I hate my job as a certified nursing assistant and want to quit after two weeks!

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Aug 5, 2011

The job is always overwhelming at first. 2 weeks is not an adequate amount of time to give anything a chance, IMO. If you don't like it, then whatever. Most people wouldn't! I would at least stay there till school starts though... make some money.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2011

I am new at a long term care nursing home as nurse assistant and I absolutely hate my job. The co-workers are nice and friendly but I work on the dementia unit and it is extremely depressing. The patients fight me and hit me because I'm trying to change them and I don't want to help people who don't want to be helped (or don't know they need help) because I find it uncomfortable and I feel awful. I've already shed tears because of how depressed I am at this job and I'm still only training! I can't even imagine how stressed I'll be when I really start working and have to take care of between 10-14 people! I'm only 18 and I'm going to college next month so I'll have to focus on school mainly, so should I just quit and leave this stress behind? I've realized that working at a nursing home is not for me, I'm just afraid that human resources will get snippy at me for quitting after only two weeks, what do you think? Also, since I'm only training right now and not on the work rotation yet, do I need to give a two weeks notice?

It's not that the residents don't want you to help them- with dementia, their brains don't understand what you are doing. To them, you're just taking off their clothes (and this is a generation that wasn't comfortable with that to begin with). Even though you don't want to treat them like toddlers, in many ways they need the same care. They aren't mad at you- they're very confused :) It's hard (I worked as a CNA during nursing school- it was the best thing I could do). I'd encourage you to work at least a weekend shift while you're going to school (it's possible- I worked 3-11 AND 11-7 on Fridays and Saturdays, AND 3-11 on Sundays with an agency, that sent me to all sorts of facilities....I learned a LOT.

The behavior you are seeing from the resident is from their brain not working- not you :) Try and stick it out- it will also help in the future with jobs, since you have experience with patients on your own :)

MandaBattles · Aug 7, 2011

I agree with the other posts. I've been a CNA for 10 years and it is a whole different world in a long term nursing home. Especially with dementia patients. Try to stick it out and as hard as it might seem you should try and get to know your patients. I know that always helped me. Seeing them as people that truly do need help is humbling. And at the end of the day it really is rewarding to help someone that needs it. Even if you cant always tell that they appreciate it. Keep at it for a bit. But if you decide it's really not for you then I would try to find something else or ask to be transfered to a unit that isnt mostly dementia patients.

tomc5555 · Aug 8, 2011

I am new at a long term care nursing home as nurse assistant and I absolutely hate my job. The co-workers are nice and friendly but I work on the dementia unit and it is extremely depressing. The patients fight me and hit me because I'm trying to change them and I don't want to help people who don't want to be helped (or don't know they need help) because I find it uncomfortable and I feel awful. I've already shed tears because of how depressed I am at this job and I'm still only training! I can't even imagine how stressed I'll be when I really start working and have to take care of between 10-14 people! I'm only 18 and I'm going to college next month so I'll have to focus on school mainly, so should I just quit and leave this stress behind? I've realized that working at a nursing home is not for me, I'm just afraid that human resources will get snippy at me for quitting after only two weeks, what do you think? Also, since I'm only training right now and not on the work rotation yet, do I need to give a two weeks notice?

If you're a CNA didn't you have clinicals in LTC? It seems odd to me you would have such a lack of empathy and knowledge about dementia after going through CNA training. I think you should quickly determine if this is the job for you. It's ok if it isn't what you want to do, jus t don't prolong a decision.

Good luck.

kaiasunshine · Aug 8, 2011

It seems odd to me you would have such a lack of empathy and knowledge about dementia after going through CNA training.

I don't think she lacks empathy, I work in dementia and it is my favorite area of long-term care and there are still days when I get flustered and frustrated when I am unable to give people the care they need due to combative or resistive residents. I think it definitely takes a while to get used to it, and I know a lot of care aids who say they would/could never work in dementia as it's not somewhere they feel they can handle. You know what? A lot of RN's would never work in psych or peds or the ER either! Everyone has areas they like and dislike.

When I used to feel depressed in dementia in the beginning, I would need to remind myself that these peoples' brains have deteriorated. I started to imagine them not how their bodies present them but how their minds were functioning. We had several end-stage residents and I would start to imagine that I were caring for (this sounds bad when verbalized but I don't mean it in a bad way at all) infants. I found I was a lot gentler and more patient when I tried to understand how their minds were working.

Anyway, my advice would be to stick it out for two months. That will give you a bit more time to adjust to the situation. I would recommend trying to get a position on a more cognitive floor if possible, as dementia just may not be your area. Give working as a CNA a chance, work a day or two a week, and if you hate it immensely in a couple of months you can always leave the position :)

Kitsey · Aug 9, 2011

I've been working as a CNA part time for almost 5 months now, and I have to say that the dementia unit is my favorite. Yes, I normally go home with a new bruise or nail gouge, but I love those people. I think I really *got* it when I took the time to look at the residents photos in their room from their younger days. When we're working with our most combative resident (and I mean *everyone* has a scar to show from her) I think about the photo sitting in her room of her smiling at the camera with her arm around her husband. I know she doesn't mean to be the way she is now. When you spend 99% of your shift dodging blows from someone, but at the end of the night they smile when you tell them goodnight, that's worth it :)

joshsmother · Aug 9, 2011

I am about to start classes for my CNA while also taking classes for RN prereqs. My goal is to eventually end up in a hospital as a CNA and get help for school while working towards my RN. All I can say is think of this as a step tp get you where you want to be. We all have to do what we have to do to make it.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Aug 9, 2011

I think I like the dementia unit the best because I'm so introverted. I get so exhausted having to act normal and be social with alert residents. With the demented ones, I can just be myself and say whatever I want, and they're not going to be like, "wow, what a weirdo."

Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 10, 2011

I work in a Alz unit with 28 residents on the baylor shift... read 16 hour shifts Sat and Sunday. I like the job except the ratio. This weekend there were only two of us for all these people. Between preventing falls, changes, meals, showers and mullifying the demanding residents, it's extremely difficult work. I like the residents. Each one has something to offer if you listen.

These people have been given the worst of human curses = losing your soul to a disease that robs you of who you are.

* Often, they can remember things from their childhood and often are 'getting ready for school.' Dig into those to have minor conversations as you give care.

*Ask if they think Andy Griffith is cute. :) Sometimes, they like to sing, or like to hear singing. Sing a bit as you work. It just might relax the both of you.

*Dance with them if they need distraction. It makes them laugh.

* I have discovered that a good amount of them like to be busy. I get a stack of pillow cases or towels for them to fold. I shake them out just outside the door for them to fold another 'load.'

I hope this helps. My job is hard and I don't like it. It's not the residents that bother me, but the 1 to 14 care ratio. Even the 1 to 8 is unreasonable when we are fully staffed.