I am a worried CNA

pcelest2003 · Mar 23, 2004

Hello
I am a CNA at a large long term care health care facility, most of my residents have alzheimers or are quite combative
I am 32 and the other CNA's I work with are 21 or 22. They are extremely unprofessional...admitting to me that they "make up temps" and "make up weights" "why waste time on that when you can go outside and have a cigerette???"
It sickens me. They do not answer call bells.THey steal linen from beds I open. They try to switch residents with me on the night they know the resident is a shower or a treatment. They take advantage of the new nurse on the floor..i.e. only doing their last turn to save their butt
Please tell me it is not always like this. I am also curious as to how a 21 year old has 3 kids and is a heavy smoker already???? These are my co-workers
I put in for a floor change...I hope it works
Krissy

That is rather unfortunate. I worked in a LTC for 30 minutes and punched out. I told them to keep the check! I was a cna right out of clinicals. They DON begged me to work at that facility. Go work in hospital, gain your basic clinical skills latch on to a nurse who truely likes to mentor and you'll learn allot. Drop the zero and get with the hero's!

bluesky, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2004

That is rather unfortunate. I worked in a LTC for 30 minutes and punched out

:chuckle I made it for 3 1/2 hrs before I checked out. It takes a special, very special human being to be a great CNA in an LTC setting. Their pay is a REAL travesty.

pcelest2003 · Mar 23, 2004

blusky,

It was so hard for me and yes the pay was 5.50 and I had 26 residents to get toileted and dressed. But, I must say some of the aid in LTC are very interesting to work with. In addition, there is always a shortage of supplies so we had to use draw sheets as diapers. I was glad to work med/surg after that experience I've gained allot of exp now I'm in NICU/Postpartum as a tech. Sweet, huh? and male!

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Mar 23, 2004

The ultimate guide on how i care for residents or patients:
"What if this person was my mother. What if they were my father."

That's very nice and everyone should think like that but I don't care how much you care when there are a lot of residents and only one of you you just can't give the care that you want to give.

itsme · Mar 23, 2004

That is true, not alot of time to give the care you want, but a lack of time is NO excuse for neglect.

MryRose · Mar 23, 2004

These people need to be reported to DON and also to the licensing board to make sure the facility doesn't just talk to them. There is no excuse.

I took a CNA course as part of my early journey into nursing. I have to say I was appalled at the amount of patients piled onto the CNA. I decided to pass on working as a CNA to go fulltime to school. My best friend went ahead and is working as a CNA while we take classes for RN program. I am amazed at the stories she tells of her co-workers and how they take care of thier patients. Many times, she goes to DON and explains what is happening.... not much changes. SHe is fed up and worried what will happen to her patients if she leaves.

I think the inspections should be random and not announced. It's ridiculous to think they are getting a "true" inspection of a facility when everyone knows they are coming. Random inspections would shake up this country as to the quality of care patients are really getting.

Peace,

MaryRose

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Mar 23, 2004

That is true, not alot of time to give the care you want, but a lack of time is NO excuse for neglect.

That is true, but whenever a resident or residents have to wait for you because you were busy with somebody else or for any other reason, that is neglect.

Stephanie D · Mar 23, 2004

These people need to be reported to DON and also to the licensing board to make sure the facility doesn't just talk to them. There is no excuse.
I took a CNA course as part of my early journey into nursing. I have to say I was appalled at the amount of patients piled onto the CNA. I decided to pass on working as a CNA to go fulltime to school. My best friend went ahead and is working as a CNA while we take classes for RN program. I am amazed at the stories she tells of her co-workers and how they take care of thier patients. Many times, she goes to DON and explains what is happening.... not much changes. SHe is fed up and worried what will happen to her patients if she leaves.
I think the inspections should be random and not announced. It's ridiculous to think they are getting a "true" inspection of a facility when everyone knows they are coming. Random inspections would shake up this country as to the quality of care patients are really getting.
Peace,
MaryRose

I completely agree with you, Mary Rose. In my town the nursing home is under investigation. Seems two CNA's was tired of dealing with their patient, took him to the bathroom, turned the light off on him and left him to fend for himself. After two hours the poor man tried to get up and fell and broke his hip and died. There have also been other countless numbers of incidents of the residents breaking their hips because of lack of care from the CNA's. Don't get me wrong, there are great nurses and CNA's everywhere you look but the one's who purposely ignore their patients so they can go to the "smoke room" should be fired and replaced by someone who will take their job seriously.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2004

Great advice here. Good luck getting out of there.

Krissy NY · Mar 28, 2004

I really want to thank al of you for your replies. I read every one of them. I also agree that it takes a very special person to work with this population.

In fact..I have a resident who is 97 yrs old and loves classical music, she has been put on comfort cares as of Fri., yesterday I was at Linens and Things with my boyfriend shopping and they had Cd's where you can press a button and hear it...ofcourse I picked one that my resident (Margarite) loved and the tears just rolled down my cheeks. I do not know if she is still with us and won't until tomorrow.

Back to the topic. I put in a floor change but was denied. Too overstaffed. I have to stay with this shift.

The other day we had 4 girls..a blessing. Unfortunately I am the 1 out of 4 who gives a damn about the residents. After dinner I was busy doing my 2nd turns while the others had a pizza party and made jokes over how I never take a break

When I get my LPN I am going to be a major Hard A** on these girls...Sopranos style LOL

If I ever had my dad in a place like this and I saw such goings on I would be furious

Krissy

mattsmom81 · Mar 28, 2004

Krissy you sound like a wonderful caring CNA whom I would love to work with. I have started jobs in LTC where I have observed the culture of the place supporting behaviors like you describe and it can be very difficult to change that culture without becoming a victim yourself.

Justus · Apr 19, 2004

I was recently hired at the LTC where my father had lived his last years. I spent the first several hours of orientation getting to know my new "family". As second shift came on I was instructed to spend the next couple of hours reading the employee handbook (poorly written /repetitive/ much that did not apply to me in the least). While reading I was joined by 3 MTs (not cert.) and one CNA.(Later I found they were the ONLY nurses in the building.) What followed was a series of contiuous smoke breaks, ranting sessions and power play. They thought I was a "newby, about 20" and that I could be lead by my nose and cowed into whatever position they wished. I was told not to say anything about what went on during that shift and threats were made of consequence. They proceeded to curse the patients, slam doors in their face, leave the med room unattended and open, openly make fun of patients. etc, etc.

I left in tears, not from hurt but from outrage. My father was here , I just promised my "family" I would see them in the morning! Already I was attatched and being forced into the only thing I could do. I returned early the next morning and made clear and precise why I would not, could not, work for this facility. I was assured this would be "nipped in the bud and that heads are gonna roll".

:angryfireThey were reprimanded.:angryfire

:rotfl:Until there are major changes in our LTC things will not get any better.Those changes start with one CNA. Damn a "few warm bodies"- we must have nurses with heart & soul ! Obviously none of us are there for the $, I could do half as much at W Mart and make as much or more. DOCUMENT everything. REPORT everything. By doing so you protect youself but more importantly you are protecting your patient(s).