First let me start by saying I made a career change this past year to a CNA due to a life changing event. My daughter was hospitalized and nearly lost her life, the nurses were great, staff etc but a CNA went the extra mile and had the time to really make her feel better. I decided at that moment I wanted to make a difference like this man did for my child. I didnt want to be a nurse ( even though money is better ) because it appeared that they lacked the time to really connect with patients. I am now a CNA and first loved every minute of the OH SO TIRING work :) I love people and love making them feel like we are friends, they know me and are comfortable. I do my best to really make them feel at home.... Well after some time and CNA's calling in, no other help being called in etc. I HATE MY JOB! I clocked over 11 miles on my pedometer the other day, did not bathe two patients and got in trouble for it In the morning I had 13 patients ( over half were total care ) by 3 pm I have more than 20!! Some with bed alarms, others confused many total care etc. Is it just me or is it IMPOSSIBLE to bathe 13 people in 12 hours and do bathroom assists, call lights on trach patients, accuchecks, vitals. I even skipped lunch and stayed late. Thats less than one hour per person for my shift and this doesnt include charting, walking, vitals etc.. What am I missing here? I wanted to make a difference, get personal and show compassion and care to people who are afraid in the hospital. Instead I am running around stressed, rushing through every single task and I find myself irritated that the patient cant walk faster etc.... I just cant cope... I want out, I dont think I want anything to do with the medical field! I am so glad I didnt go for the nursing degree What a let down this all is
I disagree. I have been "burnt out" before, and it didn't mean I wasn't cut out to be an aide. (And when I say I was burnt out, I mean I actually swore I'd never be an aide again, threw out all my scrubs, and took a job answering phones for almost a year.)
It meant that I needed to find a different facility and different population to work with. I did, and I love my job now, even with all the problems that come with it.
I will add life is an experience. Doing the right thing does not mean that you are working with others that - fact are also doing the right thing. CNAs are at the bottom. My last experience has been also the Nurses and Med aides have been stepping it up where I work. Before they wouldn't think about lifting a patient on or off a toilet - but now the CNAs are becommin so scare they helping out more. Their job depends on they are trainied for our job and they don't need us. So in general - like it is - I am not going to say as a CNA what is your job and what are you trained for - I say aI am bottom and too many patients are too many and yes there are alot of lazy NURSES
CNAs are the lowest on the totem pole, so we are the ones who will get dumped on the most. In many cases management will just increase the workload until they burn people out and they quit, get hurt, or get fired. Then they simply replace them. It doesnt get any better, where I work, because of budget concerns, it steadily gets worse. The only real answer is to carry on with your education to the point you can ditch the CNA job for something better. The only thing that gets me through this job is the understanding that it is only temporary.
Where I work I have lost count of the number of CNAs who have been fired for things which are largely beyond their control but for which they are blamed. The number of people in management that have lost their jobs in all this time, ZERO. Number of RNs that lost their jobs during this time, ZERO. That pretty much says it all, as a CNA you will get the blame, by family, by the nursing staff, and by management, and you will be the one thrown under the bus when things go wrong, or even at the perception of something being wrong:redbeathe.
Yeah I love how you hear all the time that the nurse is responsible for everything, and that's why CNAs must always be perfect. Legally that may be true but in practice, if something goes wrong and the CNA can be blamed for it, they are the ones that get fired.
Very true. In most cases, it never gets all the way to the legal part, and CNAs are disciplined by the facility, often by things we have no control over.
For example, a resident who really should have 1 on 1 care 24/7 because they are an extreme fall risk, a wonderer, and have dementia...if that resident falls and gets hurt while the aide is taking care of someone else, that it will usually be blamed on the aide. When really, it is the fault of the facility for accepting these sorts of residents without having the kind of staffing in place to care for them.
Very true. In most cases, it never gets all the way to the legal part, and CNAs are disciplined by the facility, often by things we have no control over.
For example, a resident who really should have 1 on 1 care 24/7 because they are an extreme fall risk, a wonderer, and have dementia...if that resident falls and gets hurt while the aide is taking care of someone else, that it will usually be blamed on the aide. When really, it is the fault of the facility for accepting these sorts of residents without having the kind of staffing in place to care for them.
