I know CNA clinicals will be nothing like Nursing School clinicals, but I'm pooped!

Nurses General Nursing

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Started CNA clinical this weekend (Saturday and Sundays 7-4pm) and I am exhausted! Mind you, I work Mon-Fri 9-5, plus class and finishing up my last prereqs for nursing school. How do you nurses do this 12-hour shift thing?? Oh-EM-Gee!!! I’m dreading clinicals for my direct-entry program in the fall!:uhoh3:

And on top of that, my heart just sank at some of the conditions of the residents at the nursing home my group was assigned. And some of these CNAs! Don’t get me wrong, some were great and handled the residents with the upmost love and care (one called all of the women residents gorgeous and all of the men handsome….I thought that was the cutest thing!!)! But some were dreadful!! I mean, we’ve been in class twice a week for the last 6 weeks learning all of the theory and the “correct” way to do things….then we get to the site on Saturday and some of the CNAs don’t even use gloves in instances where they MOST DEFINTELY should be used :eek:! I guess when you’ve been doing a job for so many years and working on the same residents, you kind of get used to doing things a certain way, not to mention the fastest way (but only when care isn’t compromised). But still, how are we supposed to learn by shadowing unprofessional or unskilled folk?!?! One of my classmates, in a politically correct, way asked her CNA a question on how to do something (trying her best not to imply that the CNA was doing it wrong) and the CNA had a fit! LOL:p:rolleyes:

And why are some older people so damn mean?!?!? I understand being senile, but some were cussing sailors!! All I could do is laugh!!:lol2:

I know this is nothing like clinicals in nursing school, but boy am I pooped (no pun intended :p)! But I know I will be ahead of some of my classmates in the fall, so I’m grateful for that. It’s all hard work and I respect anyone who loves and does their job correctly in this profession, from CNA to RN! You guys are truly superwomen and supermen!

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Um, CNA shifts and school are hard work...you have the right to be pooped! I worked as a CNA in LTC while finishing up nursing school and that was the most physically demanding nursing job I had..

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Specializes in ICU.

You really do get used to the 12 hour shifts after a while. But a lot of places have 8s as well, so you might have that option too!

As to your preceptor in clinicals - just make sure YOU keep doing things the right way. Yeah, a lot of people cut corners in the day-to-day, and in some cases it's a shame, but in others, it's just experience. You probably need to be able to do everything by the book for your class and test, so make sure you know the difference, and keep practicing doing your skills the "right" way. The CNAs who work at your clinical site are not going to be perfect examples straight out of your textbook, so don't expect that - however, if they're doing something dangerous, you CAN let your clinical instructor know, and he or she may want to bring it up with the charge/supervising nurse. Even as a clinical student you CAN advocate for those residents! :)

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Mya... well, you're supposed to be getting your feet wet.

This is the maintenance stuff you're being exposed to. Also it's scut work for you (considering this is not your career), so you know the roles of others. Some students have never been sick, seen someone who is sick/old, or cared for such people. Such a shocker for those people. As a nurse you will find yourself doing this stuff when you walk up on it in your own patients... you go to change IV bags, and see that someone needs repositioning, and when you do that, you notice the need to be cleaned up and your CNA is down the hall doing a clean up job or 11:30 BGs or something. You just can't leave your patient like that... wait till you see your first IV decub, and you will understand why.

Some CNAs or techs suck. Some are Gods gift to you and your patients. Same with RNs. Seems there is almost never an inbetween. Work to be your best, and all us good folks will kick out the bad folks one day. :up:

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I remember being pooped after my CNA clinicals. We had three students to one patient for one shift, three days. It must have just been the nervousness or doing new things, but jeez.

Far cry from having 10-12 residents, 4 or more being total cares on your list!

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generally speaking:

cna work/clinical is physically harder than lpn/rn work/clinical. lpn/rn work/clinical is mentally harder than cna work/clinical.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

12 hours shifts are very hard...but each one has some downtime built into it. for me, working nights...11p-5a tend to be quieter and more low key...however, it is when most emergencies happen, and when I have to chart and do chart checks, and make sure the CNAs are checking in on patients.

It's hard to admit, but sometimes even us RNs don't do things the "school way"....but using gloves where they need to be used are NOT one of them! Don't judge until you get on the job and get a good 6 months to a year in.....you learn where you can cut corners and where you can't.

Some older folks grew up in jobs or enviroments where the cussing was acceptable...not my job to stop em, they're grown adults. some of them may have even had alzheimers and can't help it.

If you can, you should work as a CNA while in school, it really helps you put everything together....but I would advise hospital over LTC. Just my .02. Good luck!

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Specializes in CVICU.

I hated CNA clinicals for most of the same reasons you described. I hated them so much that I had serious second thoughts about going into nursing. You'll be fine. Nursing clinicals are better, because you're learning more and feel more confident.

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Thanks everyone! Yes, it is physically draining. And I definitely would like to work in a hospital as opposed to LTC, during school. It was somewhat depressing and I don't think that environment is for me.....but I will get through it and definitely benefit from it, I'm sure!

I've been looking at positions now, trying to find one that doesn't require a year of CNA experience. I have found a few student nurse positions at UCLA that require completion of 1 semester of nursing school. It pays like $19-$21/hour, which is better than the patient care aid (what UCLA calls their CNAs) which pays $15/hour. I just need money AND experience during school - I will be leaving a pretty good salary, and would prefer not to live on financial aid, ramen noodles and lemon water for the next 2 years! LOL

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Specializes in LTC.

How many people do you have to care for during your clinicals? Like, 2? Wait until you have 15, most of them total care but a few of them alert and very demanding of your time, and see if you do everything by the book.

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