What should I expect to see in LTC?

[nsnina]

Hello !

I am starting out brand new to the profession of Healthcare at 38 years old. I hated my

previous work as a Loan Processor. I always wanted to be a nurse and care

for the elderly. I was very close to my Grandma who passed in a LTC facility and

I saw how special of a job it was and felt that I always had the caring and compassion

for elderly especially, however I realize that reading about it and doing it are two

different things. Geriatrics is the specialty I plan on pursuing, I have always been horrible at school, however so far I am a B student and about to be certified as a Nurses

Aid so I can get working while I pursue a Nursing Education.

To cut to the chase, all I have done is the Lab stuff on manicans and other students and

Next week we start our clinicals.

I know I am far from being in any of your shoes as a nurse, but could any of you tell

me your experiences starting out in this field: giving Peri care for the first time, lifting

a 200 lb man or woman by yourself. What can I expect. I do not want to be at the

CNA Level forever, but all other nurses say the CNA has it worst. Could you tell me

what I am in for? I am determined to do this no matter how gross it may get. But I need

to prepare. Its easier said than done I have a feeling.:uhoh21:

Thanks for any advice or stories!

[jonear2, RN]

Ok, so first of all, DONOT LIFT 200 LB PTS BY YOURSELF!!!!! I dont care what the circumstances are, a bad back makes for a real short career in nursing. Learn body mechanics before working alone. Peri-care is not as bad as you think, just remember that a little vicks vapo rub in each nostril takes away alot of stench. Also keep in mind that no real life patient's genitals look anything like the textbook or like your own. Remember this when you are going to insert your first foley, things aint always where we think they should be. I feel the best way to go about peri care is to have a professional, no nonsense attitude. try to think of it as another task. Pretty soon you get the hang of doing it. Learn and memorize the rolling the chux under the patient trick, you probably have already seen it done, i thought it was the most magical thing when i first saw it done. Other than that, always remember that as a cna or an lpn or an Rn or whatever, the goal is to keep the patient clean, healthy and hopefully happy, treat every one of them as you would want to be treated. Im getting off the soapbox now.

amy

[vloho]

If you always treat the object of your pericare with the respect they are due [no matter how they scream, kick,bite or curse you, You can be proud and hold your head high. Always find the mechanical lift and know how to use it Good Luck You are the backbone of an industry[at present]

[indigo girl]

First, congratulations on your decision to become a CNA. That will help you so much in nursing school. Many of us enter the profession without prior experience of doing hands on care for real human beings.

Dignity, privacy, safety, compassion are all important issues. As the prior posts have said, treat your residents as you would want to be treated. Get help for lifting heavy people to protect the resident as well as yourself. Always keep curtains drawn when doing care.

They will teach you the basics in your CNA program, and the rest you will learn on the job. Good luck.

[leielaine]

I just started working as a CNA 2 months ago. Let me tell you straight out that you're going to see more poop than you have in your entire life!!! As jonear2 said, pericare is not that bad, you get used to it very quickly, as you do it so much. Be prepared for residents that have dementia, it is hard when you have a meaningful conversation with them one day and the next they don't know who you are and are trying to stop you from taking care of them (i.e. changing, bathing, ect...). I think the hardest part for me was when I had to do my first post-mortem care. It is hard to watch the people that you work with day after day pass away. I still have a hard time with that, I'm sure it will come with time. Once you start clinicals it will give you a better idea of what is expected of you each day.

Be prepared to be completely overwhelmed at first. That is normal. Just keep in mind that what you are doing is making a difference in the residents lives. You have one of the hardest and most important jobs in the healthcare field. These people wouldn't be able to have any sort of quality of life if it wasn't for CNA's. Good luck!!

Leilani

[SCGreywolf]

I really don't know what we would do without the CNA.

Peri care? Just do it with professionalism and do it to the best of your ability. Poor peri care ends up VERY quickly as infection.

As far as postmortem care is concerned, it is just your final act to help the patient through Stage 4 of life. It needs to be done correctly, professionally and tenderly. It is probably the hardest part of geriatric nursing or care simply because YOU care. It's even harder when you realize that you and your associates are most likely the only ones that DO care what happens to this person. Yeah, the mortician will be the only one that sees the result of your work but YOU will know...and rest better because of the knowledge.

Been there, done that, got the shirt.

[PeachPie]

Get used to beign physically and verbally insulted and having nothing done about it.

[BrendaLeeRN]

I was 43 years old when I decided to start a second career. I was an executive director of a non-profit arts organization, and decided to quit and pursue a career in nursing. I took a Licensed Nursing Assistant course at a local subacute/LTC facility, while attending nursing school. I have to say, being a LNA (CNA) is a really physically demanding job, but a lot of times its the LNA's that are the last human contact a resident has. It is the LNA that is able to tell nursing when there are rashes and sores, bruises, change in behavior. It is the LNA that is the forefront of the nursing team. It is probably the most underappreciated, yet the most important, job one can have. Being a LNA helped me tremendously while in school, and as a RN I have a real apppreciation for what goes on behind the closed doors.

[chadash]

Sweety, the number one thing you need as a CNA is something you obviously already have: a real love for people. Gosh, I have been in the poops for a long time, and that is what carries you through it.

Now, be prepared for back breaking work, understaffing, disrespect, and even abuse. GET your education! Keep going~ When you are a nurse, you can become part of the solution...

Remember, Jesus washed feet.....

[steelcityrn, RN]

I would say what you should expect to see and what you will actually see is going to be very different. Just remember that as far as jobs, someone out there will always have it worse off. I agree with the n.a.'s here. Just be true to yourself and take care of the patients as you would your own family.

[sharlynn]

Get used to beign physically and verbally insulted and having nothing done about it.

I have to disagree with this one. If it is really a problem and if nothing is done about it, I would be looking for another job.

We recently had a problem resident. With enough documentation we were able to have him transferred to a psychiatric facility. This didn't happen overnight of course. It took a lot of meeetings with administration social workers and his doctor, but it did happen.

[chadash]

I have to disagree with this one. If it is really a problem and if nothing is done about it, I would be looking for another job.

We recently had a problem resident. With enough documentation we were able to have him transferred to a psychiatric facility. This didn't happen overnight of course. It took a lot of meeetings with administration social workers and his doctor, but it did happen.

Think she was probably referring to the other staff, not the residents.