Hi,
I am working on my pre-reqs for the RN program. In the meantime, I decided that I would start working in a nursing home as a hospitality aide and then take their CNA course. I thought that being a CNA would help me get some clinical experience and would help me in the long run.
I had my first shift at this facility last night, and am now re-evaluating my entire plan. I am so dis-illusioned and saddened at what I saw.
I have to work around my dh's schedule, so I have been scheduled for an odd houred shift. I started at 6pm and worked till 2am.
When I arrived at the station, the whole place was in a chaotic mess. The (agency) charge RN did not even know that I was coming by the way. There are 60 beds in the skilled unit. There was 1 hospitality aide assigned to all 60 beds! There was 3 CNA's on shift (20 pts each), 2 of which had just finished the CNA course and of those for one this was her first night working on her own. There were 2 LPN's, I think one was agency. Aren't these nurse-patient ratio/s dangerously low??
The residents had just finished dinner and the aides were bringing them back to the unit from the dining room. They were then parked in front of the big screen until a CNA could take them to thier room for the night. Many were crying that they wanted to go to bed. Begging, pleading with anyone who walked by to please help them, etc, etc. As a hospitality aide, I of course could not put anyone to bed, or even take any time to even try to comfort anyone as I was now helping the other hospitality aide that was assigned to 60 beds.
All of the CNA's were extremely rude to the patients. (They were all young, early 20's). I had a very hard time with this. I understand that they are totally overworked and that many of these pts have a habit of repeated nagging, etc...but they are human beings and I just couldn't deal with it.
I helped out the best that I could where I could. I think all of the pts were finally in bed by 9:30 pm. The CNA that I told you about that was working her first night on her own was reprimanded for not working fast enough. (I am not sure by who)
These CNA's were busting their ass. They never sat down the entire eve. Their faces were flushed and they were highly stressed. Not one had ANY break or lunch. I did not see anyone wash their hands or wear gloves in any of the rooms.
Around 11:00 things quieted down. Third shift was very quiet until I left at 2 am and for the last two hours there was nothing for me to even do.
I would like your advice. I do not have to work right now. I do not want to return to this place. It really looked like a nice place when I was interviewing. Very clean, many procedures in place, and seemed very well organized.
But these people are not being taken care of!! They are being fed and washed, and that is it. There are activities, yes, but the nurses have such bad attitudes because of their being so short staffed and overworked that they do not even talk nicely to these people or try to comfort them at all. The person that was the greatest with the pts was the hospitality aide...and she is quitting in 2 weeks!
I am wondering what you all think of this situation and what you would do if you were in my shoes?
What is the PA state regulations for nurse-pt ratios?
Thanks for your advice,
Wendy