Okay, so I am a direct caregiver at a LTC facility for adults with disabilities. I love the patient care aspect of my job, not so much the management or most of my coworkers (some, I love. They are few and far between though). I am NOT CNA certified. At this job, you had to have a CNA certification OR 6 months related experience. I had the 6 months related experience.
Still, my 1 year related experience was tame compared to what I do now. I volunteered before this, never paid in a healthcare facility until this. Let me tell you something. Volunteer duties do not equal payed duties. I didn't believe it until I started getting paid. I couldn't do anything by myself and couldn't assist with toileting, just watching procudures.
I feel like the most incompetent fool on the planet. I really, really, am trying my best. I just can't seem to do it right. I have yet to toilet this one patient without ripping the brief, and having to start over again. I have yet to help another patient change her clothes without yanking on her hair. I can't seem to get this other patient in the shower fast enough without her freaking out because she's cold (i've seen other people bathe her, and they are quick enough that she doesn't freak out). I can't seem to eat with this one patient without him throwing his plate down because I remind him of his eating strategies. I Just feel like a complete failure. I've asked my coworkers for assistance, but they just make me feel even worse for asking. If I ask how to do something, someone will make a comment like "For real, you can't do that yet?" Or they will say things like "come on you've been working here long enough to know how tod o that right!"
I just don't know what to do . I want to be a nurse badly. I am 20 years old, one year away from graduating with a bachelors in biology. i want to go back to school after graduation right away and do an Accelerated BSN.
I guess I don't know if this is a rant or a question. I guess i'm worried that I'll never get good at it. I've been working here 6 months. While I feel slightly better than I did at the very start of the job, it is snail-like progress. I am hoping it will help when I take a CNA course, unfortunately my finances and time are limited with me going to college full time and working to pay for nursing prereqs at a community college.
Are my fears valid? Are there people you know who, no matter how hard they try, are crappy nurses? I feel like the kid with "a lot of heart, but no talent."
Okay, so I am a direct caregiver at a LTC facility for adults with disabilities. I love the patient care aspect of my job, not so much the management or most of my coworkers (some, I love. They are few and far between though). I am NOT CNA certified. At this job, you had to have a CNA certification OR 6 months related experience. I had the 6 months related experience.
Still, my 1 year related experience was tame compared to what I do now. I volunteered before this, never paid in a healthcare facility until this. Let me tell you something. Volunteer duties do not equal payed duties. I didn't believe it until I started getting paid. I couldn't do anything by myself and couldn't assist with toileting, just watching procudures.
I feel like the most incompetent fool on the planet. I really, really, am trying my best. I just can't seem to do it right. I have yet to toilet this one patient without ripping the brief, and having to start over again. I have yet to help another patient change her clothes without yanking on her hair. I can't seem to get this other patient in the shower fast enough without her freaking out because she's cold (i've seen other people bathe her, and they are quick enough that she doesn't freak out). I can't seem to eat with this one patient without him throwing his plate down because I remind him of his eating strategies. I Just feel like a complete failure. I've asked my coworkers for assistance, but they just make me feel even worse for asking. If I ask how to do something, someone will make a comment like "For real, you can't do that yet?" Or they will say things like "come on you've been working here long enough to know how tod o that right!"
I just don't know what to do . I want to be a nurse badly. I am 20 years old, one year away from graduating with a bachelors in biology. i want to go back to school after graduation right away and do an accelerated bsn.
I guess I don't know if this is a rant or a question. I guess i'm worried that I'll never get good at it. I've been working here 6 months. While I feel slightly better than I did at the very start of the job, it is snail-like progress. I am hoping it will help when I take a CNA course, unfortunately my finances and time are limited with me going to college full time and working to pay for nursing prereqs at a community college.
Are my fears valid? Are there people you know who, no matter how hard they try, are crappy nurses? I feel like the kid with "a lot of heart, but no talent."
Any advice?
My advice is that some people just don't have that teaching spirit...You say you work with adults with disabilities. That in itself is a tough road. You're only 20...you have yet to draw on that life exp yet when it comes to dealing with patients....it happens. You'll rip briefs, accidentally pull hair, etc...I feel like whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. You can do this! More training helps...is there a way to find information out or talk to a co-worker who is understanding and willing to train you more? CNA courses help, there's only so much you can get from on the job training....
locolorenzo22, BSN, RN
2,396 Posts
My advice is that some people just don't have that teaching spirit...You say you work with adults with disabilities. That in itself is a tough road. You're only 20...you have yet to draw on that life exp yet when it comes to dealing with patients....it happens. You'll rip briefs, accidentally pull hair, etc...I feel like whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. You can do this! More training helps...is there a way to find information out or talk to a co-worker who is understanding and willing to train you more? CNA courses help, there's only so much you can get from on the job training....