I'm in a very competitive CNA program in which you will get dropped if the instructor doesn't think you're right to be a CNA. She is very passionate about nursing and we're her 72nd CNA class.
Today is day 4 of the program. Up until today we've only had lecture. Today we actually got to apply some of what we learned about mechanical lifts. We have a Marissa lift and a bed to practice with. We were told that everyone in the class needs to rotate into 3 different postions for practice; the one who operated the lift, the assistant and the patient/resident.
Our instructor was busy but still in the room. Everyone was practicing as she had said until it was the loud (the one who knows everything, and interjects it), heavy set women's turn. She did all of the positions except the patient because of her size. She didn't want to get into the cradle to be lifted. She was loud about her objection, but my instructor didn't notice. Finally I get to practice... I did all of the positions until it was time for me to lift the student next to me who is also a very large women. In fact, her and the other women that objected are usually together because they are about the same age, both have been CNA's before, and they both are mothers. They're friends, in other words. Well, the large lady that I was supposed to lift didn't want me to lift her. I agreed. She has had two knee replacements and it seemed to be fine to not be lifted because the loud girl wasn't getting lifted. Practice continued and two more heavy girls decided they wouldn't get lifted.
After all was said and done, we sat down and the instructor asked if we were done.
FINALLY, loud girl gets up and says "Fine! I'll do it, geez!". She made a show about how the people around her were pressuring her to do it, although it didn't seem like they were...
Loud girl finally gets into the cradle and gets lifted, but never off the bed because she was yelling the whole time about having an audience and joking about wanting to speak to the charge nurse because she was being "threatened".
Amongst it all... She says, "Since I'm up here doing this, all the rest of you better do it!"
My teacher got real ****** REAL fast and demanded to know if there were people that didn't get lifted. My teacher said it's part of the exercise and EVERYONE must participate. Loud girl said she didn't want to rat anyone out so they better do it.
I started sweating... The heavy lady next to me hadn't done it...
No one said anything about those that didn't get lifted. Those that chose not to be lifted didn't say anything. My teacher was FURIOUS and said she absolutely couldn't believe it. She said she didn't know if she would ever get over it. She said we were ALL liars. Every single one of us. She said we can't be trusted to be honest. She said that if we saw someone doing something wrong on the job or abusing an elder that we wouldn't report it. Finally, I don't know how, but the heavy lady next to me was found out. We all had to do the exercise again.
Class ended afterwards and I felt HORRIBLE.
I waited for the students to leave so I could talk to the instructor to explain myself. I didn't want to be thought of as a liar. Especially when it's OBVIOUS I knew that the heavy lady wasn't lifted because she sits next to me.
My teacher kinda let me know she wasn't mad at me and shifted the blame onto those that chose not to lift and didn't confess.
I still feel terrible though... To be told that I wouldn't report elder abuse! I've wanted to be a nurse for such a long time, and I know I'll be a good one. I work very hard and I LOVE it.
Worry about yourself. If you have classmates who are not willing to practice with you, find someone who will! Our priorities in class is to practice our skillls so were proficient for skill check offs. Don't beat yourself over others poor character and attitudes. Avoid those. Like others, you learned smoehting new, take it and don't let it happen again. Good Luck! Finish strong in school and clinical!
... They start out with 20 then have to drop down to 15 before going to the clinical site...
That's plain ridiculous that the instructor and the facility already set their minds way before about dropping certain amount of people; no matter what. I would understand if a student does something that's grounds for termination from class, but plain out planning that this many will be dropped before clinicals... What if all that 20 students are good students who won't deserve being dropped? Are they just going to pull names to drop the 5 students? Everybody is putting effort and time into this, just so somebody will just drop them from class for any reason. I wouldn't go to such place even though it's free. I now see why your instructor is creating such a big drama out of this situation. Now these people will be dropped as planned. Maybe tomorrow will be your turn to be dropped for whatever small reason there may be during clinicals or class. Yucky situation.
Its unfair for the instructor to penalize the group for a few - but you'll face that mentality throughout your lifetime. It's also unreasonable for your instructor to expect you guys to tattle on one another. After all, you're all adults - you should only need to be responsible for yourself, unless of curse you encountered something dangerous - but that's not tattling - that's just common sense.
