New and feeling discouraged (vent)

[guest1135604]

I am a CNA who works in a LTC facility. Nursing is the only job I've ever wanted to have and I have been straight A's in all my pre-nursing courses. I started my first job as a CNA three months ago and I was super excited, but now I am feeling really discouraged. I work graveyard shifts, meaning that I am alone in my facility for half of my 10 hour shift. The residents like me, but I can't seem to go a shift without messing up. I am so exhausted by the end of my shift, I always seem to forget to do something, like forget to weigh someone or forget to put a cream on someone ect. I feel horrible about it. This isn't the caregiver that I want to be. I know I can't be perfect, but I feel that I should be better than this.

On top of this, one resident that I am in charge of has a very stubborn personality. We don't have any lifts in the facility and I absolutely cannot lift him on my own if he refuses to get up (I have to bring him downstairs to get food because of blood sugar problems). I'm often in trouble because I can't get him to do what he needs to do, but no amount of being assertive will make him do anything. What's more frustrating is I can say the same things that my boss tells me to say, but he will only respond to workers he likes.

When I run into problems at work, I am usually left to figure it out for myself. I know nursing is a hard job, and I'm not a quitter, but I'm questioning whether or not I am right for the clients.

[Sky8950, CNA]

Don’t quit!!! You are trying your best and most of the time that’s all you can do. I don’t know if you have complaint hotline you can talk to because not only is it unsafe for you as a CNA to try and lift the pt but it’s unsafe for the pt also. One of the first things of pt is if they start to fall and you feel you can’t guide them then you have to let them go. No one wants to be put in that predicament. Definitely needs to be addressed. Don’t quit LTC is difficult but remember there always other areas you can try as a CNA and love it

[HandsOffMySteth]

By resident I thought you meant a doctor at first.?

Do you have a checklist to help you remember things? You carry a small notebook right? Just make sure you don't do anything that might violate HIPAA. You can do this!

[TriciaJ, RN]

I agree with Juniper. You need to keep an ongoing checklist and develop your own system on paper for making sure you get things done. This is one of the best skills you can develop for when you are a nurse. It's called a brain sheet.

As far as the stubborn resident: it is a cop out for your superiors to give you a script and insist that it works. You will need to be assertive with them, too. "Despite my best efforts he will not cooperate and until I can find the magic words, he is a two-person assist."

Don't waste any more time questioning if you're right for the residents. It's not unusual for nursing homes to throw people in at the deep end. Do your best and don't beat yourself up. Don't let anyone else beat you up either. Conscientious people who want to do that kind of work don't grow on trees.

[Missingyou, CNA]

LTC is very busy. I forget things too & I've been doing it for more than 20 yrs. I have a notebook & sometimes I forget to look at it!

It takes time & practice & it takes longer than 3 months. You need to get to know the people you take care of. What works for another CNA May not work for you. This resident may not like you for no good reason other than you are new.

Do your best, it's all you can do.

[Puppy Kisses]

After informing your direct supervisor, they should then relay to DON and this should be care planned. Always document as there should be a record if anything goes sideways. You cannot force a resident to do anything. CYA with documentation and communication.