zippeh

You are amazing. I am on the fence right now between dropping from nursing school for medical school. I am a first semester student atm. But I don't want to get my BS in chem or whatever I choose and then be stuck waiting to get into med school and working as a CNA making $13/hr. Which won't be adequate to pay off loans while in the waiting period (if that happens). Although, I am considering just doing the first year and getting my LPN, then going off to a University and getting my BS since LPN's make decent money. Knowing someone else did the "back-up" plan way really eases me.

Okay Orange Tree, I understand your frustration with that. It can be very annoying. I knew she was busy with a patient's orders/status of a new admission coming in. Although, I came up to her and told her and she told me, "okay, I'll be there in five minutes", and I approached her two more times after that in five to ten minute intervals. It was not until 11:15-20 she finally told me to go home and night shift would take care of it (she thought the pt. was in bed, while I told her numerous of times that the patient was sitting there waiting). The point is, I understand nurse's get busy... very busy, and as a CNA I can't fully understand at that time how busy they really are. Although, as a nurse, do not tell your CNA's that it will be five minutes. If you are going to be longer than that, OR you don't know, tell me that. That way I can prepare the patient and get him cozy instead of waiting with him for you to come. I went up to her yesterday and I apologized if I came across rude. I reinforced that I still stood by what I said, but if my attitude was negative towards her or the other nurse, I apologize. She said it was okay, and tried to reinforce to me that I should have put the patient to bed. I understand that part, and next time I will get the patient in bed, because as a CNA, I do need to cover myself. If anything happens after I provide care to the patient, I can say, "I did what I was supposed to do, and I alerted the nurse X amount of times about the issue." MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT, is what I stated before. DO NOT tell me you are going to be somewhere in a certain amount of minutes, when you in fact know something is more important (like getting meds from the pharmacy before they close). Tell me what to do (prep the patient, and lay a towel over patient). As a CNA, I don't know and am not trained in the proper procedure of putting a colostomy bag on. Every nurse I have ever worked with has put the bag on the patient while he was sitting up (probably to save time). Furthermore I did not tell the nurse to do anything. I told her multiple times what was going on and the patient needed her. I would have left her a lone if she told me what to do and that she couldn't have made it for a while to the room. LASTLY, your example was a perfect example of prioritizing, while she had pressing matters that were also important, I alerted her before her report started(while she was attending her urgent matters). You can ask the ethical aspect as to, is my report more important or is my patient that has the possibility of having feces all over him and having a possibility of him eating it more important. She could have also delegated her task to the night nurse, as much as people don't like to do other's people's work, it needs to be done at other times. The report was already late, and being another 5 minutes late really would not make a difference. Yes, it would have been a hassel and a nag on the other nurse, but as we both know... Everyone has their nights. In the healthcare field, you rarely ever finish on the right time. (just because I stayed after my initial hours, does not mean I clocked out. Things happen all the time where you have to stay after. IF you are clocked in, you automatically are covered because you are still "working". IT is when worker's clock out and then return to their work, the facility technically isn't responsible for your actions/injuries that occur after you do that.) Thanks EVERYONE for their feedback. I really appreciate it. Like I said above, I approached the nurse and apologized if I came across rude, but I stood by my actions and what I did say.

I still feel upset because I know that what they were doing was completely unethical. Yes she was documenting, yet she (pm nurse) was also talking and laughing with the other nurse. And I talked to her BEFORE she started the report. So, the patient had no right to have to sit there for as long as he did (close to a hour), even if he was laying down. He would have moved whatever I put over him. That's the biggest reason I was upset because they didn't seem to advocate for this patient. Thus, this is why I think their actions were completely unethical and unmoral. (haha, they probably think, "nursing student - thinks he knows it all")

