New CNA in a hospital

[Sschmi5]

Hi everyone, I am a new CNA and just started working on a med-surg floor. I have had a few days of training and have my last one tonight. I work overnights and am in nursing school full time.

The person training me has been awful. She's so rude and makes me feel so stupid when I ask her questions or make a mistake. Everyone else is nice, but very cliquey. I'm not quite sure if I like it yet, but keep telling myself it'll get better when I'm by myself and get to know everyone and the place.

Any advice?? Thank you in advance! (:

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

Your experience is very similar to mine in my CNA jobs. Do your best to learn what you can and ignore the bad behavior. The abuse is a bummer, but that's what some people do. There are many reasons, here are some examples from my personal experience:

Some people hate precepting and they take it out on the new employee.

Some hate their jobs (but can't quit because they make decent money), so they take it out on the new employee.

Some hate nursing students, because they know they will be only be a CNA for maybe a couple years and move on. So they get their licks in while they can.

One of my preceptors was an opiate addict with all the fun behaviors that go along with that.

Some are insecure, bitter people who think if they are abusive to others, it makes them more competent or satisfied somehow.

My advice is that when you start, lie as low as you can. Don't say anything, don't report anyone, just do your absolute best to learn and do the job as best you can. VERY soon, your efforts and improvements will be noticed.

Good luck!

[cdsavannah59, CNA]

When I started my job as PCT at a local hospital on day shift, the only person that gave me a hard time was the PCT on night shift, she always complained I left certain duties not done. One day I told her I keep my proof of duties daily completed and showed her my list, that had no patient info on it but which can be easily verified by nurses on my shift. LOL you should of seen her facial expression because she knew her complaints about me that she made were not true and I had proof of completed duties so she was the one in my opinion looking like a trouble maker. On another shift when she arrived she said to me " I hear your afraid of me" I responded with a big smile and said why would I be afraid of you, that's not something I would say to anyone here at work. Then I told her, "But I do think you do always seem to come to work in a bad mood and leave the next morning in a good mood when I arrive to work. She was shocked by that statement and after that we became friends. So my advice is to try to just focus on your job, and ignore the drama from certain coworkers because others will see the value in your work.