need words of encouragement please

Lanesmama · Feb 16, 2011

Sound typical as crappy as that may seem. I guess just focus on you only have to work there for 6 months. I, too, really am not fond of LTC but I'm staying put until I get into nursing school because if I were the hiring manager at a hospital I would definitely look at those nurses who have had previous CNA work for a length of time vs. those who just got their CNA because they had to! I think it's very important that nurses know just how crappy CNA work can be so they really appreciate the ones that they are supervising! So... chin up, smile, and try to find the good that those people can still shine through... you will know what I mean when you see it! If they are babbling and not making any sense, dance with them... if they are telling you are story about something, just go with it- you don't have to understand what they are trying to tell you, just try to make their day! Put yourself in their shoes- they don't remember where they are or why they are there. There is a strange lady (because they don't remember even being where they are in the first place, they certainly don't remember you) in their room making them change their brief or get cleaned up or whatever and they don't want to because they don't understand they need to... so you can understand why they would immediately be in fight mode. Good luck to you and I hope you can stick with it!

DawnRh · Feb 16, 2011

I also became a NAC to gain experience before getting into school. After last week when many of my residents had the flu I didn't know if I could go back and change any more briefs full of the most indescribable horrid smelling fluids! But I did and it wasn't so bad. I've had a couple of my residents pass away and I felt humbled that I was the person there for them in their last days and hours. Just remember that you have a very important job, your residents often have very few people to talk to and to help them with their most embarrassing problems. The other staff were also standoffish when i started but I continue to smile and say hi or joke around with them and they are starting to come around and this has also made a big difference in my work attitude. Hope that helps, good luck!

yrn4lrn · Feb 16, 2011

I am considering the same route (CNA before nursing school). Are any of you in nursing school now and do you think it helped to be a CNA first?

Lanesmama · Feb 16, 2011

I have several friends who are nurses/in school. All were CNAs before nursing school and all recommend highly that I do so and continue to do so. I am finishing up generals (in A&P2, and Gen/bio/org chem and have micro to take yet) and I have found my work experience to help me understand some of the things we are talking about in class and some of the things we talk about to understand what is going on with the residents and their diseases. I work in a facility where the entire population is mixed- no wards for certain things.....

LTCangel, ADN, BSN, LPN · Feb 16, 2011

I began as an LPN in LTC and I always feel that is was a very important and rewarding experience. I worked as a CNA many times when we were short staffed(which was often), and that experience really helped me when I got a job in the hospital where I am now(14 yrs), because we do direct patient care. The CNA's taught me so much and working with the elderly confused patients taught me to love and respect Geriatric pts. They cannot help what they do and we just need to be patient and understanding and relaize that if they weren't confused they would never want someone cleaning them up when they are dirty or sick. So I suggest to just try to focus on the good you are doing and realize that it will help you so much when you are a nurse. I also went on to school and became an RN so I feel I can relate to all aspects of Nursing!:redpinkhe

yrn4lrn · Feb 16, 2011

Thanks Lanesmama! I'm going to start my class in March :-)

Elvienm · Feb 16, 2011

All i can say it's that I understand you PERFECTLY! because same thing happens to me. I finish school in December and by January I had already a job at a LTC. Having no experience in this field before, I felt that everything was really hard and rush for me, I was on orientation for 4 days, but from my point of view the people I was with on orientation were not exactly good people. I only learn what NOT TO DO, or treat patients. They left out A LOT OF IMPORTANT information. I was assigned eight patients to MYSELF alone on the 5th day. I didn't have the patients information, I didn't know if they needed a shower, activities, or Therapy ? there was A LOT of missing information the RN or nurse charge left out & didn't tell me bout them. In other words they just trow me there to figure it out by myself. it was 11 am and I had only 4 patients ready for lunch,.,I felt really disappointed and frustrated. I had no help of any kind from other CNA's, that day I left home crying. I was schedule the next day but I called and say I had an emergency. After that I though that I should NEVER GO BACK, but after thinking about the patients that I made laugh, and smile. I told myself I think I could make a difference for all the elders who's families don't remember about them anymore or just stop visit them for x reasons. I will definitely want to treat them better that other CNA's make a difference in their lives and even make their last days happy. I Just encourage myself to continue helping people that needs me the most. :) so I am still there and so far I been there for 2weeks now.