New male nurse, and got a question

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Anyways, my name is Nick(im straight by the way)haha. Anyways I am new here, I just got my CNA certification in July, and I started a new job about 3 weeks ago. I couldnt handle the stress of it and just tonight had to quit. I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a law regulating how many residents a cna should be able to work with in a rehabilitation center(its more like a retirement home)? This is the first job I had that was night shift, so it was hard to adjust, then they threw at me 22 residents a night. Like I said, i am just starting off and I am only 19, so this is a whole new world for me. Even my instructer for my CNA class said that they were handing off to many residents, even for night shift. So I would like your input, maybe I should be in a different section.

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Specializes in Medical.

Hi Nick - welcome to allnurses. I work in acute care in Australia, so I have no idea about CNA/patient ratios in aged care in the US. I hope someone here can help you. I just wondered to know why you felt the need to include information about your sexual orientation in your post - it has nothing to do with the question you asked.

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Well sadly my friend, people out here in the states, and in california think that if your a male nurse, then instantly your not straight. So i just wanted to kinda throw that in while i was ranting and raving..haha

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Specializes in LTC/Subacute.

22 is a bit much, all the more so since you are new. But that is the way it works. Im a new nurse and had a call in the other night, leaving myself and one other nurse to take care of about 50 residents! and we were missing a cna which left us with 2. Ya just suck it up, go to the breakroom, if possible, and cuss, then go home about 2 hours after your shift ends and have a beer.

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Well they didnt even have a break room for us, so that was out of the option, and since I am only 19, having a beer is out of the question.haha, but yea I am going to the place that I did clinical duties with school for. They only have 8 people for each CNA all day and night. Wish me luck

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Specializes in LTC/Subacute.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in ED.

wow i remember when i was a Medication Technician, i was indepedent and i was 19. i had 48 people under me and boy it was the most stressful of all. i did it for only 6 months. i cant believe they put me (19 yr old) in that situation.

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Specializes in Medical.
Well sadly my friend, people out here in the states, and in california think that if your a male nurse, then instantly your not straight. So i just wanted to kinda throw that in while i was ranting and raving..haha

Fair enough, but I'd like to point out that the male nurse section of a nursing website is pretty much the last place that someone will assume a connection between your job, your gender and your sexual orientation.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Hey Nick. looks like you are new to AllNurses.com (AN), so glad you found our wide nursing world! Before someone else comes in and 'shuts down' this thread due to your sexual orientation comment, let me just inform ya bout something. I, also straight, made a comment similar to yours when i first started on here as a very juvenile aide. I was very, and yes, very quickly scolded and told to re-read the regulations of posting. In which, it somewhere states, that one should not make comments bashing a sexual orientation preference, and although your's didn't directly, someone may take it the wrong way.

On to the main idea...congratulations on being a CNA in California and I am sorry that you were put in an ECF with 22 pts, but don't mean to sound harsh, but that is very much expected over here in Ohio. One of the main reasons why I chose not to start out in long term care. If you look into working at a hospital, you will defintely have a lesser ratio, but the acuity is higher.

Secondly, since you are a CNA, please don't use the term 'nurse' to refer to yourself. This is a highly respected profession, and those who have gone for schooling have reserved the right to professional, legally, and morally use the term.

Thirdly, there are many male nurses who are 100% straight. Many who I have worked with are decorated military vets, take karate, ride Harleys, etc. (and yes, to those who may make comments, I know these are not gender biased as they can be done by any person of any sexual orientation, but just used for picture details).

Lastly, good luck to you in your ventures and career choice. Learn, educate, and never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something.

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only 22? you're lucky. How about trying 36?

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Specializes in ED.

im a male RN too, and im straight, i think that whole thing that you are not straight is so yesterday, and im also 22

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

Who gives a flying hoot what anybody's sexual orientation is. Patient load depends on so many factors besides plain numbers, but for a retirement home like situation 22 patients on night shift does not sound excessive for a CNA. How long was your orientation?

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