After reading some of the topics on this site as well as having an interesting experience with my first and second job I have begun to notice some things and behaviors with the job. For instance, in my first job in which I left after 6 months, and somewhat into my 2nd job, I would ask questions and some nurses would just walk away. Anyway that was just an example. As I am a beginning certified CNA and want to become an RN, I have some questions about the job.
1) Is there such thing as an orientation and training? At my last 2 orientation and training, it was like "sink or swim".Management told me ask questions as the staff don't want to bother with it. Is it this commonplace at a nursing job for nurses or CNA's in training?
2) I notice most staff take their frustrations out on newbies. (not to blame, but just noticing) They did that with me too. How do I handle this?
3) For someone, like myself, that has had and adjusted to verbal instruction for most of my life, how do I change to the NON-verbal instruction teaching style from the lead nurses or caregivers?
4) I am currently in a home, nursing/group, is a hospital any better or worse?
I don't mind the "sink or swim" mode but it is like a lose lose situation for me as a newbie. I am only human, so I am bound to make mistakes, especially as a newbie.
I ask a question, I get yelled at, I don't ask I get yelled at... Hmmm..
jadelpn, the OP is certified and has six months' previous experience at an ALF prior to this job, and she's having the same problems here that caused her to leave her other job.
I think there are basic CNA tasks that you are taught in your CNA course that you should come right out of the gates knowing how to do. Ambulating a patient, making a bed, doing peri care, taking and recording vital signs, for instance. Appropriate questions might be things like where are the supplies kept? Does this resident supply their own briefs, or do they use the facility's? A lot of questions can be answered by looking at the care plan.
Some tasks within the CNA scope are not taught in the CNA course. For example, my CNA course did not cover taking CBGs. When a nurse delegates a task to a CNA, they must first know whether the task is within the CNA's scope, and secondly if the CNA is competent in that task. A new CNA would need to be trained and demonstrate competence in how to take a CBG, for instance, before the nurse could delegate that task to the CNA.
The examples that the OP gave, such as cleaning an incontinent resident and making unoccupied beds, are basic tasks taught in the CNA certification course.
@ clarinets, this is a personal question, and you do not have to answer, but is English a second language for you? If so, this could be part of your communication problems. Also, if you are from another culture, there could be cultural differences contributing to the problem.
I'm glad that you're seeing your part in things. Good communication skills do not come naturally to everyone. Some of us have to work on this. For some of us, it's a lifelong process. My parents were dysfunctional in the communication department, and so I was not given good tools for interacting with others. I was conditioned to be passive and nonassertive and not rock the boat or draw attention to myself. My biggest challenge is asserting my own needs without feeling guilty, and being able to say "No". As a nurse, I've had to learn how to be assertive, and I've had to say "No" a lot. It does get easier with practice.
A good place to start working on your communication skills would be your local community college. They should offer classes in interpersonal and professional communication, as well as public speaking. Also, there is a plethora of information and resources available on the internet, some more reliable than others, but you could start some research there.
I'm a little taken by surprise that with your background in teaching, communication is such an issue for you. To be a teacher, you need to have effective communication skills. Was this a problem for you as a teacher as well? You did mention getting yelled at by parents; I wonder if you have been having this problem a lot longer than since you became a CNA?
Communication is that the core of what we do as nurses (and CNAs), so it is essential that you develop this skill set. Think of it as a skill you must learn, just like making a bed or taking vital signs.
clarinets, CNA
76 Posts
I actually have changed somewhat on the outlook of the people I work with the past few days...Thanks for your help..