FlowerChild2005

I work as a CNA in a hospital and we float units including the ER and we are responsible for calling and starting codes if necessary so I'd def take CPR class but be careful because some facilities require your CPR to be from American Heart Association.We had a few CNAS who were hired that had to retake a CPR class for that reason.

Our lunchbreaks are 30 minutes.Not that we actually get to take them.

My hospital also rotates the holidays.But unfortunately depending on census I'm the only CNA that works because the other girls request to be on call.But I work nights, and it's holiday pay so not too big of a deal.I see my family for a bit at least.

My manager is very nice and I do not dislike her.She tends to procrastinate alot.She never pays us our vacation so we have to constantly watch our checks to be sure its right.But I always know I can count on her to be available for questions or concerns if I have any.

I think if a specific nurse said she'd like to float thats ok.But most ICU nurses I know float between Icu and the telemetry unit.Med Surg staffs the entire hospital including the physician offices if need be.So our med surg nurses are mandated to float to telemetry, and OB, and outpatient nursing

At my facility we are supposed to get 1 15 min break and a 30 min lunch.I wrk 12 and a half hr. shifts and hardly ever get the chance for a break period. But sometimes we can sneak away for 5 min for a restroom break.

I almost did.They said there were no guidelines to kick him out.I insisted they call our ceo and apparently dayshift had called the cops that day and they never showed up.

Wow....Some vistors are just inconsiderate.At my facility this past week i had a pt and her boyfriend smoking and he was smoking throughout the facility.And he was passing her pills and drinking alcohol demanding food trays and was caught trying to break into vehicles outside.The supervisor would not call the police.

If you are a new Cna you will feel lost without training.I think all aides should be certified.It never hurts to learn the skills especially if you have never performed basic nursing skills before. At my hospital our responsibilities as cnas keep growing and we are required to attend all the inservice\training meeting the RNs and LPNs are required to attend.

My hospital also has a newly required color code for only the nursing staff.Nurses in navy blue and nursing assistants in khaki.The idea of patients being able to identify who is who is great but really if you are wearing scrubs patients assume you are a nurse and ask you for meds:)We have also had patients complain about the colors we have to wear.We get mostly elderly patients and they prefer the colorful scrub tops.I don't mind the color code but I think they could have chosen better colors because we blend into the walls.

We have a frequent pt who comes into our ER who fakes seizures.She moves her arm around all crazy and we told her stop moving your arm or we can't get your Iv in.Then she stops and starts with the opposite arm.

I hate how there are stains and some tape residue on some sheets and blankets.If I find them I put them in the reject bin so we won't be charged for them.I can't believe housekeeping puts those sheets and blankets on clean beds.And I have to change suction tubing.It grosses me out if it hasn't been changed recently.I also hate when some staff change patients but leave the dirty/wet brief in the trash.

My grandpa tells everyone I am a nurse.I'm always reminding him I am a Nurse Assistant! Bless his heart he doesn't really know the difference.

I like nightshift for the most part.I think it's funny how some day shift people think we sit and twiddle our thumbs for 12 hours because patients "sleep" at night.HAHAHA!!!! Now most people with sundowners are awake all night and bed alarms go off, and there's fluids to hang /meds to give,and vital signs to get and turns to do and sugars to get.I never get to be bored at night.If its slow I get moved to ER or ob.Our OB unit is ALWAYS full and so I am always keeping busy at night.Which I like cuz it makes time go faster.Nights are good for me.They just have " mandatory" nursing staff meetings 4 pm to 6pm and if u wrk the night before and night of the meeting it sucks.We have a meeting in a couple weeks starting at 1 pm to 2pm so nightshift people who live further away are expected to wake up super early and be at this meeting for an hour while day shift wrkn that day are excused.For the most part night shift rocks:)

We had a Cna at work getting ready to start nursing school.After a year as a Cna she changed her mind about becoming a nurse.I think being a Cna before becoming a nurse is a good experience.Especially from a hospital setting.You learn basic care and get comfortable with patients and interacting with their families but you learn about the different equipment that is used and you also get to watch the nurses cath pts or NG tubes and that kind of thing.