help! new job and already miserable

TazziRN, RN · Nov 3, 2006

{{{Princess}}}

Can you hang in there until graduation? If not, maybe you should look for another position. Does NOT sound like a good place to be.

mamason · Nov 3, 2006

Is there a hospital you would like to work at upon graduation? Maybe you could get a job there? Hospitals will hire nursing students. You would work as a CNA also, but, would probably get to do more nurse related funcitons under the guidence of an RN. It could be a good way to get your foot in the door and maybe gain some insight as to what to expect when you recieve your license and are working as a RN. SOme facilities offer to pay for your tuition, have sign on bonus and such.CHeck it out, it may be a better option instead of working LTC.

healer27 · Nov 3, 2006

Hi purple princess - it's really a shame that they pay people so little but that's a whole different issue. IT sounds like your doing a great job but as the other posters said finding work in a hospital would probably be better for you. I think they pay more and as you get to know people on the floor including the director you might get your foot in the door for a nursing position after graduation. Find work on a unit you think you might be interested in after graduation.

Did you ever think of doing secretarial work on a floor in a hospital as well? I did tech work while I was in school and while it helped to some degree I really think secretarial is better for those planning on doing nursing BECAUSE you then have to learn to read charts and input orders. Getting used to reading charts, and becoming familiar with what tests are usually ordered for what conditions really is something that you could take with you when you become a new nurse. In retrospect I really wish I had done the secretarial thing instead of teching. This is not to say that doing patient care isn't helpful as well as you pointed out you learn time managment, how to deal with difficult patients etc.. Best of luck to you whatever you decide.

Sandi0302 · Nov 4, 2006

I work in an ALF, and ours is NOT like yours, but we have a nurse who came from a similar facility where the aids were "universal" workers and served food and such...which in my opinion is too much. In our facility, they get assigned residents, bring them towels, shower them , bring them down for meals. Thats it. We have seperate kitchen servers, housekeeping, ect. To me, it just sounds like it borderlines on slavery. If you are really close to finishing school, maybe just wait...

Good luck!

spookygirl · Nov 4, 2006

This sounds like WAY too much work. As an aide you should be utalized to care for the pt's, detect subtle changes, and keep them safe, not be a housekeeper/dietary aide as well. It sounds like you are in a bad place. As some of the other posters said I would try to find a position in a hospital. Typically they pay better and you can observe more nursing care (IV's ect). Also in a hospital there is less dressing/undressing, everyone pretty much wears a gown, so that free's up a lot of time. Also, as stated before, you then have your foot in the door for post-graduation. Before I graduated I worked in a med/surg unit at our local hosp (small town) for $9 and had fewer pts and tasks than you mentioned. It was a great experience, when the nurses know you are in school they usually seek you out to observe/assist.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!!!

rach_nc_03 · Nov 4, 2006

WOW! I can't believe ANYONE is expected to be able to get all of that done in the amount of time you're given. I would definitely look for a different position. Is $7.50 the normal pay rate for nursing assistants in your area? That just seems insanely low.

While I was a nursing student, I worked as a CNA in a hospital ICU. That experience was absolutely invaluable to me. Do you have any ideas on what area of nursing you'd like to pursue after graduation? If you plan to work in a hospital setting (rather than LTC or ALF), I think you should seriously consider looking for a hospital CNA job. You'll still work your rear end off, but you'll be exposed to more aspects of the work of nurses than you are at your current job, where it sounds like a huge portion of your day is spent doing housekeeping work.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

TrudyRN · Nov 4, 2006

I don't know what's wrong with me. I started this new job at assisted living as a nurse aide. There are usually 4 aides and 2 or 3 med aides ( don't do care) for over 75 residents. Each of us have about 15 to 17 residents. I come in at 7 get my assignment, review communication book, get towels for showers. and then I have 5 or 6 to get dressed/ potted along with waking others, and transporting everyone to the dining room by 8:15 at the latest. Then we have to bring out breakfast for everyone, get drinks, pour coffee etc then clean up dishes, wash tables,vacuum, and clear dining room again, bells going off, pot people again, try to get showers in 2-3 get to exercise by 10:30 then take people back, pot again, transport to dining room for lunch, same scenario, then back pot again, do any shower(s) that didn't get done pot again clothes away yeah we wash ALOT of laundry answer bells and get trash take out to dumpster. Sometimes I get a break other times not. Our lunch is 15 minutes max we woof our food down and actually have to eat with the residents who often will bother us for more coffee take my plate away help me to my room etc. This is a typical day. I do this for a lovely 7.50 an hour. I'm so close to finishing school and really hate feeling like my best/ fastest is not good enough. I value teamwork. I spend time with my residents meeting their needs. plus we have to have all beds made before lunch too. It's just too hard to keep up sometimes. I honestly feel like I have the hardest assignment because of the acuity and they're spread over 3 units. I feel I'm doing the very best I can considering i've been there 3 weeks. it's 18 miles away from my house i have to get up at 5, in the winter earlier for sure. I am a CNA with good work experience, I am a nursing student near graduation, i have a college degree and this is all I can get????

Well, for starters, an anonymous letter to OSHA and to your state's Labor Relations Board or to a federal government attorney general or someone in authority is needed, as your employer is not giving you your meal break or rest break. And that's just the start. Is your facility accredited? Inform Medicare (CMS, I think it's called) of what's happening, how you are having to do too many tasks, wear too many tasks, and see what those investigators think about it.