Thanks for the support guys. I really appreciate it. Maybe I just wasn't thinking clearly since I just started the nursing program and have been stressed/limited on sleep. I just feel that I wasn't responsible to put the patient to bed since they initially told me it was okay that he was sitting there, and then when I was getting ready to leave, at 11:20/11:30 they told me to do it, when I was suppose to be out of there at 11. The bag completely feel off, and there was too much feces all on the adhesive to really tape it back on. And it wasn't even half full, or air filled. The patient just likes to pick at things at night. I think the best thing I got from you guys was to check on him earlier than I did. Even if he likes to go to bed late, I could have checked him at 10 or even 9. Got him ready, and then went back at 10:30-45 to get him into bed. I wasn't really talking back to the nurse, because the night CNA said she would do it to me and not to worry about it. The night nurse was very rude I feel and said, as stated above, "you were waiting for the "pm nurse's name" not me" which I felt was rude because he was there when I came to the pm nurse so he could have told me at 10:50, not at 11:30.

I have been a CNA for about two years. I have never really gotten into it with any nurse before tonight. I got into it with the night nurse and the evening nurse. It was about 10:40 PM. I was doing my last rounds and I was going to put my late-night patient to bed. So I walk into his room and start taking off his clothes, and his colostomy bag leaked out everywhere. (He always picks at it, he has heavy dementia and always forgets what it is). So this is a very common occurrence (it already happened once during the day before I gave him a shower). Now, I go to the nurse and I tell her. She is filling out her documentation and she said she would be there in about five minutes. So I went and cleaned him up really good and got him all dressed and had him hold some wipes over the stoma. She still wasn't there, so I went with another CNA and finished my rounds on my patients. Then 10:50 came around and she still was sitting at the desk doing paperwork and talking to the night nurse. I went up to her and asked her again, she said she forgot and would be there soon. So I went and did some re-checking on some of my patients. I changed someone and came back and SHE WAS STILL AT THE DESK GIVING A REPORT NOW. I walked up to her and she said she was busy doing the report at the moment and would do it when she is done. This was about 11:00... The end of my shift... SO at this time I figured I would completely get him ready for bed by changing the leg catheter bag with the foley bag. I did that and had to re-clean him and change his gown because he "forgot" to hold the wipes on the stoma and feces got all over the gown. Now, I was angry. I walked out there and told them he is sitting there and I'm going home, the night CNA could put the patient to bed, he's all ready, he just needed the colostomy bag replaced. They said that was fine. I even told the night CNA and she said it was okay. So now, I was doing my documentation and it was 11:20 and the night nurse was sitting at the desk and said that he needs him in bed so that the skin can stretch properly and he can place it in. I said, "well, you can have you night CNA do that because I waited for you guys for 30 mins and you kept telling me to hold on" and he said, "you were waiting for (evening nurse's name) not me". I said, " sorry, but if you would have told me at 10:50 when you heard me talking about it I would have done it." So it got quiet and I finished my paperwork. I was leaving and I said bye as I walked away, both the nurses said to me, "Did you put the patient to bed?" I obviously said no. They then went on that it was my job to put the patient to bed, and I could have just put a towel over the patient's stoma and covered him up and if he made a mess in the bed they would have cleaned it. I told them firstly, "you should have told me from the beginning when I told you he was sitting and waiting for the new bag to put him into bed and I would have. Secondly, it is un-ethical and un-moral that you guys had him wait for 45 mins almost an hour (it was 11:35 at this time) to have a bag put on, while you did paperwork and reporting that could have been halted for five minutes." They then went on to explain that it was still my job to put my patient into bed, no matter what. I then brought up that I was not going to put my patient to bed and have him soil the entire bed and roll around in it because I knew he wouldn't hold the towel there for very long. Why would I risk soiling an entire bed? In my mind, I see that as a huge contamination risk and a HUGE waste of material/supplies... Nurse's are suppose to advocate for the patient and use supplies and materials in moderation. These two nurse's did neither I feel and I was made to believe that I was completely doing something against what I should have been. I feel I advocated for my patient and refused to do something that no human would want. Yes, he was still going to have a soiled gown (even after I changed it, because he forgets why he is holding the wipes on the stoma and it gets the gown dirty), but that must be better than having your stoma squirt out feces while your laying down and the possibility of you rolling around in it... (because with his condition, even if I placed a towel over it, he would most likely move it). Plus exposing the patient to even more contaminated than sitting up in a chair... This just happened 2 hours ago. What are your thoughts and what should my course of action be? Should I follow up with the DON or confront the nurse/nurses about the topic. Thanks guys, and sorry for the long novel. I am extremely flustered I walked out saying, " okay you guys are right, goodnight" and walked out the door, I did not want to argue against two people that obviously are teaming up against me for no reason... If the nurse would have said, come with me and put him in bed so I can put it on I would have done it, but he was just sitting at the desk, with no rush to get it on. So I have no idea at what time he would have actually done it....

