of the game when it comes to clinicals. I have witnessed many students fail their first semesters because they couldn't handle the clinicals. I have also seen many nurses quit in there first week because it was not what they thought it would be. Good Luck.

pink2blue1 · Jul 10, 2005

Hi, I've been a CNA for 3 years and reading your post just brought me back to my first day in Clinicals! We did our clinicals at the Transitional Care Unit for the hospital I now work for. It's mostly elderly people who aren't well enough to go home, yet not sick enough to be in the regular hospital. We got onto the floor after taking all the fundamentals classes on how to take BP, make beds, turn people etc and so on. We were paired up and told who we were to have then our instructor said "Ok go" Seriously, she just said "Go" We were like, Go do what? the regular CNA's had already done vitals and stuff. Our instructor told the employed CNA's to "kick back and take a break" that it was up to us to do all the work. After my first day my head was spinning. Now I could do all that stuff in my sleep! LOL! I work on a Med Surg floor which is MUCH better than the TCU! I just started my nursing program and I feel that being a CNA will have helped alot as far as the culture shock some may experience on their first day of clinicals. Of course my program its required that you be a CNA already.

Good luck and keep going!

Shannon

Dave11, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2005

keep at it awhile longer. the initial shock of what you have to do will probably wear off. i remember being mortified the first time i had to clean a patient that soiled themselves. if this is something you want to do, it will get easier as you go along.

the experience you get from being a CNA is priceless when you start nursing school. learning the basics of patient care and how to manage/prioritize your time will give you a good base and probably a bit of an advantage over your future classmates.

BTW, being an RN is a LOT more than showering and changing diapers, but you'll learn that as you go.

good luck.

chicagrl72 · Jul 10, 2005

If helping to shower two patients "stressed you out". You may want to reconsider becomong a nurse. I strongly recommend that you get a job as nursing assistant in a hospital or LTC facility, before you enroll in nursing school. You will get a better idea if this is something you really want to do and will also be ahead of the game when it comes to clinicals. I have witnessed many students fail their first semesters because they couldn't handle the clinicals. I have also seen many nurses quit in there first week because it was not what they thought it would be. Good Luck.

the bathing and changing diapers did not stress me out ..it was the lack of direction. i felt like a volunteer who had been asked to do stuff i did not feel like i had been trained to do ...i mean is it really appropriate for men and women to be naked in the shower room together? i would not want that for my family member

also there was definitely a lot of disrespect for the residents... many of them do not speak english and the cna's were talking about them in a very derogatory way....

also when i went to change the resident's diaper by myself, her husband was watching me ..then he handed me some cream to put on her - i had NO idea what the cream was for or were to put it and he did not speak english so i was fumbling around in her groin area with the cream like and idiot....

so basically i just want to know if this is a normal clinical experience for CNAs or if i need to find a new place !

thanks

chicagrl72 · Jul 10, 2005

it is nice to hear from people who understand and offered support and to keep going

thanks

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 10, 2005

the bathing and changing diapers did not stress me out ..it was the lack of direction. i felt like a volunteer who had been asked to do stuff i did not feel like i had been trained to do ...i mean is it really appropriate for men and women to be naked in the shower room together? i would not want that for my family member
also there was definitely a lot of disrespect for the residents... many of them do not speak english and the cna's were talking about them in a very derogatory way....
also when i went to change the resident's diaper by myself, her husband was watching me ..then he handed me some cream to put on her - i had NO idea what the cream was for or were to put it and he did not speak english so i was fumbling around in her groin area with the cream like and idiot....
so basically i just want to know if this is a normal clinical experience for CNAs or if i need to find a new place !
thanks

Yes, this type of work is normal in the nursing world. Alot of RN's AND LPN's get to a point in their careers thinking they are above this work and it is deplorable. Sounds like you have a caring heart and an eye for what is right and wrong in the world of LTF care.

Now, the issue of bathing both sexes in the same area.....NO NO NO NO NO.

This can be a form of sexual abuse in the eyes of the "law" of client care. This practice should cease. The issue of the CNA's being disrespectful and making derogatory comments...this happens but is also very unprofessional and uncalled for and they should be reported. No patient/client should have to live like that.

