HkCNA

Maybe. Obviously I care about patient care - it cost me my job. But I'm reeling from the financial hit right now.

Right, but when you are forced to quit your job -constructive discharge- and now fighting with your husband because "if you kept your mouth shut you'd have a job and your son can have- " it really isn't worth it. Other people would be happy to have your job and not "complain" about staff to patient ratios, safety, training issues, etc. I should have kept my mouth shut . I advise others to do what they can to keep their jobs.

Not a nurse but a CNA and was pending termination when I "complained" about patient ratios and safe practices in my unit. I was forced to resign. It's not worth speaking up, you can lose your job and be black listed.

You are right- my education is irrelevant to the discussion. My apologies.

In my state colostomy bags, suppositories, tube feelings, etc are out of scope.

The incidents are relatively minor. Neglecting to empty a urine bag, not completing a dressing change because there was no MD order ( RN knew this; dressing left c/d/i) and mistake with colostomy bag which I was not trained how to do and RN refused to help. But I see what you are saying; if you have x amount of years in a graduate medical program that could be considered threatening. But very few people know this; I did not offer this information and have been very humble. frankly I sit alone because I don't speak the language most of the nurses do on break, and the ones that do speak English love to complain about the NMs, other coworkers and patients. I abhor gossip. And maybe that is biting me in the ass.

Any takers?

....except I am not a nurse. I am a newly minted CNA who got my certification solely to get a job quickly in this state I moved to. I actually have a graduate medical degree and I am working on that. However I have kids and needed something ASAP. So here I am. I was blessed to be hired in an agency with health insurance and pay is ok. I was hired for days in a LTC facility. Its been over five months.. and It has been downhill ever since. Firstly, I was floated on every floor . Ok. Working 4 12 hour shifts in a row. Ok. But in this facility CNAs act like LVNs doing things that are outside my scope- veinipuncture, EKGs, suppository, colostomy, inserting catheters, applying medicated ointments... So I was supposed to be trained and signed off on things, and given a preceptor, but my training has been all over the place. Plus, the people I followed either didn't do these things or refused to train or did not even offer help or guidance..even the RNs. before I was ready I was thrown on night shift which I wasn't hired for. And the LTC facility wasn't even running yet. Probation is over six months. I didn't do well on nights at all. And while I had a good rapport with patients I felt coworkers didn't care for me much. I don't gossip, I don't fraternize, I eat alone and just tried to do my job. Out of left field came a meeting with one of the five nurse managers. He listed five incidents from six months ago that I don't even remember - some involved patients that I didn't even have- all while I was supposedly training or on nights-and now I am under investigation. I do have a bargaining unit, but until this resolves I can't do patient care. So I feel like Nurse Jackie where she is scrubbing toilets and toiling in the basement- doing wierd scut work , being gossiped on and talked about, and made invisible. I do think my attitude- overwhelmed and frustrated- coupled with being a "Yankee" in a "hi y'all" fake environment didn't help. Where smiles become grimaces because you are trying hard not to cry. how do I get through this? And has anyone been through this?

You are right- the other six I am working. My mistake. So in a two week period , I only have two days off- and not at once. I tried to get the NM to change it, she changed one to a mid shift, but that was all- there is no self scheduling here and there is no logic and reason to the schedule. It happened on days, too, but it's easier to deal with that on days, at least it was for me. NOCs? No. My my only options are take some kind of sick leave or quit, I am leaning towards quitting.

I don't think I have a question except maybe this- how can anyone survive a NOC schedule that has only two days off in a two week period? Is that legal ?

So I am a patient care associate at a 24/7 facility for the past five months (federal). Probation is a year. Was on days and today I start 12 hour nights. what is killing me is the schedule : 12 on for three days, one day off, 12 on for three more days, one of those days is 330-12, two 12s, then off one- I already have a headache just thinking about it. I know nurses pay their dues, but caregivers ? I wasn't hired for nights. I seriously want to quit before my probation is up.