MaryG

WOW Karen, I wish our facility was that kind. We(CNA's) started getting and extra $1.00 an hour for extra shifts when the nurses here negotiated their new contract. Kind of funny how that worked, huh? We have no extra kudos for anything like attendance.....we do have a program called the CEP....it's for aides that have a less than 2% absenteeism, attend alot of education, and participate in CQI teams(at least 2). It's a yearly program that we have to submit applications for every 6 months.....don't understand that and if you're out of work because of a work related injury or sickness....you're out of luck. I guess it's better than nothing.

It's true that the pay isn't great, but the rewards are so much greater than any monetary compensation. My residents love and trust me.....their families feel like they can always trust me....and my nurses and boss know that I take pride in my job and that the residents I take care of are taken care of the best way I know how. How do you instill that into others????? I've trained others.....but I don't think that they get it. Most are very young girls......some get it....some don't. Do you think there is a secret to showing them how important their job is????????

CNA's give the profession a rotten name. YES....I believe that being a CNA is a career choice and i'm very proud of it. I take pride in the fact that I am a CNA and would like to tell the ones that make us look bad.......go work at McDonalds.......we don't need your kind taking care of our elderly. One thing that I truly believe is what comes around....goes around. One day they will have someone taking care of them......just like themselves.

I know that the nurses have their own work to do. I know that I can't pass meds and do their charting for them. I also know that they do have time to help, the majority of the time. I really don't think it's unreasonable to ask that they help. I'm not asking them to do my job, but a little help goes a long way. Even if it's just picking up trays after a meal. I'm not saying that they don't always help, sometimes they do. I guess it just depends on what kind of day they are having and I totally understand that some days are just extremely hectic, Mondays especially. I would love to go to school to become an RN......but i'm really torn. I love my job, I love giving the care that I give and having satisfaction that i'm taking great care of my residents. I see the nurses jobs and it's just not the same. They don't get to spend the same amount of time and I wonder sometimes if they feel a great sense of satisfaction............

I can't believe some of these stories! I guess the fact that i've been a CNA for "only" 4 years and worked at the same facility might have something to do with that. Where I work...in LTC.....we try to work together as a team. Some of us "get it" and some don't. Typically we have 2 CNA's for 20 residents and are usually running our butts off all day. It pisses me off when we are both in rooms busy taking care of residents, lights are going off, and the nurse is sitting up at the desk reading the paper or a magazine. I guess I do expect her to help out. Is that wrong????