First Impression of a CNA job

[FinderKeeper]

i went to fill out paperwork and do the drug testing for a cna class (taught at a nursing home) , which is a ns requirement. as i walked in to the lobby, there was an older lady in wheelchair rocking back and forth, saying "why is no one coming to get me", and crying! ! then there was a whole group of seniors sitting in chairs, and just looking at everyone passing by, a lot of them looked depressed, or just very lonely and upset.

i will start classes next week, but already decided to do my best and be more cheerful, and smile more, and help the resident feel better. i was raised by grandparents, and i think it will help if i just think of the residents as someone's grandparents, who need help and support. a couple of cna passed by the lady, who was crying, didn't pay attention to her, just walked by. she was still crying and rocking when i walked out, after 30 minutes of paperwork. i didn't know if it was appropriate to talk to her, so i just smiled at her.

it's gonna be a long road....

[Dixiecup]

I am the ADON at a LTC facility and we are starting to implement 'patient centered care'. This is the resident's home, they are kind enough to let us work there.

We are trying to make it less like an institution and less task oriented and more person centered.

We just started what we call open dining. Breakfast is from 7am to 9am. All the residents were interviewed to see what time they preferred to get up in the morning instead of making them all get up at a certain time. If it's your home you should be able to sleep late if you want! The ones who are confused or total care, the families were interviewed to see what time they liked getting up when they were younger.

We have menues that look like the resturaunt kind. When they arrive in the dining room someone takes their order and then they are served.

Instead of a 'set in stone' shower schedule, a resident can request to get their shower on a different date or a different time if they want it.

We are doing away with the 'med cart'. Locked cabinets to match the closets are gong in all the residents rooms with their own meds in them. So the CMT's (yes, we utilize CMTs and ours are great!)will go down the hall and go into each residents room to give their meds.

We've implented a one on one activity room instead of so many big group activities. And the staff is highly encouraged to sit and spend time with the residents one on one. (I know this is not always feasible, but we're trying!)

We have a hairdresser on duty from 6am to noon 5 days a week. After their shower, every female resident is taken to the beauty shop to have her hair done. (every time, not just every once in a while)

Now I'm not saying this all went smooth as silk when we first started it. There were a lot of gliches but it gets better every day.

I can honestly say, we have the most caring staff of anywhere I've ever worked (and I've worked a few places!)Our residents are very spoiled! The resident genuinly does come first, employees second, the budget comes in third if you can believe it!

I read these horror stories about some workplaces people describe on this board and I thank God every day for where I work. It truly is an enjoyable experience.

[doingourbest]

It sounds like you are on the right track to be a good cna. Obviously you care. Often there are residents who will say such heartbreaking things. None of the places I have worked would allow someone to sit and cry if it were unusual behavior for them. It is likely that this woman cried all of the time and despite everyones efforts could not be appeased. At the moment I have a resident whom I love to pieces that continueously says "help me oh somebody help me" which I'm sure you can imagine makes a wonderful impression on visitors and prospective residents and family. Unfortunatelly, she is unaware that she is doing this. When you ask her what is wrong or what you can help her with she will say she is fine. When you tell her she was calling for help, she says she wasn't or that she didn't know she was. She is a wonderful lady who I care about so much. I would not allow her to suffer at all if there were anything I could do, and I give her special attention. But according to anyone just walking through, I sure that they think we are neglecting this poor woman who is calling for help. I am often told by visitors that someone is yelling for help, but she is okay. I think that you will see when you are the one providing the care that most all of us love our residents and do anything within our power to make them happy and comfortable.

[doingourbest]

I had similar thoughts when I first started to work as a CNA. It is good to keep in mind that these people are someones mother, grandmother, I see CNA's that dont seem to keep that in mind. Unfountantly I have worked with some of them. One of the aides told some of the residents that they couldnt drink anymore water after 10pm because they were going to the bathroom to much, she said this when we were having 100 degree days. However there are residents that do yell no matter what you do.

I hope the aid who told the residents they couldn't drink anymore was immediatelly fired! That is horrible cruelty and against the law.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Unfortunatly she wasnt fired, she was susspended and this week she is training to work the evening shift instead of gravyard