Yeah, I talked to the Nurses and other CNA's at my facility and they told me for the stand up lift its fine, but for the hoyer lift, we need 2 people. But back to one of the lifts breaking. I really wouldn't think it would fall onto the aide if the patient got hurt, mostly because again, it is a mechanical error, not the operator. In my opinion.

See, I mean I was never there in any of these situations, but personally I feel like a person slipping off the bed with a stand up is a cause of not lowering the bed low enough, or not raising them up high enough, or both. I don't think thats the lifts fault. If the lift breaks though, then, what I would think (I may be wrong) but I would assume it would be the manufacturers fault for a defective item, and/or the facilities fault for not inspecting/maintaining the equipment. So even if the resident falls because the hoyer bolt broke, I would assume it would be the company's or facilities fault and you would not be at fault because obviously the equipment didn't behave the way it was supposed to and advertised to do so. But I may be wrong. I was always taught that the lifts were there so you could transfer people by yourself, making it easier and safer for the resident. :x

Yeah I was just giving advice on what I did and now do because I went through the same thing. I even said there are 2 person assist that you can and cannot do.

I hate when your walking down a hallway and you see a Nurse or another Aide and you don't know what to say and neither one of you are holding anything and you've already said hi and everything, and both of you just walk past each other looking at the wall. Most awkward thing ever BAHAHAHA. Maybe its just my facility

I had the same problem when I started. I called people even for the easiest patients to move. As you get to know your patients, you'll know who you can move by yourself and who your can't. Yes, there are patients you need to learn to move by yourself, and you can do it safely, without risking your back (or other part of your body) and without risking hurting the patient, or his/her life. It's fairly easy, anyone about your weight, you can easily just grab under their arm and then slide your other arm under their arm and hold onto their pants. put the chair close to the top of the bed and lift them for 2 seconds and then boom, their on the bed and all ready. Then patients that are a little heavier and can't help you, you usually just do them last, when everyone else is done and can help you without interupting their work. What I do when everyone is busy is, I'll get them all ready for bed, get their nightgown on, bed ready, chair set up, and then I'll go on to my next room, or wait outside the room if its my last patient, and even get a Nurse to help me, because it honestly is a breeze to lift anyone with two people. There is no excuse for a Nurse not to simply take 3 seconds to saftely, and easily move someone from their chair to their bed. If they say no, just either say what I just said above. It's easy as cake, or two, pull your DON aside and talk to them about the Nurses not helping you. A CNA is a Nursing Assistant, you assist the Nurses in their duty's, so it is also their duty to make sure all the patients are safe, and if they can't help you, then they are not doing their job. Simple as that. All the nurses that I work with, I have gotten help from all of them if the CNA's are to busy. If worst comes to worst, simply ask if you can use stand up lift with them, and transfer them that way. Sorry that I wrote a novel :] Once you work long enough, you get to know what people are willing to help, and what people you just leave alone and use as a last resort. Everyone is very very very hard on you when you first start. Always telling you what your doing wrong, but once you get to know everyone in your facility, you get through with them, and they aren't so tough on you and you get the routine down. But really, even if theres just 2 CNA's, just go find the other one, tell them you need help and whenever they get a chance go to what ever room, most often they will say ok, I'll be there in 5-15 mins. whichever, just go help another patient until they show up. I finally got my **** down, and now I finish putting everyone to bed at about 9 (dinner gets out at about 7) and I make sure I go around after I fill out my charts if anyone needs help. Thats the best way to earn respect at the workplace, to return favors when you have time. Always offer help and ALWAYS ALWAYS say thank you. Again, sorry for the novel :]

Your very right. I was looking around at schools like Chamberlain and NIU, and they both offer RN to BSN, all I would need is transfer there, and their both 1 year programs, and I could possibly get my RN done in one year by taking classes over the summer also. We shall see. :) thank you for your advice!

