HI, I am a 2nd semester nursing student in an AD program. I started working as a bed bath aide 1 week ago today. The reason I took this job is because I had quit my full time office job back in November because I had been there for 8 years and was sick of the BS. Also, since Nursing school can be very demanding, I figured, ok, part-time per diem job as a bed and bath will be beneficial since it will make me more comfortable around patients (especially during clinicals) and I will be exposed to hospital environment, lingo, procedures, etc. (BTW, I cannot work as a Nursing Assistant until I finish my 2nd semester in May 09). I was hired as a floater. Here are my issues. To sum it up, I want to just quit nursing school and quit the job together, like right now. Every day I go to bed with anxiety and I am so depressed. I didn't expect to see the things I've seen in the hospital. (esp, the oncology floor) Secondly, I don't think I can handle giving bed baths to 6 patients a day (changing sheets, gown, etc as well) because 4 out of the 6 have liquid diarrhea. Normally the drill is, I show up to the floor and each nursing aide will assign me 2 patients that they want me to give bed/baths to. Obviously, I end up getting the patients that they least want to take care of. Please let me clarify, it is not the body fluids that bother me so much, but the fact that I have to work by MYSELF. 95% of these patients are incapable of moving or helping me move them in any way, they are complete dead weight, and for the past 3 days my lower back (by my tailbone) is hurting me so badly. I don't know if it is because my body is not used to this, or because I have done some damage already. (I've tried tricks of the trade, correct lifting, etc, but it is not helping) Obviously a hospital is not a feel-good place, but seeing these patients in that state everyday, I can't help it, but I feel the place is so depressing, I mean, in the floors I've been in, really no one except for 2 little old ladies has gotten "better". And after seeing the RNs and what they do, I feel like I am having a change of heart. But what I want to know is, is this cold feet? Will these feelings go away as I am in the hospital setting longer? Is this an "adjustment" phase? I would hate to quit both and then quick myself for not seeing this through. PLEASE ANY ADVICE IS WELCOME, has anyone else gone through this? I mean there are times when I just feel like crying, and running, literally. What makes my situation worse is that if I did, I'd be out of a job, in this horrendous economy. One point is that I definitely am more more more comfortable around patients, which I think would be very helpful around clinical time. I feel more confident. But other than that, my feelings are really troubling me. I have cried almost every single day, usually at night when I am alone, I think about these people and how they're not gonna get better and how tomorrow when I show up they'll be worse than yesterday and then I think, :crying2:ok, some of them are non-verbal, some of them are delirious, some of them are in such bad shape, and to know on top that I have to care for them by myself. (managing oxygen mask, nG tube, foley, loaded diaper) while I give bed/bath and change sheets, and it is not that I am lazy, but I feel that working with someone else really does make a tremendous difference and you get done in half the time, which I feel is not only good for me, but for the patient as well - (they don't have to be exposed as long, one person can help them turn and hold them to the side while they are being cleaned, can also help fetch extra supplies if needed, esp. if it is a huge watery bm, or get the nurse to report change in pressure ulcer status, get the nurse to change dressing, etc). Things were so different in nursing school, the lab, so unrealistic . . . which makes me question my path. I am new and I don't want to rock the boat on how things are done at this hospital. Plus I see that there are other bed bath aides who do this alone each and every day and when I ask, does your back hurt, they've looked at me like I'm crazy. PLEASE HELP.
I can unerstand why you feel this way but please don't give up. Hey, you have your foot in the door and after all, next quarter you'lle be able to work as a nurse tech which will be a lot different. Plus, since your only in second quarter you haven't been exposed to that many differnt working environments and units. This is one unit, and it may not be the unit for you. Take a stroll around the different units in your hospital, you will see that they all have a different vibe and different types of patients. Good luck!
Irene joy
243 Posts
I can unerstand why you feel this way but please don't give up. Hey, you have your foot in the door and after all, next quarter you'lle be able to work as a nurse tech which will be a lot different. Plus, since your only in second quarter you haven't been exposed to that many differnt working environments and units. This is one unit, and it may not be the unit for you. Take a stroll around the different units in your hospital, you will see that they all have a different vibe and different types of patients. Good luck!