New CNA

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Hi, I'm a brand new CNA. My only training has been on clinical. There we only had two patients at a time. I'm kind of nervous about starting a new job and having 8-10 suddenly. My questions to those experienced CNA's are

1. How do you get it all done with 8-10 residents

2. Will the facility always let you shadow or train with someone for a while so you can get the hang of it all?

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, Hospice.

You will be orientated by your work place. You will be trained by a fellow CNA. You Should not be left alone with patients for at least the first 4 days. Then you will be on your own. Learn quick and learn the tricks of the trade. Keep calm, work fast. Dont wear cute skirts, wear scrub pants. Eat a good meal before you go to work, bring a good meal to eat while you are at work. Not all things you were taught in school will be done, but remember that each Patient you have is someones, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, Sister or Brother, etc. try to care for them as your own.

I hope and pray for your success. Prayer is vital to doing your job correctly. and remember, TEAM work is when 2 or more work together to get a job done. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and in return , help when asked. Youll do fine.

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Specializes in Home Health, Long Term, Psychiatric.

Being a CNA requires great time management skills. When I first started I was nervous too. But normally you will be with another CNA for a few days to learn everything. You will definitely get used to having 8 to 10 patients. I learned quickly how to prioritize as much as I could. You will have unexpected things pop up out of nowhere that will put you behind but that's pretty normal in health care. You'll get the hang of it and have a routine of your own. Everyone does things differently and you might even notice when you first start out on the floor that the CNA that trains you might not do everything by the book.

It is difficult when you first start because you will encounter patients that make you feel like you can't do the job but you just have to push on and keep going!!!

I hope this helps!!!!

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at your facilities, how many patients do you have, and how long do you have to get them all ready in the morning.

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Specializes in Home Health, Long Term, Psychiatric.

I usually have anywhere from 8-12 patients. Breakfast starts around 7:45am and when I work day shifts I get there around 6:45am. Half of the residents that I take care of stay in their bed while the other half get up and go to either the "feeder" room or the regular cafeteria. So I work on getting the ones that go to the cafeteria/feeder room ready before the others. That way I can get them down to the cafeteria in time. Sometimes I am able to get all of my residents ready before it is time for breakfast but I have to really book it to do that. Also...sometimes the night shift CNA's will already have some of them ready because some residents get up way earlier than others. It really just depends on where you're working, etc.

Don't stress too much about not being able to get them ready in time. I think all of us CNA's have times when all of them aren't ready in time due to a patient messing up the bed, etc. Just focus on getting the work done. At first, you will be slower than other CNA's that have been doing this for years but that is absolutely normal. In time you will speed up and be able to do everything at a faster pace. That is how I was when I first started. I felt so incompetent but after a few weeks I was able to do things faster.

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Specializes in Home Health, Long Term, Psychiatric.

If you have any other questions *****. I don't mind trying to answer questions and help out fellow CNA's! :)

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You can get 6 people up in an hour? Does that include showering, bed baths etc? How often are your residents showered?

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Specializes in Home Health, Long Term, Psychiatric.

We have a shower/bed bath list that we go by. Not every resident has to have a shower every single day and where I work, they don't require us to give them bed baths every day but I try to give as many bed baths as I can if they really need it.

So, no, when I say that I get everyone ready in an hour that usually does not include bed baths, showers, etc. because I usually do that later on in the day unless it absolutely can't wait.

The residents that I have right now have different shower times. Some of them I do not have to bathe because they are night shift baths. Usually facilities try to be fair and split them up between day shift and night shift. That way no one is extremely overwhelmed with having to give a ton of showers every day.

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