Scared to begin work as a CNA

AspiringNurse94, RN · Dec 20, 2014

Oh yeah another one of my concerns is, if I am not able to be a CNA, how will I be an RN in the future?

If I can't meet the demands of being a CNA, surely I can't make it in the nursing field right?

I know each does different kind of work, but overall this is what I keep thinking.

stunurse2015 · Dec 20, 2014

First off take a deep breath in and out...

I as well was "partnered up" during my clinical in CNA school. I was VERY nervous my first "real day" on the job (nothing like puking out of nervousness on my first break!).

Seriously though it is not as bad as your mind (or mine) makes it out to be! You have an advantage by having volunteered for them before, so you get an insight to what kind of residents there are and what kind of coworkers you'll be with. Plus you will shadow the lead CNA for a period of time (don't be afraid to ask for more time if you need it!) and at my facility I got to have a "cheat sheet" of what I needed to know when I was on my own.

Once you've been there for a while you'll get to know the residents and their routines you'll become more able to predict their needs.

It depends on how your facility does things but mine we have what are called bath aids who just do baths so that those on the floor can do the ADLs. Plus we always have a partner working the floor with us so we have coverage during breaks.

FYI on your "if I'm not a good aid I won't make a good nurse" comment I have worked with plenty of nurses that never wanted to be CNAs because of the hard work we do, and plenty of others that said they became nurses because they sucked at being CNAs!

Just remember your training and you'll do just fine!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 20, 2014

Don't be scared about your first day. It's OK and normal to be nervous, but you've at least had some training and guided experience through school so you should at least have a good idea what to do. They should partner you up with someone that really knows the facility and it's routines well. Yes, you do have to be speedy, but don't be so fast that you forget things or let other things slide. Look for safe ways to become more efficient at what you do.

I'm very new myself, as an RN in my case, and what I have seen during schooling is that a good CNA is an absolute godsend for a floor. Over time, you'll learn time management really well and know simply how to get things done while dealing with many patients. In a very real sense, you'll learn the very basics of nursing skills very well and this will help you adapt to nursing school once you're admitted. By then you won't have an issue when you meet your patients because that'll be very familiar to you. You won't be able to hide this either. This will allow you to focus learning the RN skills and applying the knowledge you gain in the classroom.

I'm athletic trainer educated and I am a Paramedic. I came into my nursing program with some very advanced knowledge, skills, and experience. Granted that was all "non-nursing" but it helped me be able to focus on the nursing stuff. My own advantage in certain areas were mostly gone by 3rd Semester but by then it really wasn't much of an issue.

I suspect that after about mid-second semester, you'll actually start having a reverse problem in that you'll want to start thinking and assessing more like a nurse when you're doing your CNA job... If you have a good crew and nurses to work with, they may help you with putting the pieces together, but they'll also remind you to stick to your job description as well.

I have that problem now... I'm a volunteer at a local hospital and I'm an RN. I'm not allowed to provide any direct patient care but it would be just so easy for me to simply do something to directly help a patient... So I keep an eye on the patients, assess visually and make conversation, help get stuff as needed and alert the patient's nurse when needed.

The reason I tell you all this is so that you know that down the road, you'll be fine. The first day is always a nerve-wracking one and it does get easier, and I hope you have a good person to work with to really show you how it's done. You'll be just fine. Really.

And there really is something beautiful about making a bed with someone... Odd for a guy to say that, but it's true.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Dec 20, 2014

It's normal to be nervous, I was beyond nervous when I first started. I was given a week of training which meant I followed a current CNA and they signed off on skills that I did. It was sort of like clinicals. I'm not the fastest person (to say the least) so I had the same worries as you. Once you get to know the residents you slowly but surely get into the swing of things, especially if you stick with the same hallway/area. If you're uncertain if you're doing something wrong or different than what the resident is used to, don't be afraid to ask another CNA, nurse or even the resident themselves. I also carry around the shift to do list so that I know I'm getting everything down. Sure, I'm still slower than the more experienced CNAs but I also believe it's not a hindrance because I'm very accurate and efficient. Balance weaknesses with strengths :) I could go on and on but I promise you will do good! If you have any questions you can PM me, but I'm done rambling on.

ComeTogether, LPN · Dec 20, 2014

They aren't going to throw you to the wolves, they will give you at least a few weeks of orientation if this is your first job as a CNA, so don't panic there. No facility should put you on the floor by yourself unless you are capable of caring for your patients, and don't worry, none of us were at first.

You will get faster, so try not to worry too much about that. It's very much about managing your time, being prepared and anticipating your patients needs. I can't stress that last one enough, but it comes with experience.

Watch what the person training you does, and ask questions! There are no stupid questions, ever. It will feel overwhelming at first, but as the days go by you should get much more comfortable.

There are many different ways to go about pretty much every task. No two patients are the same, and you will learn as you go. The thing that is most important to remember is safety. You always want to be sure your patient is safe, at all times and that you are also.

Remember that this isn't school, so it's going to be different than what you learned. Your goal is to meet the patients needs, so when you are wondering what to do next, just think about what you would do if it was your grandparent. You'll get the hang of it. If you have more specific questions, feel free to ask !