Do yourself a favor - make a mental note about who is willing to lie, doesn't think the rules apply to them and steer clear - they will only bring you down
I'm assuming everyone being lifted was so everyone would have the opportunity to be lifted. It's not the same variety of practice if your lifting the same person over and over. I've always wanted to take a ride in that lift I'd be cool with that.
When I took my IV certification class the instructor was very clear if you refused to be poked that was fine but you didn't get to practice on any of your classmates and you had to provide your person to practice on and you could practice on only them.
You see this is a problem if your classmates want to do the practicing but not allow people the opportunity to practice themselves.
Your teacher is nuts. You are only a student. It is not your job or responsibility to ensure your classmates are doing what they are supposed to do in a clinical lab.
That's plain ridiculous that the instructor and the facility already set their minds way before about dropping certain amount of people; no matter what. I would understand if a student does something that's grounds for termination from class, but plain out planning that this many will be dropped before clinicals... What if all that 20 students are good students who won't deserve being dropped?
At first, I tatally agreed with you, but then I thought of something. Please tell me if it does not make any sense. If, over time, the school discovered that only (approximately) 15/20 successfully completed the course and clinicals. Every quarter, they were having to rearrange clinical sites because they did not have enough students at one and had to overload another instructor at another. It might be reasonable to just plan it that way in the beginning. Let the students know that based on their test scores and performance, the instructor does not anticipate clinical being completed successfully, followed by an offer to retake the course.
At first, I tatally agreed with you, but then I thought of something. Please tell me if it does not make any sense. If, over time, the school discovered that only (approximately) 15/20 successfully completed the course and clinicals. Every quarter, they were having to rearrange clinical sites because they did not have enough students at one and had to overload another instructor at another. It might be reasonable to just plan it that way in the beginning. Let the students know that based on their test scores and performance, the instructor does not anticipate clinical being completed successfully, followed by an offer to retake the course.
It sounds like the school is accepting more students than they have clinical instructors for. How can they justify dropping a student that is not failing?
i dont believe it is right to force someone to feel as if they have to "rat" others out in front of their faces. thats not how it works in the real world. if she wanted to compare it to elder abuse,then she should have allowed for some confidentiality. i think thats the way things are reported the majority of the time. good luck to you. hang in there.
At first, I tatally agreed with you, but then I thought of something. Please tell me if it does not make any sense. If, over time, the school discovered that only (approximately) 15/20 successfully completed the course and clinicals. Every quarter, they were having to rearrange clinical sites because they did not have enough students at one and had to overload another instructor at another. It might be reasonable to just plan it that way in the beginning. Let the students know that based on their test scores and performance, the instructor does not anticipate clinical being completed successfully, followed by an offer to retake the course.
Yup, grownuprosie! I looked at the pictures around the room of the graduations and the class size ranged from 8-13. A lot of people aren't able to pass the course for a multitude of reasons. Either they weren't able to attend every day, they didn't pass the skills, or they got bad test scores...
Unfortunately, (or fortunately in most other programs, I'm sure) our class is all doing well! No one is ever late, (we are supposed to be there at 6:45am while the class starts at 7:00am) and everyone is passing the tests. We just finished our first week with all 20 students. It's heartbreaking that 5 will be lost on Tuesday... I hope I make it. Although, as long as you are in good standing, you are offered a spot to retry in the next course that suits your schedule.
It's a cut throat CNA program... The clinical sites they take you to are their own LTC facilities. They have hundreds.
I agree totally with the poster on the other page that said to take mental notes and remember who told bold-faced lies. Someday they might be my coworker...
How silly to even be in that situation where no one would confess...
I dont understand why the students would be so resistent to riding the hoyer to begin with. Yeah you might look kind of foolish, but if everyone does it, who cares. If their knees are so bad, how are they gonna work as a CNA? Im pretty sure a lot of patients/residents who regularly use a hoyer have bad knees, along with bad everything else.
Still, if the student had been an aide before and had probably lifted people a thousand times with a hoyer, I doubt her not riding in it is going to somehow compromise patient safety in the future. I guess its an integrity thing on her part, as for you not reporting it, dont sweat it. There is a world of difference between failing to tattle on a student over some petty crap like this, and failing to report elderly abuse or neglect.
This CNA course one of those where the company offers the certification for free in exchange for a minimum duration of employment. If so then they can flunk as many people as they like since it would essentially just be a long interview process.
elprup, BSN, RN
1,005 Posts
Yes, it is a very rude awakening. Good luck to you