One Worried lil' CNA in Training

[shel_wny]

Today was my first day in training to be a CNA at a long-term care facility.

The whole time I just thought...what on earth have I gotten myself into!?

We watched this video on Alzheimer's and the 4 stages and they were personal accounts of real families watching their loved one mentally die in front of them. It was so sad and depressing.

We saw another video on bed sores showing real open ones and the lady talked about how part of the flesh dies and the doctor has to get in there and scrape it all off. I wanted to cry.

Then she says that sometimes when you're feeding residents they spit the food back at you in your face and talks about how one CNA got her nose broken for bending down too close to a resident who socked her!

Now, I'm not naive. I've got a strong stomach and a very strong urge to help people - especially the elderly because many times they cannot fend for themselves. However, is this what life as a long-term care CNA is like?

The care and the gore doesn't bother me...it's the principle and the depression.

Please tell me there are good times too.

Shel

[shel_wny]

Just an update...I've now worked on the floor a few full days and I completely LOVE it. The yucky parts aren't so bad as I thought they would be. It's just like changing a baby's diaper except the person is standing upright or lying down and the butt is a little bigger. I can handle the smell! I even got poop on my leg and it didn't phase me. I felt like superwoman.

I feel like the things I do for these people that they cannot do themselves actually means something. I know I'm all new and sappy but I've never had a job in my life that really meant something. It's kind of neat.

I get so many thank yous and kisses on the cheek. No one could ever say this job is thankless. I also love bringing my world in to them - telling them about the weather today, the outrageous price of gas, the cost of a loaf of bread, and the recent price hike for a gallon of milk. These things may seem silly and trivial but to someone who was a homemaker all of her life and in charge of weekly shopping back when bread was a nickel and milk was a dime this is freaky! I was talking with a lady who doesn't speak and right after I told her gas was $2.15 today she let out a "WOW!" It nearly scared me to death but then I was so happy because she really could hear me! Her eyes always seemed to know what was going on but I never knew for sure if she was hearing me.

So no worries about me. Right now my only concern is passing the CNA clinical test.

One slip and I'm sunk. *gulp*

Thank you all so much for the encouragement.

It really really helped. :)

Shel

[Amylcd]

I was really nervous my first day of clinicals too. I'm not too good with smells and have found that the vicks works well. I just dab a bit under my nose and i'm good to go.

[abbytx3]

hang in there kiddo, it gets better. dont stop , keep going.

[abbytx3]

hang in there kiddo, it gets better. we need good CNAs like you.

don't stop, keep going.