Started new job and ready to quit

[JoeM]

After being laid off from a job of many years, I went to CNA school in hopes of learning something new. I finished in Dec 2010 and started my first job part time a few days ago. I am ready to quit. The rooms are dirty, we are always short staffed, I had 14 residents last night on 3-11 and the way we do dinner is a total joke. I do no vitals there. It's nothing but changing. Thats it. I fee like this was a total waist of money and I am ready to walk. Would I do better at a hospital?

[interceptinglight, CNA]

I thank everyone for the answers. I just think I need to get in the swing of things. Deep down inside, I think I know it's where I want to be. I like it when those sweet little lady residents give me that wave and smile when I walk on to the floor. I guess I have to allow some time before I can really tell.

That sounds like a good decision !!

[NiquiCNA]

Yes, a hospital is different, mainly because it's different every day at work. I can have from 11-21 patients a night.. and intellectually challenging? Heck yes, a LOT more than Long term. Nursing homes.. are painful.... dreery places to work.. and always short staffed, with lower quality staff. (At least here in SC)

[blackandyellow]

I've had experience in both fields and I can tell you that both are usually short staffed. Instead of watching how thing's are done and saying they are horrible like the dining room why don't you try to change it? Or work on a program to help improve it. I made a lot of small changes when I worked in a nursing home I was also the charge CNA. Our dinners for instance were bad for quite some time due to bad waitstaff, bad food options, not enough people in the dining room, etc. After some persuading my DON we were able to make some changes that didn't cost any money(the key) to the facility and thing's went smoother. As for a hospital it is completely different at least for me. I like the hospital better because I can work within my license and do a lot more but have a ton of responsibility. Sometimes I love working in the nursing home because thing's are more simpler.

[yousoldtheworld]

Yes, a hospital is different, mainly because it's different every day at work. I can have from 11-21 patients a night.. and intellectually challenging? Heck yes, a LOT more than Long term. Nursing homes.. are painful.... dreery places to work.. and always short staffed, with lower quality staff. (At least here in SC)

This is a generalization. Hospitals are not full of rainbows and sunshine - you're caring for sick and/or possibly dying people either way you go. In healthcare, WHEREVER you work, every day is different. Just because people are in a nursing home does not mean they become inanimate objects. My job is not dreary, and is as "intellectually challenging" as the hospital ever was for me. And as far as the staff goes? We have great workers and crappy workers, just like hospitals and every other job under the sun have.

You can talk about how much you love your job without insulting those of us who work in a different area.