LightX

I must vent or I'll explode. I work in LTC. I'm usually pretty good at staying "on schedule" with my residents. Lately, when any nurse is filling in (we have an open position), that nurse (different each day) seems to feel the need to point out to me and my hall partner that "Ray's light is on, he wants to be changed", "Mary wants some ice"....etc...well NO KIDDING!! Do you think I don't see it!? Do you think I don't know!?? Do you think I'm just hangin out in the hallway twiddling my thumbs!!!?? I can SEE his light is on and I just changed him 20 minutes ago, his light is ALWAYS ON' and he's ALWAYS wanting something. ....and I'm sorry "Mary wants some ice", she's going to have to wait while I change the resident who had a BM in his brief and the other resident' who's been wanting to get into bed for the past hour, and then I have to take Millie to therapy, and get John into bed so that SAME nurse can hook him up to his tube feed...... I KNOW THEIR LIGHT IS ON, I KNOW WHAT THEY WANT AND IT'S JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT A BIT LONGER OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE PULLING ME IN THE OFFICE FOR HAVING A RESIDENT WITH SKIN SORES, MISSED THERAPY APPTS, AND A RESIDENT WHO FELL BECAUSE SHE SELF TRANSFERED. It drives me crazy sometimes. Our other nurse would help if she could (get Mary some ice), and she knew that we KNEW what had to be done... and it just bugs me that the new nurses haven't figured that out yet. I know they don't know us, but just let us do our jobs and quit harping! We know what we're doing with the little time we have for the amount of work needing to be done... The day we stand in the hallway twiddling our thumbs is the day you can harp on us. Thank you, I feel a little better.

Try applying for a job working in an assisted living. I don't think you need to be certified in RI to work in an assisted living. You can also do home care. You won't be able to do any hands on care without being certified, but you can be a Home health aide and do shopping, cleaning etc. The home care agency may even help you get your certification. You can also work for group homes for mentally retarded. You do not need to be certified and you will have an advantage at getting the job because you have gone through the training. Some group homes pay just as much as a nursing home but the work is alot lighter and again, you don't need to be certified...(In Conn. you don't anyway, and I think it's the same in RI). To find out where the group homes for mentally retarded adults are, go to the Department of Mental Retardation...you can also search online. It will get you a job without being certified. I hope you will still get certified tho, it will make changing jobs so much easier and you will be able to go just about anywhere.

Ask tons of questions!!!! This is the time to ask. If you get the chance, talk to the CNA's that work there about their job. Tricks and tips they can offer. Some of the "tricks" and "short cuts" you will NOT be able to use during your clinicals or for the state exam, but when you get into the "real world" it will be helpful especially as a new CNA. Try not to be nervous...think of it as a classroom.

Pull the shirt all the way up in the back to her neck first, then get an arm out, then the other arm, then over her head. Mention to the social worker that she could use some better fitting shirts. The social worker can talk with the family or if the facility monitors her $$ for her they can purchase new shirts.

You will learn faster by doing. Ask the mentor to let you do every task and have them correct you or show you an easier way if necessary. You will feel a little freaked out at first, but that's normal. Just remember what you did in clinicals and use common sense. Move quickly between residents and slow down while with residents. Get what you need/might need (extra bed pads for heavy bed wetters) before entering a room (you will learn quickly what you need!). Use any down time you have to do tasks (ex: while waiting on a resident who is on the toilet you can get their bed made, tidy room, get PJ's ready). Most importantly, don't get discouraged. We've all been there and have all made it and you will too!

There is always home care. You can pick and choose your shifts and could even work 2-4 hours a week! Family will be happy and so will you!

If the specific color is just for the class, cheap is ok. Once you start working, you will find that pockets are a MUST! The more the better. Stretchy isn't as important but I like to have room in my scrubs, especially the tops. I have been able to find scrubs at yard sales and thrift or second hand stores for very reasonable prices. The facility you end up at may require a different color or may even provide you with uniforms, so keep that in mind. You don't want to spend alot of $$ on scrubs that you can't use once you start working. When I did my training, I had 1 top and 1 pair of pants in the color required for the class.

If you past your state exam, you'll be fine! Most of the job is common sense. The only way you could "mess up" in a way that could get you fired is if you forget to attach a residents alarm and then they fall. The best advice I got when I first started is to move quickly BETWEEN residents and slow down when WITH residents. Before you leave the room (the resident) double check that all safety devices (alarms/pads etc) are in place!!!

Many of the AFH in my state also provide respite services to families on weekends or for short periods of time. (so the family who usually provides care can get a break for a few days/week...). That "client" will receive care along with the other residents by the aides of that facility while they are there.

Don't panic. Show no fear (or anxiety). Act like you know what you're doing, even if you feel like you have no clue...at the same time, don't be afraid to ask questions. Most of the job is common sense and if you past the state exam, you'll be fine!!! At first you will feel like there is NO WAY you will get everything done in your shift...and you probably won't but, You'll get a routine down, get to know the residents and things will get easier. I was lucky to have such a great team who was so willing to help. Hopefully you will have the same experience. If you don't, don't let it get to you. Just do your best. It can be very overwheleming the first week or so, but it does get easier. The most important thing to remember when you're on your own is patient safety! Stop and think before you leave the room...does the resident have any and all safety alarms/pads etc in place.

I work part time. I have about 8 sets...all of which I bought from yard sales for $1. or less or had been given to me. They are all nice tops (and pants) too!

