Maybe this isn't for me... Plus On Shift question

[Mrs.E]

Hello! I'm new hear but I needed some advice so here I am!

I just recently started a CNA job (I've trained 13 days and worked alone 2 nights). I got my CNA license back in 2012 and it expired until I renewed it this past summer. I got a job in August and I'm having some problems now. At first I worked evenings (trained 11 days on evenings) and on my first night alone I talked to the nurses and explained I was brand new and nervous and asked for an easier hall... They placed me on the hardest hall. My hall partner did not help me at all either, I couldn't find him half the time and when I did ask him for help he told me "just do this" and walked away. I was late for EVERYTHING and was so mad I almost walked out. The residents made comments the next day about how I'm "such a great person but they could tell I was stressed". I was very vocal with my coworkers and nurses about my displeasure and I was set in never coming back. The nurse talked with me and put me on the easiest hall the next night (2nd evening alone) and all was good. She told me she could see it in my face how bad it was.

I talked to my DON about it and apparently a coworker had already spoke to her and she told me it was inappropriate and apologized to me. She told me she wants to work with me too and retain me. In the end I worked with her and she put me on nights 10:30-7 Thurs and the weekends in the dementia unit. In this unit I have 15-17 residents to myself and the nurse has the other 15-17. I trained for 2 nights in my new area and the first night was okay, the person didn't really show me the procedures though. The second night was stressful. We had 6 people that wanted up at once, I couldn't leave one person alone because he was acting strange, a few people were crawling out of bed... All at the same time. I was stressed.

I don't like this job. I really like the residents but I hate that they've lost their independence and their memory. I get so sad when I hear about their stories or when I see photo's of how they were and I see how they are now, when men fight me to change their brief but they can't do it on their own. It hurts. Worst of all is the fact that I have no idea what I'm really doing. I'm so slow and I'm nervous. I don't know what each resident requires and I hate lifts. I'm better with the more independent residents or I really enjoy when I'm working closely with another CNA, like when I was shadowing. It gives me reassurance that I'm less likely to mess up. I don't mind the night shift, making 2-3 rounds vs the evening when you have so many rounds, briefs to change, call lights going off, and people to get up and dressed then put back down.

I also do homework when working since I work nights but I'm so exhausted. I go to school full time and have an extremely difficult course list this semester. I'm concerned about my ability to do well.

Because I don't like my job I'm afraid I won't like being a nurse. All of my residents tell me I'm going to be a great nurse and they can tell I care. I do care, so much. I want to be an OB nurse or work in a doctor's office though and my end game is BSN. Geriatrics is not for me and I've always known this but hospitals and Dr. offices won't hire without experience around here. I apply to the program in Oct. and I'm told I have a good chance of being accepted by my counselors.

How much time should I give it before quitting? I hate the stress and not knowing what to do. How long until I get into the groove of things? Has anyone else had the same feelings? Is the area of Nursing I want to be in affected by my dislike of CNA work?

I also have some family stuff I have to deal with this weekend (unexpectedly) and so I put in a request for a fill in on my scheduled dates. It's also my first weekend I'm supposed to be all alone with my nurse on unit. If I can't find anyone then I'll show up but I'm so nervous... Also, anyone with experience with On Shift, how do I know if someone took my shifts?

I know this is a novel but I think I covered most basis. Thank you for making it this far in my rambling!

[vanilla bean]

I don't like this job...

I also do homework when working since I work nights but I'm so exhausted. I go to school full time and have an extremely difficult course list this semester. I'm concerned about my ability to do well...

Geriatrics is not for me...

How much time should I give it before quitting?...

Oh boy. There's a lot going on in your post. I'm going to address a couple of things: first, if you don't like your job and you know you don't want to work with a geriatric patient population, then you should probably resign. Two weeks notice is the standard amount to give.

Second, doing homework on shift? These kinds of non-work activities should be reserved for when you are proficient at your job and have all of your work related activities completed. As in, when you have "down time," which clearly you did not. You should also be careful to ensure that doing homework during down time is approved by your employer or you could find yourself out of a job whether you're considering quitting or not.