Yes, this is what happened to me. I made the mistake of failing to put a tabs alarm on a dementia resident who ended up falling and I took the rap for it; however this same lady also had a chair sensor alarm that failed because it wasn't dated and had expired -- the chair sensor would have alerted us in time to prevent the fall. Did anyone take the blame for that? Hell no. Actually the ward clerk who services all the alarms and sensors should have been given disciplinary action for this incident as well because it was her responsibility to take care of these kind of details. After it happened there was a mad dash around the facility to quickly change out all the expired sensor pads, and there were several of them. Even then that same lady was given a new but UNDATED sensor pad that was due to expire again in 6 months. I ended up dating the pad myself because I didn't want the same damn thing to happen to another aide.
What you conplain about is old news? I doubt it will bet better. Being a CNA is a labort of love and passion. The truth is the pay is low, we need more CNAs and of coorifice ther isn't due to the pay. We can't change how it is- it is not in our hands, all we can do is do the best we can and also look at alternatives.
I really agree with northernguy... here I sit with 2 back surgeries looking at a third within 5 months of my last one that was a fusion leading me into a special care unit... the nurses and management don't care... you are there to save their backs and take their blame if something goes wrong... I take care of 14 patients total most days we split the hall into 2... days it feels like you need 4 of us... and everyday recently at least I have left work in tears from pain and feel like no one cares... I keep furthering my education to become a nurse... it is a broad field... then I will try and make a change for my cna's that follow in my footsteps... Telling them I have been there... helping them when I can... Just try and hang in there helping patients is what it is all about... further your education don't let certain places put you down.. you can make a difference:twocents:
Specializes in Mental Health; Medical-Surgical/Trauma.
I really agree with northernguy... here I sit with 2 back surgeries looking at a third within 5 months of my last one that was a fusion leading me into a special care unit... the nurses and management don't care... you are there to save their backs and take their blame if something goes wrong... I take care of 14 patients total most days we split the hall into 2... days it feels like you need 4 of us... and everyday recently at least I have left work in tears from pain and feel like no one cares... I keep furthering my education to become a nurse... it is a broad field... then I will try and make a change for my cna's that follow in my footsteps... Telling them I have been there... helping them when I can... Just try and hang in there helping patients is what it is all about... further your education don't let certain places put you down.. you can make a difference:twocents:
Oh I so understand where you're coming from! Each aide where I work usually has 20 patients to look out for with some being total assists and others just plain heavy. When I get home, after an 8-hour shift, I am so tired the only thing I want to do is sit on the couch or lay in bed. I am a healthy 21-year-old male that engages in cardiorespiratory exercises daily, but all the lifting and transferring does wear me out.
I can totally relate to your story! I went through that same experience and had to make a change. I now do home health care (same $$) with a LOT less stress. I love going to work every day and can give the one on one care and compassion that I became a CNA to do!! You definitely aren't alone with how you feel......good luck with whatever you choose to do. :heartbeat
:yeah:Thanks for your post...my heart nearly lept in my throat reading this thread...home care is what I will have tunnel vision on!!!!
No matter what health care setting you go into pre hospital, cna in hospital/ltc or home health just keep real good care of your backs... I would not wish this on anyone not even my enemies... I wish you all the best of luck and if you ever need advice on back injuries though I am not a doctor and cannot diagnose or treat I can relate my experience... I personally run pre hospital ambulance (volunteer) and work in a special care unit (critically ill patients) but please again take care of your backs... if you choose to further educate for nursing it may be a very good idea... more money but same workload lifting wise... BE CAREFUL no matter what you choose... Good night all
In the morning I had 13 patients ( over half were total care ) by 3 pm I have more than 20!! Some with bed alarms, others confused many total care etc. Is it just me or is it IMPOSSIBLE to bathe 13 people in 12 hours and do bathroom assists, call lights on trach patients, accuchecks, vitals. I even skipped lunch and stayed late. Thats less than one hour per person for my shift and this doesnt include charting, walking, vitals etc.. What am I missing here? I wanted to make a difference, get personal and show compassion and care to people who are afraid in the hospital. Instead I am running around stressed, rushing through every single task and I find myself irritated that the patient cant walk faster etc.... I just cant cope... I want out, I dont think I want anything to do with the medical field! I am so glad I didnt go for the nursing degree 
yousoldtheworld
1,196 Posts
I disagree. I have been "burnt out" before, and it didn't mean I wasn't cut out to be an aide. (And when I say I was burnt out, I mean I actually swore I'd never be an aide again, threw out all my scrubs, and took a job answering phones for almost a year.)
It meant that I needed to find a different facility and different population to work with. I did, and I love my job now, even with all the problems that come with it.