New CNA

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I need some advice y'all. I just finished my clinical and kinda have a problem. We have a resident who is not able to feed herself, it happens. I was given the task of making sure she got fed properly. I think I did everything right but the cna's kept making fun of me for talking to this woman as I fed her. Now, she is mostly non-verbal but she was trying to answer and would at least give me a clear yes or no when I asked if she was ready for another bite. I got informed that all I had to do was shovel it in, she would eat. I was wasting my time with her when others needed help to. It really bothers me that they would treat anyone this way. Was I in the wrong talking to her, taking time with her? I understand we are busy individuals but isn't this what we are suppose to be doing? They made me feel like a freak for doing it the way I was taught.

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I think you were just fine. You were there for the duration of the period of time that it would have tooken you to feed her, you might as well also talk to her about things to ingage her mind in thoughts and perhaps try to talk and it is good therapy for her. All these things are good for residents. Also if she could give a definitive yes or no that she was ready for another bite, that gives her this thing called respect that she can tell you when she is ready for another bite. It probably is not easy and could be humiliating that someone has to feed her in the first place. But if someone gives her kindness and respect it might feel better for her. My hats off to you in my book you did what was right.

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Specializes in Cardicac Neuro Telemetry.

It honestly sounds like you work with some heartless people. I personally don't think you did anything wrong. As if treating her like a person and being compassionate is a crime..... Shovel it in and she would eat it? Man. I'm glad the people that work at my late great grandmother's nursing home aren't as cold and callous as these people sound.

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It sounds like you're in an understaffed facility. I may get flamed for this, but in that type of an understaffed situation, you can't take your time to do your tasks-- this usually results in not giving residents the 100% best care possible, which is REALLY unfortunate-- which is just how it is in some facilities. I definitely don't condone it, but I've worked in one before, and that's how they operate.

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It sounds like you're in an understaffed facility. I may get flamed for this but in that type of an understaffed situation, you can't take your time to do your tasks-- this usually results in not giving residents the 100% best care possible, which is REALLY unfortunate-- which is just how it is in some facilities. I definitely don't condone it, but I've worked in one before, and that's how they operate.[/quote']

Amen I totally agree

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It sounds like you're in an understaffed facility. I may get flamed for this but in that type of an understaffed situation, you can't take your time to do your tasks-- this usually results in not giving residents the 100% best care possible, which is REALLY unfortunate-- which is just how it is in some facilities. I definitely don't condone it, but I've worked in one before, and that's how they operate.[/quote']

That's why I'm trying to get a job in home care, group homes, assisted living or hospice less drama more time for better patient care

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