I just realized.. All my friends that went away to school will be graduating in 2014 with their BSN's, while here I am getting my ADN in 2014, then I have to go back to school for one more year after that, a RN to BSN program, and I'll get my BSN degree a year after they receive theirs... This makes me so angry. I wish I knew this before I decided to go with community college

Okay well the first thing I actually do is grab night gowns and place them in everyone of their rooms. The pads we use come in plastic wrap of about 30 pads. I usually grab one thats half used, but still has the plastic wrap, and I put them in a drawer. That way, the diapers don't get contaminated and no one sees them to complain. If I don't have a roll away, then just grab 15-20 draw sheets, and your night gowns, and place them in the rooms. That way your all set for the rest of the day and night. This usually takes me 5-10 minutes of my shift. Then I get the showers done. Sorry to not mention that **If the bed is dirty, then this is obviously a slowdown, but you just gotto rush to the linen closet and grab all your linens and change the bed. Its not too bad. In my place, the bottom sheets don't fit a lot of the air beds. So since I usually have a lot of top sheets (what we also use for draw sheets) on my roll away, I just make the bottom sheet, place the draw sheet, and put them to bed then place a top sheet over them and go get the other linens I need when I take the garbage to the dirty linens. (their right next to each other for me).

You know, you could always just put a stack of linens in a room where a bed is open(make sure the room isn't isolated). Because they clean the bed and thats what I do when there are no roll aways. And when I put everyone to bed, and I don't have a roll away, I'll usually just tie the garbage bags and put them next to the doorway and after I'm all done putting people to bed, I go around to each room and pick everything up with garbage bags that I'm carrying. I start my shift at 2:30, and the first thing I do is grab my showers. It usually takes me 15 minutes per shower, unless their easy to stand up and stuff, I finished in 5 minutes once because the person could do everything themselves haha. So I start my shift, grab 5-8 towels, 5 hand towels, and start the shower and grab my shower, then finish and grab my next one and so on and then I'm usually done by 3:30 or 4 at the latest. Then I have 2 hours to get everyone to the dining hall. (- 30 minutes for break). The longer you work, the faster you'll get and you'll learn tricks to stand people up that can't really stand and that are harder. Your speed will increase very much. So far, my record was finishing everything, including vitals of my patients, at 8:45 and I had 10 patients. dinner usually lets out around 7:10, I was so amazed. I checked everyone like 3 times that night, I'm almost positive the next shift was happy with the little work they needed to do when they came in :]. But all in all, the longer and more you work with your patients, the faster you'll get. You'll pick up a routine that works for you, and everything will come together. Then you'll look back and be like, damn, I've improved so much. If you haven't already, I would highly recommend getting a wrist BP monitor. They really help, and the one I bought (amron? I think) was on sale for $70 at walgreens. So far, very accurate.

Yes.. all my pre-req I am taking are aimed for the Nursing Programs that I am looking into.. Like I said above, I've been accepted already last year both in Elmhurst and NIU. I never applied to UIC cause I knew I wasn't going away. Elmhurst sent me constant letters saying they were giving me more money off. I can get into the Nursing programs that I want to get in with ease. Besides UIC, which I would have been able to get into their GPPA program, but you have to be an incoming freshman and not a transfer student, so now thats the only school where I might have a bit of trouble. Yet I have a great ACT score, gpa, and they told me for transfer students they like to see experience, in which I have as a C.N.A. so I really don't see a problem getting into any of those 3. I'm assuming after 4 years for the BSN, with cost of living, tuition, and housing expenses I would most likely be looking at 80k in debt. Like I said, I could be over exaggerating, but I think with the cost of schools now, that that is a very reasonable number