I feel discouraged....

[abbypoo]

Hi there. So I started working at an assisted living facility. I was in training for about 2 weeks and I have worked on my own for 2 days now.

I am part time and work in the dementia unit. 2 CNA's work on this unit.

So I felt like my first day alone went really well. The other CNA and I got everyone up on time and had a lot of down time to talk to the residents and take them to the bathroom.

Well the next day? Not so much. I got assigned to work with another CNA. She doesn't like to talk about things like "So what are we going to do now?" or "You shower him, I'll shower him." She doesn't really like to talk at all... She doesn't even really talk to the residents and I love doing that.

I felt like I didn't know where she was half the time and when she was gone I was afraid to take anyone to the bathroom because someone always needs to be watching one of the residents who always gets up and is a high fall risk. Someone is always supposed to be in the main room.

I am pretty comfortable with all of the residents and have fun working with the other CNA's. It makes me feel bad because this CNA I feel awkward with isn't a bad person. She's just gruff and doesn't want me to ask her questions or something. She also makes me feel bad and nervous. Some rules she follows and others she doesn't.

So... Is it normal to feel stressed while being a new CNA? I just feel terrible today, the day I worked before I felt great. Was I just being babied by the CNA the day before?

ok! Rant done. I know this is childish and immature to rant like this but hey, might as well complain online!

[mirandaaa]

I don't feel as though the other CNA babied you; you definitely should have a working relationship in which both CNA's communicate what needs to be done and who does what and when.

Different people work in different ways. I suggest observing the routine she follows and if you can't work with it then try working something else out with her. Maybe talk to other CNA's, too, and see if they have any issues with her.

As for "some rules she follows and some she doesn't" what kind of rules are you talking about?

[abbypoo]

Thank you.

Like... She says 2 people should never be in the same resident's room at a time. But she'll do the mechanical lifts alone and that's against the rules.

Or telling me that some residents should not sit at the dinning table and make them sit in the living room. I was surprised because usually we let a few of the people read their paper at the table if they don't want to sit on a couch or something.

But then, she let a resident that is a high fall risk walk around while holding her wheelchair backwards.

It's just confusing because I don't know what she wants! She makes me feel bad. I think most of the people at the facility like her but I have never really asked.

[mirandaaa]

Like... She says 2 people should never be in the same resident's room at a time. But she'll do the mechanical lifts alone and that's against the rules.

Or telling me that some residents should not sit at the dinning table and make them sit in the living room. I was surprised because usually we let a few of the people read their paper at the table if they don't want to sit on a couch or something.

But then, she let a resident that is a high fall risk walk around while holding her wheelchair backwards.

Okay but seriously, where is the nurse and/or supervisor for these things?

Mechanical lifts are 100% always supposed to have two people assisting. That's not a facility rule, that's a mandated requirement that can get people in serious trouble with State if they were to come in and see that.

Saying that some residents shouldn't sit at the dining table to eat....is that something those residents prefer or is in their care plan? I'm not sure if that's necessarily a broken rule (unless it is one at your facility) and that's something we've done at a LTC facility I worked at, but it was based on resident preference and if we had the "OK" from the family and the nurse.

The final one is just a huge no-no all the way around....if someone is a high fall risk, it's not a bad idea to let them walk but they need to have a gait belt, someone walking with them, and at least a walker. A wheelchair is not going to do anything to keep her from falling.

I'm not necessarily shocked at the rule-breaking of the CNA because that happens all the time, but I am shocked that the nurse and/or supervisor is okay with these things.

[abbypoo]

Our dining room and living room are connected. Some of the residents in the dining room like to stay at the table after breakfast and read a book or newspaper. She says that's not okay.

I thought allowing her to walk with a wheel chair was so odd too. Our supervisor was not there for that.

If I ever asked her a question or was confused what task I should move onto she would be like "I am not your boss" or basically say I should figure it out for myself even though it's only my second day alone.

Thankfully, I don't think I have to work with her too much. I'm usually with the girl I mesh well with.

She never says "Good job" or "You are doing well", it's always something wrong. Lol maybe she has a power complex or something. Oh well, next time I'll know how to handle her better. (Just working very independently.)

[abbypoo]

Also, she did tell me that other people have done things to "piss her off," as she says. And she corrected them the same way she did me.

[Missingyou, CNA]

You do have to be confident in what you are doing.

Communication with your co-workers is very important and if she doesn't communicate with you, you need to STILL tell her if you're leaving an area to assist with toileting or whatever. When she "disappears", you can say something like "I didn't know where you were and I needed to help Mary to the bathroom, now you're here, that's where I'll be".

Use your own judgement as far as safety. You also need to protect the residents. If she is allowing someone to walk around in a way that is unsafe, you can (in a professional way) tell her that it doesn't seem safe and you may have to get up and assist that resident. If that resident falls and both you that "other" CNA are there, you can bet that YOU will have to answer to the supervisor and the family just as much as other CNA for allowing it and not doing anything about it.

It also doesn't make sense to me that the residents are not allowed to sit at the dining room table after breakfast. (& unless it is in their care plan) This is THEIR home. They have rights in their own home! It seems like more of a convience for her/staff that residents not remain in diningroom.

Things like this do happen. I've seen staff forbid residents to sit in their rooms because it was inconvenient for staff to go down to the resident's room if their chair alarm was sounding....

Don't expect anyone other than your direct supervisor to tell you if you're doing a good job.

You know you MUST have 2 people to use the mechanical lift. If you don't, you endanger the resident and could lose your job! You can't control what the other CNA does, but if she won't assist you, then don't use the hoyer = don't transfer the resident and speak to your supervisor about her refusal to assist you. If you see her using the lift alone, get in there and assist her and tell her you are uncomfortable with the risk she is taking.

Toughen up just a bit. Be confident. Be professional. You know what you're doing and the right and wrong way to do things.

[abbypoo]

Thank you! Next time I need to be confident and take my own initiative when working with her. Like you said, I know what I am doing so I should act like it.

I mentioned this to the coworker I work well with and she said this CNA is a good person but can be hard to work with. Usually, she works in the assisted living side and likes that better. I won't be working with her much.