Best of luck.

[Sour Lemon]

The homework jumped out at me, too. How do you complain about a heavy assignment and then talk about doing homework? It's not something I would get away with at my job.

Another theme in your writing seems to be over-sharing.

"All of my residents tell me I'm going to be a great nurse and they can tell I care."

"The residents made comments the next day about how I'm "such a great person..."

Although it's natural to get to know your patients over time, you're fairly new. These kind of statements make me wonder if you're too big on talk and too small on action.

I know a wonderful CNA who's always behind because he can't shut up to save his life.

[loriangel14, RN]

You also seem very surprised that they are confused and need lots of help and that the work is hard. You complain about bells, people needing help and being confused . Having to get people up and down. What was your understanding of the job? Being vocal with others about your displeasure on your first shift will not go over well. Yes I agree with the previous posters. It sounds like you are spending too much time chatting and complaining. If you are really that busy you certainly don't have time to do homework

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Making rounds only two to three times on night shift is the fastest way to walk in on a corpse at the end of your shift; not to mention contribute to skin breakdown and the seemingly unrelenting odors that a lot of LTC facilities have.

The same folks that require incontinent care on evenings, require just as much (if not more) care on nights.

I received my LPN license 30 years ago, ASN 6 years ago, and BSN 2 years ago. I stopped bringing lunch to work many years ago because there was never any time to eat more than a pack of crackers and drink part of a soda.

So, the thought of bringing in books or magazines still makes me wonder to this very day what it is that these people know that I don't (as far as time management) that allows them to sit down to a Sunday dinner (with dessert) on a Wednesday night while reading their favorite novel....all in 30 minutes.

To answer part of your question, I've never worked as a CNA, but there haven't been too many nights that my nursing duties haven't had to take a back seat due to my helping a CNA with something....or doing it for them because it's acceptable by management that they all take breaks at the same time.

Some nights on some patients, I can't tell you anything about what procedure is planned for the next day without looking in the computer, or when their last dose of pain meds were. But I can tell you how many bowel movements or complete bed and gown changes were required. (I knew they had that gallon of Go-Lytely for some reason). You do the math....and the CNA still gets to leave before I do.

As for the easier hall, of course you did well. Everybody does! That's why it's described as the easier hall. However, a more accurate evaluation of your performance comes with your ability to demonstrate a similar performance on the more difficult hall.

[Mrs.E]

The homework thing is between rounds as there isn't much to do until everyone wants to get up at the same time in the morning. At my facility I was taught to do rounds at night at midnight, 3 if needed for certain people, and at 5. That's actually more rounds than the nurses I work with that have their own side do. That is far less than the chaos of day or evening shift. Most night shift workers (including the Nurses) spend all night watching movies on their phone. Homework and studying is the better option.

I also never said I was surprised about the residents being confused, it makes me sad and I hate seeing them like that.

My my CNA classes did not prepare me for this at all, so of course I'm not skilled at it, I'm brand new to it all.

As for "over sharing" with residents, that's called creating a friendly environment and forming a connection. Can no one else change someone and talk at the same time? Plus if someone asks me a question I'm going to answer it. A lot of these people only have the Nurses and CNAs there for them.

I also already apologized for saying so much, it was all on my mind and I had to get it out there. Thank you to the people that actually tried to help and not just berate me. I asked how long until I'm confident as I don't just want to quit.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

This is the healthcare field. If you become a nurse, you will continue this but with some extra work added to it. New jobs are always uncomfortable and if you become a new nurse, you'll find that the stress and learning level on your first job will be outrageous compared to this.

[RainMom]

At my facility I was taught to do rounds at night at midnight, 3 if needed for certain people, and at 5. That's actually more rounds than the nurses I work with that have their own side do.

That seems odd when surely the vast majority of LTC residents should be q2h turns &, subsequently, bed checks for incontinence. With 15+ pts, probably at least a third to half would be wet each check, more when you round less frequently. Shouldn't leave much time for homework; by the time the last resident is clean & dry, it's usually time to start again.