Issues with a new job,,,insight and advice appreciated

[bluemorningglory]

I recently became an LNA. I applied to a hospital for a med/surg floor and heard back about a 3rd shift position on the CCU floor. Frankly, with my lack of experience, I was surprised that I was called back. But lo and behold I interviewed and was hired. I work PT and was put on with a preceptor for two weeks(3 shifts each week-my normal shift)

Well apparently the first issue is that I do vitals too slowly. My preceptor-who is very nice-actual times me. I am down to two minutes. That and my lack of experience shows. Well, um, hello, why was I interviewed and hired?

I approached the Nursing Education department which is responsible for my orientation and asked for another week. I spoke with the nurse in charge (who is either just very quiet or disinterested) and I just can't read her. She and the supervisor gave me not one but two more weeks of orientation. I do work hard and am willing to put my all into the role. It is a demanding floor but I want to be a nurse and am taking advantage of all that I am learning. I am caring and want to help the patients(and not everyone on that floor does...) I am wondering if they gave me the extra weeks because they see my sincerity and really want me to stay or if they are trying to find someone else.

What do you think?

[RN <><]

So you take vitals slower than they do.....what a shocker. You have no experience and they have years on you. Honestly I think they are giving extra time because you asked for it and needed it. They've been training you so I don't think that they want to start training someone else. You sound like you are eager to do well and therefore you will. Hang in there I to am trying to develop the speed aspect. I just keep telling myself the economy is horrible and there are so many nurses looking for jobs so I better listen to their criticism and build upon that quickly. Many Blessings to you.

[rosey2007cna]

I was really slow at vital for awhile also and still do not understand how I was to get all the vitals done in such a short amount of time. I usually had at least 20 vitals to do(which is really hard when you have to find residents around the home who you have never seen in your life), give residents there snacks (too many to count and feed the feeders) and pass water pictures to at least 100 residents all in less then 3 hours. At first I was really slow at vitals but boy did I have to pick up my speed fast. I can now do vitals really fast but you still can only go so fast. I vowed to not go on light duty with that company again lol.

Anyway, I am just saying that you will get up to speed in time. Do not worry I am sure you are doing fine.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

can you follow someone to see what shortcuts they are taking?

[juliaann]

Ask for tips on how to go faster from your preceptor. If you're going "too slow," ask for advice from the person who thinks you are too slow.

And a lot of your time-cutting will come with experience and proficiency, so be patient and keep working hard.

Keep showing interest and being pleasant and consciously try to do things faster without sacrificing quality. I doubt they're trying to find a replacement for you - you asked for the extra orientation time and they gave it to you. That was the right thing for you and for them. Now if you still don't feel comfortable with your skills and their expectations on that floor after your additional orientation time, then maybe you should all talk about whether the floor is a good fit for you - and it IS okay if it's not!!

[caliotter3]

I have never worked in a place where one CNA was put in a supervisory position over another CNA who was orienting. The CNAs doing orientation instructed on the job requirements and that was it. No decision making or criticizing. It is the responsibility of the nurse to supervise you, give you constructive criticism, and make decisions about retaining you or getting rid of you. Two minutes for vitals, hmm. Doesn't sound correct to me. Best not tell a surveyor that you do a complete set of vitals in two minutes.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

If they were wanting and trying to find someone else, they'd let you go. While you're on orientation, you're an extra body, so it's not like they'd be "missing" out on a staff person if they didn't keep you on. Also, it costs money to orient someone to a new position...they wouldn't just throw the money away if they didn't think you'd work out.

I credit you with asking for more time, and knowing you need it. Speed (I'd rather say "efficiency") comes with time. You'll get faster at completing those regular tasks.

We recently had a CNA on orientation for a total of nine weeks...yes, we DID eventually let her go, but we made sure that it was that she wasn't a good fit for the job, and not that we were lacking in training her. My boss actually knew that she wanted to let her go a couple of weeks before she did, HR pushed us to keep her on longer. NOW, that is very different than your case. This CNA didn't ask for extra time, in fact, from the get go, she figured she didn't need any teaching. Her typical answer to anything was "yea, I know." She'd hook NG's up to the wrong ports, she'd start her I&O halfway through the shift. I could go on and on with examples that would make you go . In YOUR case, you are trying, and have a genuine interest in improving and become the best you can be in your position, and I am sure your facility can see that. Don't sweat it, and keep working hard.

[juliaann]

I have never worked in a place where one CNA was put in a supervisory position over another CNA who was orienting. The CNAs doing orientation instructed on the job requirements and that was it. No decision making or criticizing. It is the responsibility of the nurse to supervise you, give you constructive criticism, and make decisions about retaining you or getting rid of you. Two minutes for vitals, hmm. Doesn't sound correct to me. Best not tell a surveyor that you do a complete set of vitals in two minutes.

I precepted new CNAs to my unit all the time when I was working as a CNA on a med/tele floor. I took a class offered through my hospital's nurse educator on precepting, and once I passed it I was assigned an orientee. They worked my schedule for their first 2 weeks and they shadowed me the first week, and then I shadowed them the second week.

While the nurses are ultimately responsible for their patient's care, they did not precept the CNA. They would offer advice and evaluate the CNA's work when they had time, but it was primarily me and my trainee. At the end of the orientation I was present at the new employee's evaluation (along with 1 staff nurse that works our schedule and the nurse manager) and my opinion weighed heavily in the evaluation and ultimately whether the employee was retained.

If I had any concerns about the trainee's proficiency or skills, I immediately brought it up with the charge nurse on duty and later the nurse manager. This is how I was oriented when I started, and how I oriented many of my co-workers.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I have never worked in a place where one CNA was put in a supervisory position over another CNA who was orienting. The CNAs doing orientation instructed on the job requirements and that was it. No decision making or criticizing. It is the responsibility of the nurse to supervise you, give you constructive criticism, and make decisions about retaining you or getting rid of you. Two minutes for vitals, hmm. Doesn't sound correct to me. Best not tell a surveyor that you do a complete set of vitals in two minutes.

It makes the most sense to have someone who performs the same role/function train a person who will be working in that same role. I know what our CNA's do, but it would be much less effective for me to teach them the routine, since I don't do their jobs day in and day out. Knowing it isn't the same as doing it. They are by the best teachers in terms of how they organize their time, etc.