Question About Orientation

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Hi! I am hoping you folks here can give me some advice...

I am a brand new cna. I just finished my training and I have never worked in the health care field before. i just got hired at a nursing home and I have one day left of my 3 day orientation. The problem is, I am no where near ready for being on my own. I mean, its like everything I learned in school is worthless because that's not how its done in the "real world". I could understand 3 days being enough if I was just coming from a different facility, but not for never having worked as an aide. I passed my class with a A+, so I know I'm smart enough, and I know I'll be good at this job, I am dedicated, intelligent, and compassionate. But I really think I need more shadow time, before they turn me loose to handle 12-14 pts on my own, most of which are total care.

Also, the aide I've been shadowing is less than helpful. She has basically looked at my shadow time with her as a chance for her to do less work, she's left me alone in many situations that I have not been comfortable in, like expecting me to move someone by myself who is a two person transfer, or move or lift someone that I've never seen how they do it first before. Also our facility policy is you must use a gait belt on every transfer, and she NEVER does. Not once.

I want to bring my concerns to the DON and ask for a few more days orientation, and with someone different. I don't want to 'tell' on this aide, but I want to do whats right for myself and the residents.

Can you guys give me some real world advice? Would it be ok for me to ask for more time or will I be frowned upon? And I don't want issues with this aide down the road, but she's been out of line a few times and its made me really uncomfortable. I don't want to be viewed as a "tattler" or a whiner, but I don't think she should be training people, and I don't feel comfortable going on my own with the little that she has shown me.

Thanks for the help!

I'm discouraged. . . .

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Specializes in icu.

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.:nurse:

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

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

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.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

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.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

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.

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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!!!:cool:

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
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!!!:cool:

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!!

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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" :rolleyes: 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!

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

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

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