Horrified by lazy CNA's, is this the norm?!

KareBear0609 · Jun 3, 2011

Just because the facility looks nice and the residents pay a bunch of money, doesn't mean their care is top notch. And just because a place looks like a dump doesn't mean their care is crappy. No matter how much a family pays, chances are the CNA's aren't going to get paid based on the high cost of living there. It's normally around $10.00 (give or take a few dollars) regardless. I work at a dump, if you saw this place you would probably run. But, we have AWESOME CNA's that care. We always go the extra step - lotion, nails, hair, etc., to make their last few years a little nicer.

caliotter3 · Jun 3, 2011

I was also surprised by the behavior of people working in LTC facilities when I started as a CNA. I guess $5.45 an hour didn't buy much caring or compassion back then, and $12 an hour didn't buy much from the nurses either.

DBK99 · Jun 3, 2011

Thanks for both replies. KareBear, I didn't think about that. Caliotter, I guess it never changes! lol These CNAs are paid $10/hr during the day and $11/hr for nights. No idea what the LPN is paid, but I just can't imagine treating someone that way, no matter what I'm paid!

Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 3, 2011

When you first start working, you have all kinds of compassion. After working for several months, it starts to wear down on you. The pay is terrible, the stress is terrible, the residents can be abusive, and after a while, you don't have as much compassion as you did in the beginning. I'm not saying that what these CNAs did was right and ok, but I remember coming home from work one day about 6 months in, and crying on my husbands shoulder and telling him that I felt like they had taken everything out of me. I had so much to give when I started and now there was just nothing left.

So, I understand your enthusiasm and wanting to make a difference, that's a great thing! Keep that as long as you can! Cut these girls some slack, though, and understand all the weight they have on their shoulders. We would all LOVE to be able to provide the care for these residents that we would want for our own family, but the TIME just isn't there. If ratios were better than 10 or 15:1, then yeah, Id be putting curlers in ladies hair, listening to their stories, and so on. I've done things that I'm not proud of and I bet everyone else here has too. One of these days you'll be the one training and some girl will be on here talking about you. It's the sad truth.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Jun 3, 2011

There are lazy people and hardworking people in every facility. Not wiping poopy butts or intentionally leaving people wet is unacceptable, but it's not the last time you will see it. Unfortunately the workload is tough, staffing is inadequate, and you CAN'T do everything for the residents, especially when your coworkers are always leaving the floor to smoke. Where I work you can take a 10-minute break in the morning and afternoon, plus a 30-minute lunch. Unfortunately the nonsmokers tend to get stuck inside doing all the work while the smokers sit outside (and they always take more than 10 minutes). It sounds like this facility needs to tighten up their break policy if people are going outside every 30 minutes. As a nonsmoker, that would really irk me.

Anyway, in most facilities there's a lot of pressure to get things done as quickly as possible. The girl that said she didn't have time to wipe the man's butt was probably not rushing for the hell of it. Where I work we have 15 minutes to get up 15 residents for breakfast... it's ridiculous.

As for complaining about the residents... I see nothing wrong with staff venting about them out of earshot. CNAs are human beings just like everyone else. The job is stressful and some of the residents can be downright annoying. You don't have to like everyone... you just have to be nice to their face. Venting with other staff is a healthy release.

caliotter3 · Jun 3, 2011

When one of these people would receive constructive criticism about how they were not taking care of the residents, they would stare right through the person talking, as if they did not understand the language being spoken. No concern whatsoever that they were responsible for the well being of humans.

seneyka · Jul 3, 2011

When you first start working, you have all kinds of compassion. After working for several months, it starts to wear down on you. The pay is terrible, the stress is terrible, the residents can be abusive, and after a while, you don't have as much compassion as you did in the beginning. I'm not saying that what these CNAs did was right and ok, but I remember coming home from work one day about 6 months in, and crying on my husbands shoulder and telling him that I felt like they had taken everything out of me. I had so much to give when I started and now there was just nothing left.
So, I understand your enthusiasm and wanting to make a difference, that's a great thing! Keep that as long as you can! Cut these girls some slack, though, and understand all the weight they have on their shoulders. We would all LOVE to be able to provide the care for these residents that we would want for our own family, but the TIME just isn't there. If ratios were better than 10 or 15:1, then yeah, Id be putting curlers in ladies hair, listening to their stories, and so on. I've done things that I'm not proud of and I bet everyone else here has too. One of these days you'll be the one training and some girl will be on here talking about you. It's the sad truth.

