Surprised during my clinicals

[imapsychrn]

I did my first cna clinical today at a LTC facility. I expected to see some corners cut and things not done by the book as we learned it, but I was seriously surprised at some of the stuff. I don't think I saw one particular task done correctly!

And the facility I am training at is the only state approved one for CNA training in the town I live. I would expect them to be training better!

[camci]

You'll get over that fairly quickly. If everything was done by the book, you would absolutely positively never finish your work on time.

As long as you're practicing good hygiene and you're keeping the resident safe, you're doing the job right.

[JDZ344]

Agreed with the above. When you get a job, forget almost everything you learned in clinicals. Thats textbook working. Real life working is very different.

[CoffeemateCNA]

Don't judge the staff. As long as the shortcuts aren't compromising resident safety, keep quiet and observe. You might actually learn something useful.

[northernguy]

The fact they arent doing things the way your textbook showed you doesnt necessarily mean they arent doing things correctly. For instance when doing perinneal care, its always shown or demonstrated being done on someone initially lying supine in bed with their legs spread apart. Does this mean this is the only way someone can do perinneal care? Of course not.

This reminds me of an EMT student who on a 911 call during clinicals didnt know how to do properly spine board someone who had fallen down a flight of stairs. The excuse given was that in training they always started on someone who was either lying supine or seated at a 90 degree angle, and they had no clue what to do when confronted with a patient who was crumpled up lying in a twisted heap and wasnt in the two postions they trained and were tested on.

The real world is a lot more complicated than a classroom or training exercise.

[imapsychrn]

Like I said, I expected to see things done. But the girl I shadowed never wore gloves and only washed her hands twice during the entire day. Even after giving perinial care after a BM - no gloves, no hand hygiene.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Like I said, I expected to see things done. But the girl I shadowed never wore gloves and only washed her hands twice during the entire day. Even after giving perinial care after a BM - no gloves, no hand hygiene.

Ok that's just disgusting, and a great way to spread c-diff or other infections.

[parumph]

Like I said, I expected to see things done. But the girl I shadowed never wore gloves and only washed her hands twice during the entire day. Even after giving perinial care after a BM - no gloves, no hand hygiene.

Wow.. I just completed my clinicals was shocked that not one of the CNA"s there had a gait belt. Even families were saying 'just grab him by the britches' and were kinda puzzled i took the time to put my belt on them to make the move. But it is amazing the difference you make. In just those few days we had families finding our instructor and complementing him. But it is easy to understand really. Once a month they go from 3/4 CNA"s to 7-10. The quality of care spikes for those days cause we are EVERYWHERE! And day 2 we were running call lights solo, or in student pairs using all our tricks. Even in a few days, you get attached to people.

Taking my state test Friday then the horrible 3-4 week wait to see if I passed. Damn KS. Hoping to get on at a hospital for the ED/CCU experience but LTC will be just fine for starters.

[Loveangel1316]

Yea I had to start off in a nursing home before I could get started in a hospital. But on the topic at hand, most CNAs do learn how to cut corners to get the job done in an efficient manner. Me personally I never liked the gait belts because they made me feel more off balance than without it but for the person who wasn't wearing gloves or washing hands, they should be fired and their certificate should be revoked because that is just disgusting!!!!!!! :barf01:

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

Eww that reminds me of last week when I was doing orientation for a new job. The nurse was changing a dressing without gloves. Ick.

But anyways about the gait belt thing..I've been doing this for like 2 years and the only people I see with gait belts are PT's & OT's.

[sweettiff4prez]

Like I said, I expected to see things done. But the girl I shadowed never wore gloves and only washed her hands twice during the entire day. Even after giving perinial care after a BM - no gloves, no hand hygiene.

ewwwwwwwwww

[Chamorrita671]

If CNAs did everything by the book, there would simply not be enough time to care for all of their residents. Honestly, you need to worry about yourself and those you give care to. As an instructor of mine told my group several times, "Do as you are taught, NOT what you see!" People are always going to do shortcuts... it saves them time. As long as no harm is being done unto the residents, don't worry about it. You will always see things that are not being done 'the right way'... see things that should not be happening. It's apart of life... so get used to it. Remember, you are on your clinical experience... this is the time to apply all that you have learned. It is supposed to be a learning experience... smile, be active, and have fun. If something is not taught the way you were taught, it does not necessarily mean it is wrong! Remember that.