Rant

[bakpakr]

I just have to blow off some steam here so.....

I have been working as a CNA for the past 2 weeks. I work at a county facility. I am scheduled to take my test on the 10th of Jan and right now plan on canceling the test appointment. Last friday we got a new admit. He was in my room and is the type that as soon as he hits the call bell he expects someone to appear before he releases the button. I explained to him numerous times that I have other residents to care for so it may take a few minutes to get to him. He still feels that we should jump as soon as he hits the button but thankfully he is not mine anymore as he is in another section. Well this same individual claimed on the day of his admit that he received no care. I was called on the carpet and they investigated and found his claim unfounded. I was informed that this same individual was admitted to another facility 3 times and each time made the same accusation. His wife informed us that he likes to make claims of mistreatment and neglect. Than GOD I don't have him anymore.

Now for tonight. In my section I have a number of 2 assists and a few mechanical lifts and our facility requires that with mech lifts 2 cna's must be there. There are 4 of us on the floor and one is great at helping as needed if she is not real busy. The other two when I ask for help get an attitude and mumble under their breath. I get my residents set up that all we have to do is the lift or transfer prior to asking for help. Tonight I had one lady set up got the help I needed to lift and transfer her to her bed so I could do her care. Now this lady likes to climb OOB and is a fall risk so she sleeps in a fallout chair. Well I completed her PM care asked for help placing her in the fallout chair. I had to wait 45 minutes before someone would help me. With her on the bed I could not leave her alone if I would have I would have had to fill out an incident report because she would have climbed out of bed and fallen. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR now I had another resident who was a mechanical lift all hooked up and ready to lift. I asked for help. It took 1 hour before someone came to help me. In that time she fell asleep. While waiting I was able to do the PM care on some other residents. Needless to say I fell way behind. Now I can physically do the lifts and some of the transfers myself but I REFUSE to jeopardize my job by doing things against policy. The two girls on with me were extremely upset with me because I fell behind. And when I opened my mouth about having to wait for help that really set them off. Also the way they treat the residents appalls me. The roll them around like sacks of potatoes. The residents really have no say in their care. I am not talking about demented or mentally impaired residents either. If the don't want to eat they are forced to eat. I was taught that the residents are the boss and if the don't want to do something they don't have to.

I made the decision that I am not retuning to that facility. I may be way off base here and still have that newbie mentality but come on. Sorry this got long winded but I needed to blow off steam. Thanks for letting me.

[bakpakr]

Another update is in oder. I quit that job today. I tried my best but could not put up with it any longer.

Here are my reasons;

1. On mechanical and 2 assists getting help is difficult. I understand we are all busy and I am not asking them to drop what they are doing and help me. All I ask is when they are finished with what they are doing to come help me. I was the only aid on the floor who followed the rules and refused to do mechanical lifts and 2 assists by myself. I was made to feel like I was asking to much when I requested help.

2. Durring meal time we had a number of residents who needed feeding. The residents were never given the opportunity to refuse the meal. If they refused they are forced to eat it. I refused to force them to eat but I would encourage that they ate. I feel it is ultimately the residents right to refuse to eat. I know that not eating is detrimental to their health and I explained to them the consequences of not eating. But they are adults and able to make up their own mind. Now don't get me wrong I would not offer the meal and on the first refusal take it away. I would offer numerous times and if after offering a number of times and also offering something else other than what is initially provided I would inform the nurse and chart it as a refusal. Most times I could get them to eat with a little coaxing.

3. On Friday I was pulled to another floor halfway thru my shift. I have no problem with being pulled at all. I took my lunch break prior to reporting to the other floor. Prior to leaving I made a list of all that I accomplished. I had 5 resident who were in their day clothing. I toileted them and cleaned them up. I told the other CNA's that they were washed up and that they were still in their street clothes. This was at 4pm. The other residents were either independant or still in bed. The ones in bed I cleaned up changed briefs and put new bed clothing on them. I was called to the phone to again explain what I had done. No problem their. Message might have gotten messed up. A short time later the supervisor showed up to have me fill out a statement as to what I had done. Which I did. But I got the feeling something was up. Again a short time later another CNA showed up and shadowed me the rest of the night documenting everything I did. Not sure what was up with that as they would not explain why this was being done. I feel it was because I did not put bed clothes on the residents who I cleaned up and were still in their street clothes. Remember this was all done before dinner and dinner is served a 5pm. Also I had one resident who was scheduled for a shower. I was on my way to give the shower but his daughter showed up for a visit. I told his daughter about the shower and asked if she wanted me to go ahead and give him a shower or would she like me to hold off until after her visit. I got the answer I was expecting that she wanted to visit with her father and if I could wait until she left. She finally left right before dinner was to be served and I did not have enough time to complete the shower prior to dinner being served. Which information I passed on.

These are the 3 biggies that drove my decision to cut my losses and run from that place. Since I started there I have been made to feel like an outsider. I was expected to know everything about everything and if I asked a question I was made to feel that I should have already known that. I am not sorry about my decision to leave there but I feel sorry for the residents I really made a connection with a number of them and will miss them.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[sherbear609]

Hey Bakpakr :)

Ok first off good for you :) I would do the same. There is a home where I live that the home is under investigation.! due to a mac. lift injury! 2 ppl were doing a transfer with a mac. lift. the resident fell out of the lift and broke both legs. it's very easy to hate the place you work but, If we all can remember this job is for the resident/patient/client and just take the time to do things properly (that means helping each other out!) I have been doing this for over 5 years and things are not always rosy but if there is team work it makes the day bearable :)

keep ur chin up :)

[Sarah Bellum]

I'm a brand new CNA so I can't comments much on your situation other than, at least around here, CNA jobs are a dime a dozen. I'm sure you could find a new job at a different facility pretty easily. Keep on searching for a better situation! I agree, the conditions you were dealing with were challenging and potnetially dangerous to yourself and your residents.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do next!

Karen