SLF82

Forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong place. It has been a while since I have visited the site. I am a CNA in Colorado. I recently started a new job at a rehabilitation facility, so far I love it. I've done nursing homes in the past and felt more of a hospice nurse which I am not suited for. My point: I am not a brand new CNA, but I'm feeling as though one CNA in particular sees me this way. Her attitude is just mean and unprofessional. For example, I worked Sunday with her. As soon as I got on the floor, she handed me the patient list and therapy schedules for a particular hallway, then switched me to a different hall saying well this hallway is easier and I'm making your life easier. I was on the previous hall the day before and knew the patients, it was not that difficult. I just put my head down and get to work. The hallway that I ended up working was very difficult. Multiple call lights going off at the same time, especially during trying to serve breakfast and lunch. I always answer my call lights before anything. There have been some hiccups with dietary; serving has been slow, running out of silverware among things. After answering several call lights, I came back to the dining room to get my room trays and serve..She had already set my trays up and said I've caught you up in a snarky tone, I just smiled and said thank you. She is not dietary; she is a CNA, not a manager of any kind. I have been on this job a few weeks now..I certainly don't want the reputation as a tattle-tell, but her attitude affects not just myself but other workers and then trickles down to our patients. She pulls rank because she has been with this company for 6 years I think..but still a CNA.. How do I handle this? I feel bullied.

Thank you for such good advice! Should I allow this company to contact my last employer? Is this a red flag if I say no? The DON that I worked under is no longer there and the administrator is fairly new.

Good news is that I had a somewhat impromtu phone interview today for a job. I am a CNA who really wants to get on the therapy side of things and this would be working for a rehab facility. On my resume, I have 6 months working for an adult day center and 7 months at an assisted living facility, which was my last job (ended in May). The adult center I voluntarily left. I had been in an accident, went back to work like a week or so after and honestly could not handle. I honestly think I had some post traumatic going on. I resigned. The assisted living facility, I was fired. I was fired because of poor attendance. I was being bullied at work and really didn't not handle right. I let my anxiety take over and just "quit" by not showing up or calling off my shift. My question is how should I answer questions regarding these jobs? For instance, today on the phone, I was asked about my last job. I have to be honest. I spoke up and said "to be honest, I was fired due to poor attendance, only because I had some medical issues that were going on that affected my attendance and yes those issues have been resolved." Then the recruiter asked me, 'well what about this other job..looks like you were there for a short period of time as well'..I said yes I was, but I was involved in a car accident and went back to work a week or so afterwards, and frankly discovered it was too much for me. I decided I needed to take time to take care of myself. I resigned. Is this okay?? What should I say? I hate not being honest, but I feel like my answers may be making future employers cautious. -Sarah

Thank you! I have googled, and I see lots of cover letters for advanced degrees. I like the one you posted. I may take you up on looking over what I come up with. Sarah

I am a CNA applying for a dream job at the Children's hospital here in Colorado. The position is a therapy/clinic aide in sports medicine. I have never written a cover letter. I don't even know where to begin, who to address it to. The job overview says: (and I'm paraphrasing) Provide a clean, organized environment..may assist clinic staff..assist therapy team with therapies..assist early childhood special ed. teacher with therapies.. I have worked mainly with elderly people, but I really want to be working with children. I come from a large family, so I have a ton of life experience with children of all ages. Would someone please help me..at least point me in the right direction?? Thank you! Sarah

I have been a cna in Denver for 1 1/2 years. I also have my BA in liberal arts. I've done home health (which I thought would be actually be using my skills, but turns out I was making meals and cleaning house), adult day center, and assisted living facility. I thought I had found my niche and path at the facility, but I felt bullied by other cna's. I loved being on the first floor which was short-term care, mostly there for rehab. When I worked the other floor, long-term, it was like a nursing home. I was checking on a resident and found he passed away on my watch..sure I've experienced death in my life, but finding someone who I was caring for was a totally different experience and shocked me. There was a lot of miscommunication at this particular facility: information regarding residents not being passed along, not being updated when needed, etc. I pretty much gave up and my anxiety took over literally making me ill too many times. I got myself fired from there; only to learn within weeks after I left, the DON and some of the nurses voluntarily left. I felt like I was doing hospice work and I know that is NOT my calling. I have always wanted to be a nurse, but I'm second-guessing myself now. I know LTC is the dominant workplace for CNAs, but I just don't know if I go back to another facility. I love the elderly, always have; but I want to see people get Better..to help them HEAL. I've been toying with the idea of applying to a hospital, but what if I can't pull the 12-hr shifts? I have to work. I've been out of work for a couple of months now. What other areas can I work within as a CNA? I would love to work with kids; I'm great with kids. I just don't know where to go from here and would love some guidance. Thanks, Sarah

I am a CNA and have worked with a home health agency, an adult day center, assisted living facility. After not working for a month or so ( I took a nursing pre-req, but ended up withdrawing), I went back to home healthcare..though after one day, I knew it wasn't for me and not what I was told I would be doing. I was not doing CNA work, but rather light housekeeping, meal prep, etc. My question is this: I worked for this past agency just one week. Do I include this on my resume? I did not leave on good terms and don't intend to use them as a reference. And how should I explain such a short stint? I intend on being honest, just not sure what to say/ how to say it and be polite and professional.

I am not in nursing school. I actually was taking one biology course in june and ended up withdrawing because it just too much for me. I've always jumped from one hobby/major in college to the next. I'm exhausted and in tears most of the time. I've been married for 4 years and desperately want to become pregnant and haven't been able to. Now knowing I'm bipolar, should I even become a mom? I don't know if I can function without medicine. Is there such thing as rehab for mental illness? Part of me feels like going away for a short period of time and resetting. I get so emotional thinking of our bills piling up. I hate being dependent on others. It's very hard for me to ask for help, always has been.

I am a CNA in Denver, CO. I also have my BA in Liberal Arts. I've had my CNA for almost 2 years, but have only had 3 jobs that lasted about 6 months or so each. I'm currently working for a home healthcare agency but finding it's just like my first job. I'm doing light housekeeping, making meals and sitting a lot. Not real CNA work. I started this job on Thursday and already said I'm quitting, was told to turn in a resignation letter, but have to keep my shifts for 2 weeks. Literally, the night before my first shift, I was in tears having a major panic attack. In the morning, I was throwing up. I called the main office to call in and said I was sick due to my anxiety, and the owner literally scoffed at me and told me to collect myself and go. Granted it was my first day and it was too soon for them to find a replacement- not a good move on my part, that I understand; but to scoff and be a jerk when I was honest- that truly hurt and was new to me. Now I am completely scared to even step foot in the office. I was diagnosed with major depression when I was 15 (I'm 33 now), had a suicide attempt my senior year in college, spent overnight in the hospital and that was it. Now at 33, I have found that I have major anxiety and sought out a doctor. I found an amazing psychiatric nurse who diagnosed me with bipolar NOS. I remember the doctor I saw in college suggested the same diagnosis. I'm now on a medicine that I feels works well. I truly feel called to nursing. My mom is a retired nurse, my sister is a mid-wife now college nursing professor- so I have always been around it. I am a smart woman, nurturing, told I have a gift for this; but I get in my own way. I am seeing my nurse next week. I have to work, but my resume is not the best. How can I turn this around? I want to make a difference, answer this calling. I don't want to be a CNA forever; I did the LTC facility and felt like I was doing hospice work (not cut for that). I found a man passed away on my watch and that really affected me. I helped a man with his PT exercises yesterday and I loved it. I want to see people get BETTER and help, encourage them. Any advice, suggestions are greatly welcomed. -Sarah