Tips for a newly employed CNA

Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 24, 2011

Give yourself at least a week before you let yourself get discouraged, and you probably will. It's hard work, there are a lot of people to get to know at once and they each have their own way things need to be done so it feels overwhelming sometimes.

The best thing you can do is get hands on. Tell your residents that your new and they will understand.

If you don't know how to do something, just ask. Better to be safe than sorry.

If you don't start bad habits, you won't have to un-learn them.

Things will not be done entirely the way you learned them in class, so keep that in mind. Sometimes it isn't necessarily wrong, just different.

Safety is always the most important thing.

Good luck with your new job!!

Dondie

Ev1987 · Feb 26, 2011

Just keep your chin up for six months. If you then decide that the job isn't for you, you can leave onto something else with a bit of experience in the field. But by six months, you should be off orientation, familiar with your routine and gathering a pace of your own. Please practice safe maneuver techniques because, eventually bending low so many times, tossing and turning heavy residents/patients will take it's toll on your back. I'm speaking from experience. Good luck with everything.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2011

I'd also recommend that you start on 2nd shift, if that's possible. Because 1st shift is so fast paced & I think for new aides, they get discouraged by starting out there. Good luck to you!

stelat2010 · Feb 27, 2011

Just take your time and observe. Learn from other CNA's. Ask if need of help, do not be shy. Do not ever leave demented pt's unattended. That's how I almost got my write-up the first month.

ALWAYS check the name tag.

travelgurl18 · Feb 27, 2011

Consider becoming a RNA , restorative nurse assistant. You still get to have hands on patient contact but its less stressful. RNA's mostly do range of motion things and are usually trained by the cna's facility. It might even pay a dollar or so more per hour if I am correct.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Mar 1, 2011

It might be really bad at first- feeling overwhelmed by the workload, other CNAs acting cold toward you, etc. Just remember that it can take a couple months before you stop dreading work, so hang in there.

Time management is the most important thing. You need to work faster than what is comfortable for you and you will probably have to skip certain things at first- like mouth care, or repositioning. Don't beat yourself up about it. You will get faster in time as you figure out what each resident wants and what order to do things in. If you act confident around the residents, like you know what you're doing, they won't give you as much of a hard time. In my experience, the picky ones would rather correct you than play 20 questions with you.

Make safety a priority- low beds, alarms, floor pads, etc. It's much better to get reprimanded because you forgot to take someone's vitals than to get in trouble because someone fell out of a bed that you didn't lower to the floor.

MurrR · Mar 2, 2011

Some residents are v-e-r-y particular, and with good reason. Routine makes it easier for them to remember things and helps them know what to expect. If I didn't have control over my diet, or when I went to the bathroom, or when I showered, I'd be v-e-r-y particular about where you parked my power chair too!! Don't take it as nagging or a personal insult to your intelligence, they need as much control as they can reasonably have.

Some residents totally love new faces, they want to get to know you and more than that they want YOU to get to know THEM! Other residents don't give two farts who you are, as long as you're on-time and you do things the right way the first time. Most of them, one way or the other, will answer questions like "Where's your lotion?" or "Where do you hang your TED hose?" because it's in their own best interest for you to be good at your job. :)

I guess that was really it for me, I was confident in my skills but I was uncertain of my manner with my residents.

Poi Dog · Mar 3, 2011

You have received excellent suggestions here!

Best of luck to you.

shix · Mar 8, 2011

:):) I just started 3 weeks ago my first job in a facility..and I started with the 1st shift. Thing is, I explained to the ADON when she was hiring me that I had only done one-on-one before but that this is where my heart was and that I was willing to learn everything I could and could they please be patient if I didn't quite catch on in the beginning? I also asked her if she was me, starting out afresh as a new CNA in a facility, what shift would she suggest I take? I explained that I had heard its easier to transition by starting with the 2nd shift. True, she told me the second shift isn't as busy BUT, she said I would get to learn much more on the first shift - ie the 7-3. She must've liked me or had some kind of faith in me because I got the job. Wasn't easy in the beginning tho. All these new different faces - staff and residents, having to follow my preceptor around and possibly slow him down :) but a week later I was done with my orientation and told to handle my own assignment. So far I've only done two 'boo boos' ie use a ready stand on a resident who was a hoyer (no one was hurt phew!) and double padding (which the ADON said she doesn't blame me since there's no way I'd have come up with it by myself having not worked before and someone on the floor had to have taught me - which is true). BUT, I work on the Dementia floor so the Residents themselves are not verbally demanding. Its the work itself of taking care of them that is. So far, am loving it and I pray I don't make any other mistakes soon. Can't wait to join my nursing programme tho. Hope it works for you.