Parkinson's patient

[harhatr163]

I am a new CNA and have taken on an assignment with a patient who has Parkinson's. I thought OK no Big Deal, I can go in and do this! WELL!!!!!!!! Yes I can do it! However, I have really gotten a close connection/feeling with this family especially with the patient. I could not ask for nicer people to work with. But, I find myself wishing I were there still helping after my shift is over. His wife is WONDERFUL! and so loving but my thoughts are with them always! Is this NORMAL? I really thought I would be able to compartmentalize those feelings, and I can, but I really feel for this couple!!! I just hope that other people have felt the same way! Any words of wisdom will be gratefully appreciated

[CoffeemateCNA]

Alas, this is one of the blessings AND the curses of working in long-term care.

Yes, it's normal. We are human, and thus we have feelings.

We all have those residents that we just want to take home with us at the end of the day. Those are the people that make this tough job just a little bit more bearable.

It's okay to get attached to your residents... ...to a point. Just don't give preferential treatment to this one person or neglect your other residents in order to spend more time with him/her.

Don't get attached to the family to the point where they are (can't think of the right word) "obsessed" with you. If they are asking for special favors (like you coming and taking care of their dad/husband even when you are on a different assignment or maybe off of work for the day) or asking you to stay after your shift (like you mentioned), you need to say "no." You don't want them to accuse of something should things go sour.

I know it's hard in LTC. The line between "professional" and "personal" relationships gets a little blurred sometimes because you work with the same people every day and get pretty close with them. It's like having 100 grandparents. (:))