Now it appears you have the attitude of a real caring person who cannot stand the idea of another human being suffering and/or having to live in a facility like that. They need you. Maybe you could make a difference. Stay and get more experience and do NOT let these unprofessional issues go unnoticed. You should speak up. Believe me, you will like yourself alot more at the end of the day.

Go for nursing and NEVER lose sight of the fact that meeting the basic needs of a patient is exactly what you are doing. All nurses, CNA, RN, LPN, NP, need to remember that and help those who cannot help themselves...be the patient advocate.

cnabelle · Jul 10, 2005

:rolleyes:

Hi I know this site is for nurses and i have been lurking here forever....a bit about my background ..i have a 3 yr old son who i had by c section and that sparked my interest to go back to school to pursue nursing after working in retail for YEARS. i am planning to apply to many schools as it is very competitive here ADN and BS programs ..i have two more sem of chem to tackle b4 i am done with all pre reqs and feel ready to apply..
i decided to do a CNA course this summer just to get patient contact etc
today was my first clinical...wow what an eye opener ..now i know why my ma is putting away money to be taken care of privately. we do our clinicals in a "supposedly well run long t c f ...you know what i mean"
i felt thrown into situations..today i "helped" give 2 people showers ...which was already a bit stressful ....yes suck it up ..but it was community like and i would not want a bunch of people staring at me while showering . plus they brought men in while the women were still changing .naked etc..then i was asked to "go change her diaper" ..the cna i was shadowing told me to go do this..ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes i have changed a million diapers but i got no instruction on technique for people my size ....i was so annoyed by the end of the day and all the instructor said was "you should have asked for help" i could learn this much just by volunteering ...UGH
i am glad i am doing this course and i already realized i do not want to be a cna in a LTF too much negativity ...is this normal ...should i keep trucking ....is this really what be an rn is about ?????????????????????/

U go girl!!! I know jusst what U R saying. I am aa cna as well and my orientation was no different. I TOLD them to move me upstairs 2 the ALF & I loved it! I DO NOT like the nursing home. They xpect U 2 put 12 hour sshifts into 6 because U R going at 120 mph. and to them , it it 2------ fast for me!

lovely2 · Jul 10, 2005

why does CNA get paid so low with the things they have to do????

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 10, 2005

All I can say is that don't know it just yet. Wait a few more weeks and see if it gets better or if nursing is appealing to you then. Maybe you will find you don't like it and change to something else in the healthcare field. Good luck :)

don_rhonda · Jul 10, 2005

Hi I know this site is for nurses and i have been lurking here forever....a bit about my background ..i have a 3 yr old son who i had by c section and that sparked my interest to go back to school to pursue nursing after working in retail for YEARS. i am planning to apply to many schools as it is very competitive here ADN and BS programs ..i have two more sem of chem to tackle b4 i am done with all pre reqs and feel ready to apply..
i decided to do a CNA course this summer just to get patient contact etc
today was my first clinical...wow what an eye opener ..now i know why my ma is putting away money to be taken care of privately. we do our clinicals in a "supposedly well run long t c f ...you know what i mean"
i felt thrown into situations..today i "helped" give 2 people showers ...which was already a bit stressful ....yes suck it up ..but it was community like and i would not want a bunch of people staring at me while showering . plus they brought men in while the women were still changing .naked etc..then i was asked to "go change her diaper" ..the cna i was shadowing told me to go do this..ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes i have changed a million diapers but i got no instruction on technique for people my size ....i was so annoyed by the end of the day and all the instructor said was "you should have asked for help" i could learn this much just by volunteering ...UGH
i am glad i am doing this course and i already realized i do not want to be a cna in a LTF too much negativity ...is this normal ...should i keep trucking ....is this really what be an rn is about ?????????????????????/

My CNA clinicals were done in a LTCF also. It was very tough to keep up with getting residents to meals, to the toilet, diaper changes etc. Each CNA was assigned 10-15 residents, which I thought was ridiculous. As we were there for clinicals, we just followed and assisted an employed CNA. I already had a CNA job waiting for me at our small rural hospital in the same town, knowing I was going to have a much better CNA job than these under-staffed, under-paid, LTC CNA's. It pays to search around, talk to others, and learn what else is offered before getting into something that will turn you away from nursing :)