Question About Orientation

If you feel uncomfortable to beon your own, you should ask for an extension. It is better to correct the problem earlier than too wait too long. As for the aide you shawdow with, you can tell the DON to switch to a different preceptor by citing personal differences. Do it in a diplomatic way.:redbeathe

It happens to me many years ago, I was a new grad, my preceptor and I had conflicting personalities. I went up to my nurse manager and she was glad that I told her my concerns. I got a new preceptor and I finished my orientation with no further problem.

Don't wait until the problem is out of control.

get more time. If they are interested in keeping you around, they should agree.

I do not hire CNA's without 6 months experience and even those I make sure they get at least 10 days of floor orientation. I will allow the orientation to extend to one month if need be.

Go to the DNS and ask for more orientation. Don't be afraid to tell her why. If that other aide isn't using a gait belt then what else isn't she doing that could put a resident at risk? It's not tattling. It's being a patient advocate.

You should definitely ask for more time; there is nothing wrong with being safe and sure of what you are doing. You might want to ask to train with someone else, stating that is helpful to view another CNA's work performance to get another viewpoint. If your supervisor is smart, they will value your honesty that you are not ready to be on your own; there is so much to learn in 3 days. My employer was willing to give me as much time as I needed.

Thank you all for your advice! I did talk to the DON and I got 1 more day, which even though it's not alot, it helped so much! I am all on my own this weekend! Say some prayers for me!!!

Thank you all for your advice! I did talk to the DON and I got 1 more day, which even though it's not alot, it helped so much! I am all on my own this weekend! Say some prayers for me!!!

I prayed and hope you had a good experience. Take it slow- people will understand, better to be slow and thorough. Be patient with yourself- we all started our like you.

Thanks for reminding me of how it feels to be new and unexperienced!!

Well.....:redbeathe I was on the floor on my own both Sat and Sunday. All went pretty well I think. I am still rather slow... I didn't get all my residents out for breakfast on time. We start at 7 to get them all out by 8, and I got my last res out there at around 8:10 - 8:15 ish ??? After breakfast the morning runs pretty smoothly until after lunch, when it all hits the fan because just about ALL of my res are lay downs after lunch. So from about 12:30 until the end of my day at 3 its non stop running and sweating and moving. No time to stop at all! No major meltdowns though, from me or any of my residents, lol. Although I can see I already have that "one resident" who is just going to drive me up the wall.... heehee. I really love all of them, but this one, well lets just say she really takes me there! She is alert and oriented x3, which is why I think she drives me nuts, because I am a little less forgiving when she is so mean to me. And boy, is SHE MEAN! Now, I have another little old lady who is mean and nasty one minute, and so sweet the next, so who can be mad at her because she can't help it, right?

But over all, I would say it was a GREAT weekend. Even though we were short staff, I still hung in there, and I told the other aides to please give me honest feedback if there is something I need to do better. They all said I did great and can't believe this was my first time on the job alone.

As exhausting as this job is, I feel an amazing sense of happiness at the end of the day, and pride knowing I am working so hard to enrich and better the quality of these peoples lives. :redbeathe Thank you all for your positive encouragement!

Good for you- especially for keeping your cool and doing what needs to be done