It has been my experience that the home care agencies will use you as much as and in any way possible. They will probably send you out of your radius of where you are willing to travel "just this once" then soon you will find it happening more often. Give an inch and they'll take a mile. You can add to your availability that you can NOT do 12 hours shifts. It is odd that the agency knows NOTHING about a client before sending you in. I've never heard of that. All the agencies I've worked for have always had a nurse go in first and write up a care plan, which basically tells you what is expected of you when you get there. (bathe the client, do laundry, feed etc). You may not have this info BEFORE you arrive, but it should be there for you to review when u do get there. btw, you can also tell the agency if you are not comfortable going into certain neighborhoods. I believe you have more say about how, where and when you can work with homecare than LTC. Don't be afraid to speak up.

I had pulled muscles in my back as well as a hernia in the past as a caregiver. When I had a physical for my CNA I included that information. The doctor asked me if I any problems and if I felt I could perform the lifting duties required of a CNA. I told him I felt I could with no problem. He signed off on the paperwork and off I went to classes. Just be honest. I also sugguest you talk with your doctor about if and how having the hernia repairs done will effect your job as a CNA. If he/she gives the ok, you can add that information to the application with your own asterik.

I would say that if it's just the people you work with and not the job then stick with it. Being a CNA is great experience and in my opinion will make you a better nurse. You will be able to say that you know what it's like to be the aide. Going to another facility or even doing homecare may be the change you need while in school.

Thank you for all your answers. The nurse knows about the break down. The resident leaves the facility for about 7 hours a day for "school". He is "out of our care" for that amount of time and in the care of another program. His wheel chair tilts back. I have no idea what they do at "school" since he comes and goes before my shift. I do position him at least every 2 hours. I just wanted to make sure it could be done on his side. He seems to really like laying on his side. When he sees me come in his room he will turn his top half of his body to the side...all I have to do is get his bottom half into position. :)

I have a resident with a feeding tube. I know he needs to be upright at least a 40degree angle when connected. He has skin break down on his bottom. He is in his wheel chair most of the day because of "school" and in the bed evenings with the feeding tube connected. He is severly retarded and cannot communicate much at all. My question is, Can he be placed on his side when the feeding tube is connected while at a 40deg angle? He seems to really like being on his side and will attempt to roll on his side (but can't without assistance). And with the skin break down on his bottom....... Each nurse I ask, I get a different answer.

Don't let this resident shake your confidence. I agree the the others. Sometimes a resident will not like you for no apparent reason. Sometimes it's because you're new. Again, I agree with the fake it til you make it. Don't let her see or know you are upset. I would NOT even go ask for another CNA to help you unless she is combative. You got this. Be confident. Go back a few minutes later if she's "sleeping". Reassure her every single time you transfer her. "You're safe, I've got you". You may have to tell her step by step where to put her hands, where/when to move her feet, etc. it may give her the feeling that you have it under control and you know what you're doing. In the end, if she continues to refuse your help, talk to your supervisor, it may be best to be reassigned, the resident has a right to choose who cares for her. Don't take it personally, it's not unusual. I've been called every name in the book by some resident's for no real reason. It's not you, it's them. It is what it is, and it's just part of the job.

I know some places don't allow you to wear any rings that are set high because you can scratch residents.

Not all LTC facilities are so hostile. I work for a nursing home as a CNA and all my coworkers are wonderful and supportive. We are a great team. It may not be the norm, but you can find a great LTC to work for. Dont be afraid to ask about the staff morale in an interview.

If the question were on the state CNA exam...Do u use the gait belt even if the resident refuses it? Your answer would be "yes". The reason being it's a safety issue. If it says on the residents care plan that they can refuse use of gait belt (or something to that effect), than not using it would be ok. otherwise use it. Usually explaining to the resident that you are required to use it for both their safety and yours...and that you have no control over not using it, it is usually enough to get the resident to comply. If they still don't, talk to the nurse about it to cover your butt.

This resident is currently in the hospital because of a fall. ( I wasn't working the night she fell). The nurse told me she broke her wrist and has a black eye. This is the same nurse who told me she would never be able to try to transfer.... I'm not sure what will happen next. I'm not too worried since I reported my concerns to more than one nurse! This facility has an excellent reputation for good quality care.... They missed this one tho...

I kind of just fell into being a CNA and health care in general. I have no desire to become an RN. Like you, I got my CNA because it's the one thing I knew I'd find work in and I knew I could do it. I don't mind it, I like taking care of the older folks, learning about them, etc. But it is too physical for me and I HURT every single night I come home....which is why I only do it part time. I disagree somewhat with "you can tell who's in it just for the job"...because, basically, I am, but I DO take my responsibilities seriously. I have respect for the ppl I care for. I give it my all in this job. I just wish there was something else I could do to earn a decent paycheck.

When I worked for home care, I didn't get to meet the client first. I was assigned, I showed up and worked the schedule. That was how it went. I also knew that a nurse had done an visit with the client before me and if that nurse didn't feel safe, they didn't provide services. This was an agency where the visits were private pay, so it may be a bit different. If medicare/medicaid/state pay, the client needs to be served regardless of where they live, etc..

You will get to a point when the smells just don't bother you anymore. I can clean a resident covered in poo and then go to dinner afterwards without a thought about it. Until you get to that point, the vicks thing may help but, I used to put a strong mint or a cough drop in my mouth at the slightest hint of an "ick" situation. or Hold your breath, when u need to inhale put your nose in your arm sleeve as if you're going to sneeze. I still can't clean up vomit without gagging (happens rarely), so both of these still work for me.

I agree with Mayt. work as a CNA for at least 6 months to get experience. I would think in a nursing home would be the best type of experience but there is always homecare and assisted living, both of which typically pay less than nursing homes.