I've only worked in home care. Last night I started at a nursing home, the 3-11pm shift.
Most of the staff are agency not employees. Everyone commented on what a lousy place it was to work and how understaffed it was. Regular staff didn't show up. The hall I worked on had at least 20 people and almost all incontinent. Most people cannot stand by themselves and have trouble even with support. The person training me kept breaking down and crying, saying she was stressed (she was a great CNA however). I felt uncomfortable being left alone on the hall my first day when she took her dinner break - I don't know the patients at all. The nurse yelled at me to answer the call lights faster. Is this typical to be left alone the first night?
We had no time to take even a 5 minute break. Of course, being new I am slow and the trainer was very short with me - I had just been sprung on her with no warning.
2 people fell during the shift and one had to be taken to the hospital.
Yikes! Should I stick it out?
Sorry to be so long. I enjoy taking care of people and don't mind the details of the job - I really just hate being left alone the 1st night when I don't know the patients.
i agree with what some of the others said about finding a different facility and not getting out all together. some places are better than others and it is sometimes hard for experienced cnas to train new ones, especially when short staffed. i think the biggest thing is do you have the heart to do the job. some people should not be caregivers and still are. but, because aides make decent money for the education required and most ltc have flexible schedules, they get trapped in the job. they can't make as much money doing anything else, so they suffer through it and everyome else does too. i've been an aide for 5 years and am currently in a nursing program, but i really love caring for people and would not choose any other field to work in. give it time before you decide to quit.
I work in a fairly well respected LTC facility and on the 3-11 shift which I usually work we must have 2 aides and 2 licensed staff (RN, LPN) for 40 mostly totally care patients. Its difficult especailly when the supervisors try to tell us that its fair that the day shift get 6 aides between 7-3 while the 3-11 shift gets 2. Most of our residents require two people especailly because many are Sabina or Hoyer lifts, you can be written up for not following the two person rule. Also however, we have about 15 severe fall risk residents, with no one to watch them while we are getting other people up for supper. How fair is that?
My LTCF is fairly good about these things. If we are short on our wings and at one point we require another person's help according to the care plan, we borrow another aide or the nurse will step in. It helps that almost all of the current nurses were also aides at the same place a year or two ago, so they aren't too proud to help us!
However, there was once I was told I'd be on my wing by myself, and we had eight Hoyers at the time, and three 2-assists. I wasn't about to lost my job or a resident over short staffing! I told them I wouldn't be getting up these eleven residents by myself, it was a risk to both of us, and the DON admired me for it and helped me on the floor. Stick up for you and your residents is a good rule to live by.
If you are considering leaving your facility, and it sounds like you are, find out what it's employee turnover rate is and compare it to other facilities'. I'm not sure what is good and bad, but ask around. You'll get a preview of what your experience is like. My cousin even went around and asked CNAs, while they were working, what it was like at that LTCF!
Although most of that sounds typical of a nursing home setting, people falling and a resident going to the hospital is not normal. That is a serious problem and that floor should be evaluated for improvement.
well, i too work in a nursing home now...i didn't before. It is overwhelming all of the time where I work, but the pay and insurance is great. I only have one question, what should a person do if a resident falls and upon first assessment no major injuries noted, the doc was notified, the family notified, and it happened at shift change. The current nurse documents and fills out necessary I&A paperwork, etc. and calls the DON. After the nurse leaves her shift, the night shift nurse takes over and then all of a sudden the resident needs to be taken to the hospital...I was told that she suffered a hip fx and is currently under investigation. I need this job, but I don't know, i think it's risky.
I am an RN in LTC.. in the three years I have been there, I can count on one hand, when we have been fully staffed.. it is always 3 cna's and one med aid, and one nurse for 47 residents.. currently at least 40 are incontinent, and at least 35 are total (two person assists).. RIDICULOUS!! I help when I can, but I am so bogged down by paperwork, and my own treatments, for example, right now I have 14 breathing tx in an 8 hour shift, and we are expected to sit with the res for the 15 minutes each tx takes, so with set up, this is 4 hours out of my time!! So, I have to watch my CNA's, who are all good friends, work their asses off, while not having supplies to do so! But, not to worry, the administrator and DON, get their $500 bonus each month for being "under budget", and do you ever see the DON or ADON get off their dead as*** to help on the floor!! NO! But they are sure there to yell about skin breakdown! I am currently thinking about going back to my other profession of social work, cuz this place is ridiculous!!
CNA absences...Nothing new to me! We have at least 2-3 call-outs per day. At least once a week, I am called and asked to work on my day off; I've never accepted the offers!
I honestly do not understand why CNAs would want to jeopardize their positions simply because it is the weekend, or they just don't feel like working. Most LTCs offer above average health insurance, scholarships, tuition reimbursement, Union etc. etc. You'd be hard pressed to find benefits like these elsewhere, especially with the economy in the shape it is.
It was precisely due to call-outs that I moved to third shift, that way, if someone did call out, I'd have my wing to myself, and at least then I'd expect rounds/call-lights without the additional load of showers/weights/snacks/meals.
I would run leave quit ASAP. If something bad does happen, it could possibly end up on your license. The ltc is an accident waiting to happen and you don't want to have it affect you.
Our LTC offers the CNA's the crappiest health insurance in the world, and If I was a CNA, I would totally call in my max alloted call in's, cuz they work these poor girls to death! They don't understand how difficult CNA work is, cuz as the boss, they are just sittin' behind the desk, not doing much of anything from what I can see, so it's okay for them to schedule to few aids, so the "budget" looks good, cuz again, they won't freakin' help! No wonder all the bosses are so fat!
NursKris82
278 Posts
i agree with what some of the others said about finding a different facility and not getting out all together. some places are better than others and it is sometimes hard for experienced cnas to train new ones, especially when short staffed. i think the biggest thing is do you have the heart to do the job. some people should not be caregivers and still are. but, because aides make decent money for the education required and most ltc have flexible schedules, they get trapped in the job. they can't make as much money doing anything else, so they suffer through it and everyome else does too. i've been an aide for 5 years and am currently in a nursing program, but i really love caring for people and would not choose any other field to work in. give it time before you decide to quit.