Mistakes at CNA Internship

Everyone plops a patient into a wheelchair from time to time. Is it ideal? No. Does it happen? Yup. No one is perfect. We do the best we can and that’s all we can do. It sounds like you are doing fine. If your anxiety is hindering you, please consider speaking with your PCP.

9 hours ago, Sheroe said:

I am doing my clinical hours at a CNA internship. We did 1 week at a SNF that was ok. It was very small and cramped but we learned a lot. We went to a second SNF and I’m mortified they use bath towels soaked in water and hand soap for clean up of diaper changes. I was doing well at the first facility because they used bathroom wipes for diaper changes. But at this new place this one practice of using the towels and many instances of cross contamination and poorly cared for patients. My whole class hates it. I am not performing well due to fear of contamination and am making mistakes. I accidentally plopped a patient into a wheelchair while my teacher was next to me helping. I had a surge of anxiety, then panicked and walked away. My teacher is very nice, but I feel like now she and everyone will judge me for this. I am really struggling. I have no previous patient care experience and just about EVERYTHING they do at clinical is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what we are studying. The dissonance is really messing with me. My classmates (some) talk about how all they care about is the money. The money is actually not a consideration in trying to go into nursing, but they know how to act like they care in front of the teacher. Seems like those who succeed are the ones who fake the best. I want to make a difference in the health system. Numerous nurses I’ve worked with encouraged me, but just don’t know how to “right” myself. (((Sigh))) Any suggestions.

Shake it off. You won't be there for that long, right? If you keep going you will have to deal with bad clinical situations from nasty instructors to nasty staff at the clinical site. Just keep your head down and get through it.

Thankfully I have a very nice instructor and very nice CNA’s I’ve been working with. My instructor talked to me about improving my confidence and was very understanding. Today was MUCH better! Thanks guys! ?

If you don’t mind me asking, what city is the facility in that uses wash cloths for brief (aka diaper) changes? I work at a facility that does the same thing...

Well first of all, there's not a damn thing wrong with being the money being a factor in why anyone is going into nursing.. OK? Are you gonna work for free or what?

A lot of facilities don't use the disposable wipes because they're expensive; those are a luxury you probably shouldn't get used to. A lot of facilities use the towel/washcloth and soapy water method of cleaning.

The money can be a factor, but if that’s all you care about, then it’s a problem.

FYI: there’s a few CNA classes at my clinical site. Low and behold, there are students from the other classes that have gotten sick. The towel method is not ideal, but doable. It’s the fact that hand washing isn’t going on and the patients are SO poorly cared for. ALL of them have skin issues. I know someone who’s a DSD and she confirmed that many facilities use the towel method. Our money hungry health system should be ashamed!

FYI: there’s a few CNA classes at my clinical site. Low and behold, there are students from the other classes that have gotten sick. The towel method is not ideal, but doable. It’s the fact that hand washing isn’t going on and the patients are SO poorly cared for. ALL of them have skin issues. I know someone who’s a DSD and she confirmed that many facilities use the towel method. Our money hungry health system should be ashamed!

We don’t use wipes because patients and/or employees would flush them down the toilet causing plumbing problems, even after instruction to not flush them. There is no risk of cross contamination, that I am aware of, if done correctly? When I clean up a patient, I take several washcloths and wipe once and dispose repeatedly, therefore no soiled linen is in the water. We also use a non rinse soap, so my pan is literally just water. I pump the foam onto the washcloth, clean, dispose, repeat.

It sounds to me like you have more problems with confidence than anything. It’s good that you talked with your instructor about it.

Being a CNA is not easy. I did that all through nursing school and being a nurse isn’t any easier. Sure, you have a less patient load but way more responsibility. The money, many times, does not feel worth it for all that you do, but I honestly think that is any job. You do have to have a passion to excel in nursing. Money IS a driving factor but shouldn’t be the ONLY one.

Like I said, it’s the way the towel method is carried out. No use of medical/CNA technique. The patient hospitalizations, raw skin/skin breakdown, and the yelling and crying during diaper changes, just nothing being done sanitarily or w/ the needs or the well being of the patients in mind. Sad. Just trying to make a difference where I can and get out of this place!