I'm venting!

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Specializes in MICU.

I had a very bad day at work yesterday. I work at a LTC facility where we usually have 18 residents per CNA, 2 showers and maybe 5 or more sets of VS. I went to work and was placed on an assignment I've never been before. Regular # of residents and showers, I was lucky to only have 2 sets of vitals to get. As the night progressed, I was so behind on my rounds I felt like crying. I was cussed at by one of my residents the N, F and B words. I was so frustrated I found myself yelling and screaming back at her.

I feel so bad about it. The workload at my job is so unbearable and its sad because I feel like I'm turning into a bad CNA. I don't care anymore when I'm doing my job, I only want to finish my chores and go home. I'm FRUSTRATED!

So, what is the workload at your job and what is the most frustrating thing you've ever gone through at work?

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Wow that's a lot of residents to take care of. I don't usually have that many residents and I feel overwhelmed at times also. Tbh when I'm at work its all about how fast I can get these residents down for the night and for me to go home. I hope that things get better for you. I just wanted you to know that your not alone.

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Specializes in MICU.

Thank you so much. Knowing that I'm not alone makes me feel good. How many residents do you usually take care of?

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I'm sorry you had a bad day. Unless you're working night shift (which it sounds like you don't because you mentioned showers), 18 Residents is a lot for one person. I had 8 maybe 9 tops during day shift, and 14 tops on PMs. The most I took care of on nights was 20 Residents.

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Specializes in LTC, Rural, OB.

That sounds like a crazy amount of residents to me. I think I have at most 10 or 11 and still have difficulty getting through the day or evening especially if I have showers on top of it. I say kuddos to you for sticking with it.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

I just finished a CNA course and now I'm waiting to take the exam. The CNAs at the LTC we had our clinical handle around 10 pts; our instructors also said that around 10 pts is the norm (day time).

Do your best not to yell back at residents though. It is not their fault that you got assigned so many patient and, as a result, fell behind. It is management's problem. Racial slurs and derogatory remarks are unacceptable, but they were frustrated and not everyone has been conditioned to behave appropriately. The moment you yell back, you are at fault. Report it to supervisor and express your concerns. Don't give it to the residents.

Personally I would not take more than 10 myself. Taking so many patients put you at greater risk of making safety mistakes and I had been told that if you get something on your record it can impact your future career as a RN (or LPN). If my boss puts me with so many patients I would simply deny. I would not care so much if they fire me because I'm not going to risk my future for $12/hr. This is another reason why I most likely will go into home health rather than LTC. It's just not worth it.

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Specializes in MICU.

@umbdude I understand I was at fault for yelling back at my resident. I reported the matter to my nurse and was told that that how the resident behaves. I'll sure be calm next time when dealing with her. I work 3-11p and ever since I started working at my job, the least residents I've been assigned was 15. I actually thouhgt 16-18 patients was the norm for all LTC facilities.

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Specializes in MICU.
I'm sorry you had a bad day. Unless you're working night shift (which it sounds like you don't because you mentioned showers), 18 Residents is a lot for one person. I had 8 maybe 9 tops during day shift, and 14 tops on PMs. The most I took care of on nights was 20 Residents.

It could be overwhelming at times. Esp having that this was my first CNA job...It was hard

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

Sorry you had such a horrible day. It's understandable why you were frustrated. Maybe it does depend on which shift you're doing. In the AM shift when I did my clinical, the CNAs had around 10. It might be the facility too.

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I feel sorry that you had such a workload and had to deal with racial slurs. The LTC facility i interviewed for yesterday told me that if i get the offer, which she would let me know by tomorrow, that I'd be in charge of 20 pts/residents. Now I do think that is way too many pts for one CNA and an 8hr & 30 min shift. For $14.90/hr. i find it to be ok especially because i need the job. But i dont think i would pay too much mind to rude residents unless it's a daily problem. Just focus on getting your job done, because at the end of the day that's what they hired you for.

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I feel sorry that you had such a workload and had to deal with racial slurs. The LTC facility i interviewed for yesterday told me that if i get the offer, which she would let me know by tomorrow, that I'd be in charge of 20 pts/residents. Now I do think that is way too many pts for one CNA and an 8hr & 30 min shift. For $14.90/hr. i find it to be ok especially because i need the job. But i dont think i would pay too much mind to rude residents unless it's a daily problem. Just focus on getting your job done, because at the end of the day that's what they hired you for.

I hope that this is for NOC shift to have 20 residents. 20 for days or eve shift is way too many IMO.

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I've had to care for that many on my own and more several times when someone decided to be a no-call, no-show.

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