Shadowing a CNA

[Silent Prayer]

You can read my first thread here to see what I'm talking about:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/i-must-gifted-458031.html

I shadowed a CNA for six hours, a busy morning shift! WOW! They never stop moving. I love that. I hate sitting all day. The lady I shadowed was a VERY gifted care giver. She has amazing people skills. She loves and nurtures those residents as if they were her own children. Giving them hugs and kisses, dancing with them, even climbing into bed to lie next to them. She is such an inspiration to my own aspirations. I saw it all! Butt wiping, catheters, bed sores, crabby charge nurses who talk [bleep] out of their [bleep], and I loved it all! The personal level you get with residents is such an honor to have. I still have to prove that I can get to a fallen resident without being able to hear the alarm. The CNA's work in pairs so this really isn't a danger. If I keep myself moving and see when the red light in front of the door is flashing (bathroom help) or the yellow light (regular help), I'll be fine. I WILL become a CNa, an RN, and a positive male role model for children.

Just remember this, Allnurses: I am NOT to good to wipe an old man's butt, and I say it proudly. :)

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I'm glad you had such a wonderful experience. Good luck with everything!

one thing- climbing into resident beds is an infection control issue and not something you should pick up from this person.

[Silent Prayer]

I'm glad you had such a wonderful experience. Good luck with everything!

one thing- climbing into resident beds is an infection control issue and not something you should pick up from this person.

Oh, ok. Thanks for the heads up.

[ItsTheDude]

as a male, you certainly don't want to be doing that, getting into folks beds.

there's no reason a deaf person can't be a cna, call lights and most alarms have a visual compenent. there can be an issue with the residents that have the audio only alarms because they like to get out of bed or their chair even though they achieve a perfect face plant everytime they do it. a reasonable accomodation is to just not pair you with those residents.

no being able to hear in ltc is actually going to be a positive for you. you want here all the yelling or nasty words (you'll probably lip read more than enough of it though). if you could only figure out how not to smell things too, then you'd be in heaven, ha.

[Sparrowhawk]

Nobody male or female should be getting into beds with residents...not only infection control, it's really a liability issue I'd think.

But awesome experience for you! Glad you got something out of it!! :)

[Coriander, BSN, RN]

I'm so happy that you had a good experience. I'm looking forward to reading about your journey. :)

[rosey2007cna]

I agree with what the PP have said about getting into the residents beds (big no no). Please remember that the elderly are not children and should be treated with respect. I have seen so many aides treat the elderly like they are 4 and I do not think that it is fair to them.