LTC advice

asun21ta · Feb 21, 2009

I used to thing about patients a lot at first too. There was this one patient in particular whom I felt really sorry for. He was in a terrible state, and had been for a number of years. He suffered alone. I couldn't imagine a person having to live their life that way. I felt so sad for him. In time, it calms down. There will still be occasions however, when you think about them away from work.

I would think to myself, "this person lived there life, now they are here, and I will do the best I can to make them as comfortable as I can". I know all to well how hard is is to give them EVERYTHING they need, but I try my best. I try to laugh with them and comfort them, and listen to what they have to say.:heartbeat

Yes, conditions are many nursing homes are sad. Many times, the main issue could be handled if LTC's would hire more CNA's and Nurses to work the floor. Just continue to do your best so that you know you've done the best you can to make someone else's life a lot better today. Don't worry about about them, praise them for going through so much and making it this far! :yeah:

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Feb 21, 2009

I do the same thing. I think about how I would feel if I lost my job... I would miss the residents. Or I think about how/when my favorites, the ones I'm really attached to, are going to die. It's really depressing sometimes!

sonomala · Feb 21, 2009

Welcome to reason three million and one why theres such a high rate of turnover for cnas.

My first few shifts were nightmares partly because of that. I took it all in. I realized to survive, you can't. I know its easier said then done but for me there are no ifs ands about it.

I work at one of the best ltcs, the best cnas who the residents adore have told me, think of it as job, a series of tasks. Smiling, staying calm, being kind, are all parts that lead to the success of the tasks. I know it sounds incredibly heartless to some but its the only way I can get through my time there without losing my mind. We've got over one hundred residents all of whom I've worked with at one point or another. If I spend too much mental time on one, I take away from what I need to give to another.

Other thing to note and I learned this the hard way, there is no time to mourn in an ltc. You go home one shift someone may be fine, you go back and their gone and the bed is full with a new resident with new needs. They need you just as bad as the other one did, sometimes more. If you're not able to separate yourself, its incredibly hard.