New CNA troubles...

[Firas5]

I am a brand new 21 year old male CNA.

I knew what I was getting my self into by choosing to be a CNA

I had 7 days orientation on the floor so far following another CNA. They will give me one more day because someone wants to observe me and thats it, they will put me on my own.

The problem is I am too slow, at removing shirts, putting on shirts, making beds, and figuring out what the next step is. I am a bit better at these things now than when I first started, but I am still slow and I am bad at putting on diapers.

The BIGGEST problem is putting on diapers. I can't get it on correctly. I have to keep rolling the residents back and forth to try and set it correctly, and even then, it comes out totally wrong. This makes the residents very mad, and makes me even more disappointed.

How do I put the diapers on correctly??

I've seen the others CNA's do it so much times and they make it look easy but I still can't do it.

Maybe I am not slow, maybe the facility is too fast. You can't even stop for a moment without being told you're slow.

I feel in the facility the residents dont get the care they deserve, the other CNA's are too busy in getting everything done fast that residents do not get cleaned properly. They are supposed to change the water at least twice during the morning get up bed bath, but they don't do it.

They are supposed to wipe and wash until all the crap is gone, they don't do that.

One CNA who I was following was giving a man a shower and he crapped after the shower, the cna just put the diaper on without cleaning him...she couldnt be bothered to because everything has to be done fast.

If I have to do everything so fast that the residents don't get cleaned properly then I don't deserve the money. I don't want to take money I don't deserve.

[beekee]

You have a good heart. I promise it'll get better. I'm new too. I'm a nurse, so I don't do as much changing/showering/dressing as you, but I do some and frankly, I'm pretty slow too. I'm horrible at changing briefs too! I always have them on too high in the back. So, I consciously move them down a couple inches before I have the patient turn. Sometimes, it's still not enough, but I'm getting better. It just takes time. In a couple days, you'll be amazed at how much better you are. In a couple months, it'll be a piece of cake. Hang in there!!

[brownbook]

I'm an "old" nurse.....I rarely deal with diapering or dressing adults, but have the same problems you do! It isn't easy, at least for me. I could never even get my grand kids diapers on right! They would gap or fall off a few minutes later!

it is hard at first, but in a few months you will be laughing at yourself remembering how hard you thought it was.

You-tube has great nursing videos on patient care. The only problem is the patient is usually compliant, average weight, etc. but you can still get some ideas on how to get a diaper on straight!

i assume you're working in a long term care facility. There is no harder job for a CNA, or RN. It will get better.