I feel you. I have one wish that they (manager) would remove CNA and give you less patients but you would give them total care. work in Critical care at NOC and there are some freaking lazy CNA who give attitutes to new nurses on the floor (including me) and talk to you like you knew less than them (yet I came from different floor of the hospital and has been there for 2 yrs).

I had worked in a good facility as an LPN but there were lazy charge RN too who would read advertise papers in the beginning of shift and stayed overtime to charge in the end.

There are CNAs who go to smoke and chit chat w buddies who share similar laziness.

I am burnt out and wish never had to be a patient anywhere else.

allnurses Guide · Jul 3, 2011

Unfortunately, you get what you pay for.

What does a CNA get paid?

Crap.

Why?

Because anyone can pass the single class that is required to become a CNA.

The class is so easy, in fact, that complete morons can pass it.

Why?

Because being a CNA is meant to be cheap labor. It's cheap because, as it is set up now, it requires minimal intelligence and training.

The educational requirements cannot be stepped up to weed out the morons because then CNAs could demand more pay... facilities won't do that... and no one would bother to go through so much as a 6 month class to make $10/h.

It is something I think about often because there has got to be a solution... but it seems like a catch 22 from all angles.

It is damn near slave labor with no respect.

What it comes down to, is there is no hard incentive for more intelligent and ethical people to come and do the job.

However, there is just enough incentive for less intelligent and unethical people to come and do the job.

And, yes, I went there and mentioned intelligence... and I'm including interpersonal skills in that, too.

So what you are seeing are people who have no damn sense... and people who DO have the sense (but are out-numbered by the idiots) who have been beaten down and are at a point where they just can't give anymore.

You're right.

It is horrifying.

interceptinglight, CNA · Jul 3, 2011

Unfortunately, you get what you pay for.
What does a CNA get paid?
Crap.
Why?
Because anyone can pass the single class that is required to become a CNA.
The class is so easy, in fact, that complete morons can pass it.
Why?
Because being a CNA is meant to be cheap labor. It's cheap because, as it is set up now, it requires minimal intelligence and training.
The educational requirements cannot be stepped up to weed out the morons because then CNAs could demand more pay... facilities won't do that... and no one would bother to go through so much as a 6 month class to make $10/h.
It is something I think about often because there has got to be a solution... but it seems like a catch 22 from all angles.
It is damn near slave labor with no respect.
What it comes down to, is there is no hard incentive for more intelligent and ethical people to come and do the job.
However, there is just enough incentive for less intelligent and unethical people to come and do the job.
And, yes, I went there and mentioned intelligence... and I'm including interpersonal skills in that, too.
So what you are seeing are people who have no damn sense... and people who DO have the sense (but are out-numbered by the idiots) who have been beaten down and are at a point where they just can't give anymore.
You're right.
It is horrifying.

Oh my god I've never heard it explained so succinctly!! I'm going to copy this to a document and print it out so I can keep it handy if I ever need a quick and clear explanation of why I left LTC. One of the things I found endlessly frustrating working in LTC was the impression that they just wanted to make sure we all stayed 'just dumb CNA's' : like......don't ask too many questions, don't make any helpful suggestions, don't be concerned about what your residents diagnoses or medical histories are, or what meds they were on, even if the meds were going to have a direct effect on their ability to transfer.....just show up for work and do it as fast as possible while keeping your mouth shut. You're just a body, just a beast of burden there to fill a shift. I never again want to feel the despair of being so drained of life while giving my all to people I so deeply cared about, only to realize that I would never be allowed to give them the kind of care they deserved. The environment in which most CNA's have to work is totally hostile to an attitude of caring and compassion.....no wonder those two things are often sacrificed in the struggle just to be able to tolerate one of the most difficult, painful, and thankless jobs there is in the world. :crying2:

cnagrrl · Jul 4, 2011

Yes some CNAs are lazy especially the smokers. But I love my job as the nursing home I work at. I know I do a good job and I do not leave a dirty poop butt even if I have 18 patients to care for! that is just nasty. Sadly, I do not have time to clip nails or sometimes I do not get to do my showers. Some CNAs do get annoyed by me when I tell them "This person smells of urine". I am the annoying CNA. But it is up to you to keep your residents clean and dry if it bothers you. Some CNAs probably leave a resident dirty because that is the way they are themselves.

sunshine100 · Jul 4, 2011

I have two jobs and work with both good and bad CNAs. I think some are burned out since they have worked so long. Many are very good, but I do see people that ignore the residents when they are wet or dirty and many that pass on showers as well. There are people you love to work with, then those you know are going to do a half ass job.