I lack basic nursing skills

faithhopenurse · Aug 9, 2016

I would recommend if you are allowed at your current facility, to work as an aide for a shift or two every now and then. They are amazing workers and deserve more credit. As "their duties" are actually the responsibility of nursing, hints that is why they are OUR assistants. :) Being a STNA prior to a nurse has helped tremendously!

brownbook · Aug 9, 2016

You Tube has many great nursing videos on transferring, bathing, positioning, patients, every basic, and even advanced skill, a nurse, LVN, CNA, needs to know.

They do make it look easy, the "patient" is usually average weight, cooperative, etc., but still you get the idea of how it's supposed to work. Don't be afraid, feel dumb, to ask co-workers, CNA's for help.

JFLEURIM · Aug 9, 2016

I'm still in training so i'l ask my boss to see if it's ok to do that every once in a while. I'll also watch videos and ask the aides in the facility to show me how to do some things while letting me do it on my own so i can learn. I'll start to look up videos on youtube also. I feel like my school did me a huge disservice by not having me use most of the skills i learned in class.

emmy27 · Aug 10, 2016

Be nice to the CNAs at your job. Tell them you admire their skill and efficiency and ask them to show you the best way to do things like transfers and changes. They're often underappreciated and will likely be willing to help someone who shows respect and interest in the heavy workload they manage- especially if you help them out when you can.

It was a very kind and patient career CNA who showed me the best way to do most basic patient care when I was just a baby tech- and honestly, she knew much better than the RN lab instructor in my program who had never actually worked at the bedside!

KayStanley · Aug 10, 2016

follow a CNA- at my school, we did full care during clinicals, which included CNA and LPN work for one patient each day. The work is physically challenging but takes a little less of critical thinking. I think it's something that you get good at with practice! :)

JFLEURIM · Aug 10, 2016

I'm on very friendly terms with the CNA's or at least i'm trying to be. I'll try that as well. thank you.

medic981, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 10, 2016

While in nursing school, I was fortunate to have amazing CNAs to work with. I learned so many tricks of the trade from working with CNAs while learning Nursing Fundamental ADLs. That being said, find a CNA who is competent and more importantly, likes their job and work with them for a shift. Lastly, if there is a skill that you are required to do, don't try to BS your way through it, find a CNA, admit your lack of knowledge or skill and watch them do it, do it with them and then have them watch you do it. I have the utmost respect for any professional who admits they don't know something and then goes about correcting that lack of knowledge.

AvaRose · Aug 11, 2016

SO true. I had this one amazing CNA who seemed to always be working in whatever unit our class had clinical in. He always asked if we needed anything and if he needed some help he asked us instead of demanding we help him. He made a point to have us help him with different things so we could see what to do and he was super efficient with vitals and sat down and entered them in the computer while explaining to us nursing students how he did various parts of his job. He was our favorite CNA and pretty much favorite person hands down to work with.

JFLEURIM · Aug 11, 2016

I wish we had someone like that to help with our basic skills too. Thank you for responding to my post. I already plan on talking to the CNA's that i know at my job. I have also planned on talking to my boss when i see her about working with them for a few days if possible. If not, ill try to help out during my down time.