New to site and taking CNA course. What's it like being a CNA?

Missingyou, CNA · Mar 23, 2015

You may be nervous about a lot of things about being a CNA now, but by the end of the class and clinicals, you'll have all the important things figured out and you'll feel less anxious about all these things you're asking about now.

Also, breeze though a bunch of posts here about others who are new CNA's and the advice they are being given. :)

Don't worry about the resident's being "uncomfortable" with you providing personal care. Most, if not all, are just use to it and it doesn't bother them anymore. Just be professional and respectful of their privacy, as in pull the privacy curtain/shut bathroom door, etc and all will be fine.

Study study study! and remember patient safety!! that's all I can say as far as taking the state test. You're gonna be nervous but you'll get through it if you study.

Yes, being a CNA can be exhausting if you aren't use to it for the first few weeks if you are working in a skilled nursing facility. Home care has more down time.

Most of the resident's in long term care can't communicate with you very well not to mention that you really won't have TIME to chat with them very much beyond asking their needs or preferences.

Many can't hold a conversation at all beyond hello.

I always "meet them where they are". For an example: During mealtime, I feed a lady who pretty much makes no sense when she talks with random words, but I listen, nod and agree and smile as she talks. I compliment her hair, clothes ect. and she loves the attention.

When you first meet a resident, introduce yourself, read their care plan. Ask about their preferences such as which activities they enjoy, do they eat meals in their room? etc. You will get a pretty good feel quickly about their ability to communicate. Always make it about them and not about you. Ask questions about where they lived, their children, pets they had..... You will also get a feel about those who are very private and aren't very interested in chit chatting with you, and you have to respect that.

Bosmer · Jun 8, 2015

Thank you for the reply. I am kind of sad I didn't get more advice, I guess not many cnas on this site? Anyway I did pass the exam on the first try even though I was nervous and forgot to put the handrails back up after a bed bath.

Bailando · Jun 8, 2015

I'm a new cna too and I hate the LTC place I work at. I love the patients though and it is very tough. I have twenty Patients on my own. It is a lot of messy work and it can be super stressful and hard, but when the residents say thank you or smile you it makes it worth it all. A lot of them are lonely and I talk to them all the time and hear their stories. Where I work I have crappy co workers so that makes it tougher for me. I was superrrrr nervous too and I still am seeing as how I'm new. Some days I want to cry because my feet hurt, I'm tired and hungry. Also because I am not treated right and being taken advantage of but that's at my place not all places are like that I'm sure. I am literally busy all 8 hours 5x a week so the day does go by fast when you are busy non stop. There is always something you have to do. Just try your best and know you are going to have good and bad days. Hopefully you find a good place to work that's better than where I work. I am still learning and I am only a few weeks into this job. It can be overwhelming because of a lot of reasons, but just do your best and keep notes. For things like stuff for charting, patient info, what not to forget, what to do and when etc. The notes help me feel better because I can go look back and remember or remind myself. This is a lot my first cna job too. You can do it! Just give it your all! Good luck. Just be sure to have patience and understanding because there will be those times you need to make sure you are. No matter what I am 100% nice to patients, their families and co workers regardless of how I am treated. It makes things easier than getting into an argument and you just have to fake your smile at times. That's okay to do because faking that smile will save a lot of problems. It's a learning process.

mvm2 · Jun 8, 2015

Welcome to AN and congrats on passing your test

I personally work as a CNA in home care so I can not give you much advise on LTC enviroment but it definetly will keep you hopping and I do not know if you will feel the need to workout after a day of working. It might feel like the biggest workout session you've ever had.

As for working with residence while doing personal care.... I tend yo do what I need to do quietly. I find most people do not want to be very chatty while doing this. Be more friendly before giving them the personal care might put them at ease with you on a personal level and make that go easier. For instance I'll walk into Mrs. Jones room and ask her how she's doing or say I heard your daughter came to visit you yesterday or talk about the weather. Then I'd say well Mrs. Jones I'm here for your personal care today and then quietly I do what I need to do and then when it is done I might start talking to them again and give them a warm smile before I leave. Also if you are not talking you can focus better what you are doing and not miss something or forget to do something because you were not distracted by a conversation.

Good luck and there are a lot of us CNAs around but sometimes it takes a day or two to get answers to your questions here on AN but I'm surprised as well you did not get more replies since first posting was in march. Where was i ?? I missed this one. :banghead: