First Week Rant

[ebphillips]

I've been reading through some of the other posts of this nature... I just got through my first week... one 8h, and two 16h doubles in two days. And to top it off, my doubles are night and noc shifts together. My LTC only gives you three shifts to train, then you're on your own... that means I had my first day, and my second day (my first 16 hour block of time) to orientate.

As I was walking into the first shift of my first double, a resident was on the floor of her room. I reacted, asked her how she felt. She said she felt fine, and that she didn't think anything was wrong/broken, she wasn't in any pain- she just needed help up. So I helped her up. So I help her to her chair and report it to my RN. My RN promptly jumped down my throat and told me that I should have just left her on the floor and got her. Well, ok, I know that now, but I am new. I reacted how I'd hope someone would react should she be my grandmother, etc. I was talking to the other noc CNA's later and found out that I did it ok- she wasn't hurt, and I DID notify the nurse. That it happens all the time. And to top it off, the RN basically told me the rest of the night she was just here for her paycheck (she's PRN weekends) and to leave her alone so she can finish meds.

Then my second shift, the get up and dressed list of residents was outdated, so I ended up getting three residents up that stay in bed for breakfast. And to top it off, I had a client have three explosive briefs in the span of 45 mintues. I was still getting my get ups up when am shift came in at 7.

SO, to say I felt inept my first day alone would be an understatement. I broke down in tears at the nurses' station on the way out- my noc nurse said I did a good job- it's things that with repetition I will get... and asked me if I'd like some more time to shadow to feel better about things.

I just don't want managment questioning why I'm having extra shifts shadowing when policy is 3 shifts... because my family and I NEED this job... and I want to be good at it, because I feel like the bedside manor and habits I learn as a CNA will help me in the future when I'm a RN...

Anyway, thanks for reading... I just needed to know that I'm not the only one.

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

I don't blame you for what happened with the patient. You weren't told about what to do with a resident if he/she falls on the floor. Apparently during your clinical rotation, your instructor didn't train you on what to do. Falls happen all the time and that should have been taught to you. Also, it's the facilities fault for NOT telling you what to do in case of a fall. What the nurse told you was correct. You NEVER get the patient up until after the appropriate person has checked him/her out. What I mean by appropriate person depends on the facility policy. When I did LTC, for most places that I worked it was up to the PT department to evaluate them first after the nurse has done their neuro check on them. If the PT says it's ok to get him/her up, then that's when to do it. But you weren't told and you shouldn't have been expected to know that right away. When I did my clinical rotation we were told what to do in case of a fall. Also when I got orientated that's one of the first questions we were asked.

Regarding the list of who is to be up, again, that's not your fault it's not updated. The CNA that was with you during orientation should have explained that. You working the extra shifts IS ALL ON MANAGEMENT, NOT ON YOU!!!! You did nothing wrong, you offered to stay, and they let you stay. Usually management has to "ok" the people when they stay over. I've seen that at every LTC that I've worked at. Don't worry about it, if it was the nurses who let you stay over and you get questioned about that, just tell them "I'm sorry I don't know the policy, but you might want to ask the charge nurse Yadda Yadda Yadda, she asked if I could stay yadda yadda yadda" You did a good job your first week as a CNA. You will learn as you go, and we all learn from our mistakes...Good Luck