Want to quit my job, help please!!

fan1008 · May 8, 2008

Also, how is her mental state?
I wish you all the best,
Jay

She looks like she is still a pretty young woman, probably in her 50's. As far as I know, she doesn't have dementia or anything. She responds well when talked to. This wouldn't bother me one bit if I knew she had dementia because she has no control over that.

love_being_an_aide · May 9, 2008

Stop me if i'm wrong, but it sounds to me you think that avoiding her as a caregiver is making her the winner here. In reality, there are no winners or losers in this situation. It's natural to not want to back down from a fight, but sometimes it's for the best. You're going to see her, and just be polite to her. "Hi, how are you doing today?" and stuff like that, but just try not to be her caregiver. You are going to have patients like this alot, and sometimes it's better to walk away for the sake of sanity.

ILClaire · May 10, 2008

You are NOT stupid and you are NOT sounding silly...what you sound like is a wonderful, compassionate, and caring CNA that SHOULD be admired for your care and love of patients, and your dilligence to keep going even after having your feelings hurt. I personally have never wanted to work in LTC because of the fact that I would (like you) get very attached to the patients.

I guess the best advice I can give you is 1.) Most likely when she's not "hating" you...she's "hating" someone else. 2.) If she is elderly...depending on what type of meds, or her brain fuction...she may not realize that she's always picking on you...maybe you remind her of someone. And 3.) When I have a difficult patient, sometimes they don't want to be asked...just told. "Okay, up now, time to get back in bed". It sounds mean...but it does work, and then you don't have to ask her permission to help her...just do it.

If you really hate your job, then you should look for something new...I love working in the hospital because there isn't the long term bonding as with LTC patients. I REALLY enjoy all of my patients, but they're only here for around 3-15 days on average...so it's very rewarding to see them going home and recovering.

Good luck to you...I wish you the best...hang in there!

caliotter3 · May 10, 2008

You can't please everyone all of the time and some people can't be pleased any of the time. This is especially true working with the elderly. You will find this everywhere. You can only do the best you can under the circumstances and realize that getting "cranky" and "picky" is quite common for this age group. It is not you. Don't take this personally. If changing assignments so you don't have to take care of this person isn't possible, get your charge nurse to explain to the resident that you are their caregiver and that is that. Your charge nurse can do a lot to smooth things over. At any rate, keep focused on doing your job to the best of your abilities. You are right to care so much, but you would be wrong to make yourself sick over one situation that isn't your fault.

tryingtobeanurse · May 11, 2008

Hello,
I've been a CNA for about two months now. Alot of people say that getting to know the residents are a plus in this kind of work. Well, I have this one resident in predictular(spelling) who doesn't even want me to give me a chance. I think I messed up on doing something with her and now shes holding a grudge against me. I said that I really care for her and that I want to be able to help her off the commode. She said something like, "I don't care if I have to sit on this commode all day, I don't need your help." So basically I was supposed to get someone else. This broke my heart and I almost cried. It screwed up the rest of my work day and I even had trouble going to sleep that night. This pretty much started on my first week of the job. I don't know how I did it but I managed to get through about six more weeks of work. Everytime I see her, I would get chills down my spine because I knew she don't like me, Anyway, I slowely started to earn her trust back during that time frame. I kept trying and I didn't give up and finially she gave in and allowed me to help her. When I was finished, I walked out of that room with a big smile and I was really happy. That was about a few days ago. Today I was wiping her up after she was finished with the commode and all she did was urinate. She claimed that I was only wiping her sides and not the middle. I knew I was getting everything, I used four wipes and they all came out clean. Aparently I did something wrong and now shes going back to her old self. She told a co-worker to tell me that she doesn't want my help for anything anymore during supper time. My work day went straight down hill from there and im sure I'm gonna lose some sleep over this tonight. I wanted to quit again today. I already talked to my supervisor about this but all they tell me is to pass her to another aid. I'm not really happy at my job. This might sound like something small to most of you but its a big deal for me. What should I do? Am I just stupid and I'm making a big deal out of this? Any response to give me some comfort would be appreciated. I plan on job searching tomarrow.

Try not to let it upset you. A lot of times residents may be hard to deal with because they are angry that they don't have a lot of control left over their lives. One of the few things that they can still control is who gives them care. One day they may have a problem(real or imagined)with the care you give but tomorrow it will be with someone else. As long as you know that you have given the patient the correct care then try to not let it make you upset. It must be very difficult to have gone through your life being independent, having been married, raised children,taken care of your home, made your own decision about what you want to do and when you want to do it, and then regress to having to have someone take care of you. She is just trying to maintain some control over her life and herself that's all. Next time that happens just pass her off to another CNA and keep it moving.!!!! You can do it!!

Gabby_101, BSN · May 11, 2008

sorry to hear you have to go though this. ther is always at least one patient like this. i know one where i worked that was always like that to me. no one liked her. don't let it get to you!! when people get old the sometimes become really nice or really mean most become nice but there is always those few. can you ask one of your co workers if they will take care of her and you will take care of one of their patients that they don't like or get along with. that is what i used to do. they would take this resident that didn't like me and i would take one of theirs that didn't like them. just don't let these people get to you. it isn't fair that they make you feel that way. just keep your chin up!! don't give up just becuse of one old, grupmy, mean old lady. good luck we all have these residents. :madface: