Just An Aide Venting

Katnip, RN · Jan 5, 2006

I agree with Weetzie. It's shameful the way nursing homes allow such conditions, yet they charge a fortune and tell patients' families how the resident gets such wonderful care.

How can they get wonderful care when the administrators allow short staffing.

Yes, all medical care facilities need to make money in order to operate. But there has to be a better way to do it than by short-changing patients and staff.

~Kat

PS-there's no such thing as "just a measely aide." You're worth your weight in gold.

Kelly_the_Great · Jan 5, 2006

PS-there's no such thing as "just a measely aide." You're worth your weight in gold.

I sooooo agree! We appreciate what you do, Nikki.

nursedawn67, LPN · Jan 5, 2006

Keep in mind it may not be just the facility "short changing" you on staff, in the state of Michigan we had medicare cuts, so now the facilities lose alot of money because of that and in turn cannot afford to have the correct amount of staffing the residents deserve. And of course the states says you only have to have X amount of people to each resident...yeah right that is barely enough! It really is disgraceful what has become of our healthcare system.

nursenesei · Jan 5, 2006

I will start by a loving scolding. NEVER...NEVER...refer to yourself as a measily little aide. You are an intragul part of a very demanding and dangerous field. Good cna's are hard to find. I was an aide for 12yrs and a nurse for 13. You are right, it is pretty much the same every where you go, but I encourage you to continue to perform your job with pride, compassion, a sharp eye, and ears. Even though the charge nurses may forget to tell the aides how much they are appriciated-trust me you are. If not by the blinded, tired, burnt out staff, most definately your residence. Even if they are to ill or senile to say. Hope you slept well knowing you gave it your all.:balloons: These are for you. You deserve them!

hbncns35 · Jan 5, 2006

Hey there Measily Aide -

I'm Measily too...What you may be forgetting is that God takes care of the measley's as we are taking on the task of taking care of others who cannot take care of themselves for no fault of their own. I believe God is looking down upon us and thinking "My what a Great Creation I made." And how appreciative he is of us for stretching ourselves to the limit everyday for one of his children. We should be thankful we have been chosen for such work as to love people that no one else cares to at times. Try thinking of yourself as "MIGHTY" because that is truly what you are. You do more than most dealing with unpleasantries but your worth is weighted in Heaven.

I'm sure God is finding a special place for you and special work to do because you have proven here on Earth that you can do it!!!

I'm a PCT or CNA or Aide or Nurse Extern or whatever, I'm a human. But I will always reflect on my work as such when I become an RN-May 06.

Sometimes it helps if you can see how both sides work and be a more concientious RN in the process never to take advantage of a CNA. You just have more respect if you have been there yourself. I think all RN's should be PCT's first.........How can you tell someone to do something if you've never done it yourself??????????????? I know how you feel but I think you have to keep on giving yourself credit and appreciation. People forget to do that.

Know that you are making a difference and give to yourself what you want to hear.................I can tell you that you are appreciated but it has to come from within first for you to believe............We are pulling for you - Give it your all- You know you do.............Peace, HB

LPN1974, LPN · Jan 5, 2006

I know exactly what you are talking about, OP.

I worked a part time job in a LTC and it was very hard.

We were always short staffed on aides. They staff at the very minimum, and then when someone calls in sick or has to take off we were "short". Well........duh! You would think that the administration would see that if we were to be staffed appropriately, then you have to "overstaff" a little bit, to allow for call ins and such.

Then with me being the LPN on the night shift, I was expected to get on the telephone and find someone to come in! In addition to what else I was supposed to be doing. It's not like I was just sitting there waiting for the call ins to start. I had my early morning med pass, all those BS check, insulins to get out, breathing treatments they put on me, so the morning nurse didn't have to do them during HER 8am med round, ...........There just wasn't time to make those phone calls to replace their call ins. People won't come in anyway, on their off day.

I got very discouraged and quit. Couldn't take it.

This particular facility is in a chain of well known nursing homes, and this individual NH has alot of lawsuits and write ups by the state for short staffing, and numerous other deficiencies.

It's no wonder. They staff at the minimum. They say, well this is what the state requires. Well, the state doesn't say that you can't staff MORE than that...just that this is the minimum required.

It's all about money anyway. This was a for profit NH and I've heard that the big CEO's were bringing down $800,000 salaries per year for themselves, so it's no wonder that they are dealing with lawsuits and writeups by the state.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jan 5, 2006

Man...I hate that! I am RN, but I tried really hard to help out no matter what the probelm was. Some times I felt guilty when I had papers scattered all over and an alarm went off...and I had to gather them quickly and race to the alarm to find the CNA there already handling it, but at least they knew I was responding even if it took a few seconds. :)

I found that if I showed other nurses that aides are a part of the entire team, and worked with them...they followed suit (well some anyway!). To expect one CNA or Aide to handle as many pts as a they do (especially in LTC) is insane...heck, RN's have ratios...it seems that ratios for CNA/Aides is overlooked or nonexistant!

As far as people sitting on their keesters...even RN's...you have the right to report it. That depends on if you wish to take on that battle. And if managment gives you any guff about what happened in that situation...you simply tell them...in order to assure the safety of the pt I was transfering, I had to get them into a seating/laying position with the sit to stand. Then I was able to get the alarm. Is there another way in which to ensure pt safety in this situation??? Bet you they won't!!! You did the right thing, and those around that didn't aide the other pt were WRONG and put a pt safety at risk!!!

Good luck to you..and I am sorry, but this does sound so common...and that is wrong in itself!

Cococure · Jan 5, 2006

hey nikki,

i'm so so sorry for your working conditions...i am a PCT/CNA at a hospital and i work the 3rd shift and no matter how crazy its gets the nurses i work with are always ready to give a hand ...cuz if anythig happens to their patients it will be their responsibility...Is there anyway you could get another job? maybe at an asst. living facility or a hospital ... just my 2cents

ps your not just an aide!!!:wink2:

GiantHeart21 · Jan 5, 2006

I remember working in a nursing home and having the same issue. After that I went to work for an agency and now I work for a hospital. It is way easier and I have learned a lot more in the hospitals. Is there any way that you can work for an agency to get acute care experience? I hope things get better for you.

Annor · Jan 5, 2006

Alright, I just need to vent for a bit about the place that I work. I am just a measily little aide in a 116 bed facility. I am so tired of being over-worked, understaffed, and under-appreciated. Our company "rules" don't seem to apply to anyone but us aides, and even though they stress "team work", the upper-management does not participate with the phrase. I stay on the hall for both breakfast and lunch while my two hall partners go to the dining room to feed residents. My hall is very busy with demanding residents, and I have alot of people that are fall risks down there. Today, I had one of my men who is in extreme pain up on the sit-to-stand lift getting him off the toilet, when I heard an alarm go off. At the top of the hall, there are three offices, with three chairs, with three butts planted on them chairs. I finally got my man on his way back to bed when I heard those damn high heels clunking down the hall. That alarm is still screaming mind you..She(our risk management woman) walked right past the lady who got up out of her chair and pulled her alarm loose, to come and find ME to go shut that alarm up and help that resident. What the.....? She couldn't stand by while the lady used the bathroom? Put her call light on? Called for me? At least make sure she didn't fall?
I don't know, that just really irritated me. I usually always have a positive attitude about work. I know that I try my very best to go above and beyond the the expectations, but my goodness!! I already have 10 people to get up, cleaned, dressed, beds made, etc. in an hour and a half in the morning. And ALL of those people have to use lifts to get up. More than half actually use the toilet, and then our dietary people get all ticked off and snotty at us when we don't have our people down there on time. That is very very time consuming. We are always working short, and I am so tired of it!!!!! Yes, yes, I know, get my rear back to school and quit breaking my back huh!?! It's probably the same way wherever you go too, that's the bad thing about it. These residents pay 1000's of dollars/month to share a room and get told when to eat, toilet, sleep, etc. It seems that they can afford to fully staff a darn place, ya know? Oh well, It'll be better tomorrow, right? aahhh, thank you for this place to vent. I feel like I can get a good nights sleep now:cool:

Nikki...

You do your job very well.... . Bless you and thankyou!!!:kiss

L&Dwant2b · Jan 5, 2006

Hey there Measily Aide -
I'm Measily too...What you may be forgetting is that God takes care of the measley's as we are taking on the task of taking care of others who cannot take care of themselves for no fault of their own. I believe God is looking down upon us and thinking "My what a Great Creation I made." And how appreciative he is of us for stretching ourselves to the limit everyday for one of his children. We should be thankful we have been chosen for such work as to love people that no one else cares to at times. Try thinking of yourself as "MIGHTY" because that is truly what you are. You do more than most dealing with unpleasantries but your worth is weighted in Heaven.
I'm sure God is finding a special place for you and special work to do because you have proven here on Earth that you can do it!!!
I'm a PCT or CNA or Aide or Nurse Extern or whatever, I'm a human. But I will always reflect on my work as such when I become an RN-May 06.
Sometimes it helps if you can see how both sides work and be a more concientious RN in the process never to take advantage of a CNA. You just have more respect if you have been there yourself. I think all RN's should be PCT's first.........How can you tell someone to do something if you've never done it yourself??????????????? I know how you feel but I think you have to keep on giving yourself credit and appreciation. People forget to do that.
Know that you are making a difference and give to yourself what you want to hear.................I can tell you that you are appreciated but it has to come from within first for you to believe............We are pulling for you - Give it your all- You know you do.............Peace, HB

I agree, I agree, I agree

Nikki69 · Jan 6, 2006

Thank you everyone for all of your comments. Today went alot more smooth. There are just days when you want to just walk right out of there because you are just so overwhelmed ya know? Don't get me wrong, I love my job, and I don't know of any other profession that would allow me to be so involved with other people's lives. It really is sad that our elderly who at one time lived just like us have to give up everything and come to a place where there aren't enough workers to give them enough TLC. But, I guess until I get back in school and further myself, I'll be one who tries to make a difference in the days of my residents.

This is such a nice place to come and unwind. I'm glad I found it. Thank you.