What do you LOVE about being a CNA?

Butterfliesnroses · Nov 30, 2008

I work in LTC. I love that I'm so close to my residents. I take care of the same residents every time I work. So I am very close with them and there families. I love that they love me so much and that I get my nightly hugs. Most of them appreciate what I do and are so thankful. At this point my job is second nature. I like routines and so I have a very set routine. They think I'm the best thing since sliced bread so it's definitely a confidence booster. I love the wonderful nurses who make life so much easier and who I can count on to react well in an emergency.

I don't like the pay. Quite frankly it sucks! If I could make $15/hour doing what I do I would do this job forever and ever. BUT I have a family to support so that just isn't an option. So I'm going to be a nurse. Where the pay is better. AND I won't break my back! That's another thing. Be safe. Often times other aides will get snippy if you need help lifting. WHO CARES!!! Let them get snippy. It's your back and your certification that's at stake. I don't like the nurses who treat you like a piece of dirt. Or the ones that don't know what to do in an emergency and that I have to prompt them to do this or that despite the fact that I'm just an aide and don't have much medical knowledge. I really don't like the fact that if you take your lunch, you are being selfish. That if you take a break because you've have enough, how dare you!!!! That attitude gets on my nerve. I'm not a martyr and shouldn't be expected to be one! I'm a human. It is a delicate balance in taking care of others and taking care of yourself. Because if you don't take care of yourself then really you won't be able to adequately take care of others. I don't like dealing with the abusive residents. They WILL call you every name in the book. They will recognize your weaknesses and play on those. They will be manipulative if you let them. My job is sometimes to be a meanie and make them do things for themselves. You are not there servant. You are there to help them with there care that they are defecit on, not because gee they don't want to. So sometimes it makes them mad when I tell them they NEED to try.

The job despite some drawbacks is WONDERFUL! I really enjoy my job. It is the hardest job I've ever done but it's also the most rewarding. I didn't get hugs and thanks at Wal-Mart like I do at my LTC facility.

MichaelCNA · Nov 30, 2008

Hello,

I've been a "working CNA" for only one week, so my answers aren't as "educated" as others. But, you know what they say about first impressions! :)

What are your favorite parts of the job?

I'd say getting to know each Resident. Specifically, their eating habits, behavorial changes, incontinence patterns, and most importantly, their social stamina. I always encourage the Residents to speak to each other.

What are your LEAST favorite parts?

Well we all know CNA work is difficult. I came home last night with a tight back, and hadn't experienced this since working various odd jobs during high school. But primarily, my main area of concern is time. I wish there was more time to do things without rushing so much.

Where do you work? ALF, LTC, SNF, hospital, home care, clinic......

I work in a ALF, specializing in Memory Care for Alzheimer and Dementia Residents.

Best wishes, and good luck!

Mike

yousoldtheworld · Nov 30, 2008

I love getting to know my residents. If you think about it, what we do is really pretty cool - not many people get to see so many people in such an intimate way as we do. I don't mean that in a creepy way, just that we see people at their most vulnerable, and they trust us. I think you gain a lot of perspective as a CNA.

I love knowing that my job does matter. When I worked in retail, it always bothered me to think about the fact that really, if I wasn't there, no one would be terribly effected. The toy aisle might be a little more messy, but that's about it. That caused very low job satisfaction. As a CNA, even when a day is stressful, it helps to know that your residents/patients NEED you and that your presence makes a big difference in their day.

I don't like how so many facilities do not provide proper staffing for resident safety. Nothing makes you feel more terrible than having a resident fall on your watch, even if it couldn't be prevented. Unfortunately, especially in LTC where half of your patients or more are fall risks, it's going to happen once in a while, because we just can't be in five places at once.

I don't like when some nurses and supervisors don't listen to me if I make a comment about a patient's condition changing. I may be "just a CNA", but I spend more time with that patient on a daily basis than anyone else does. I get to know my residents very well, and if I notice something is wrong, please listen. Now, most of the nurses I have worked with are awesome and listen to what I have to say, but every now and then you get someone who thinks you're incompetant.

I also don't like the misconception that night shift "doesn't do anything". BULL. I have worked all three shifts, and none of them is inherently easy. Night shift might be a little more laid back, but believe me - not everyone sleeps. I often have at least one or two wanderers that I have to spend most of my night chasing after. At night you are also more likely to have confusion and behaviors. You have to do bedchecks on people that don't want to be bothered who will inevitably get cranky with you. I try to get as many people ready for dayshift as I can, but sometimes keeping an eye on that wandering dementia patient and keeping them from getting hurt or wandering into someone else's room is most important.

I work in a Memory Enhancement Center. It is for residents who are in the early to mid stages of Alzheimers/dementia, but are otherwise in pretty good health. It is similar to an assisted living facility - there are some that are pretty independent, there are some that need some help. The fact that they are mostly in good health means that we can focus more on the behavioral side of things. I absolutely LOVE my job. I have worked in nursing homes and a hospital, and I can't recommend assisted living/memory care enough!

Good luck. :)

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Dec 1, 2008

I work LTC, but we have a lot of rehab people now.

I like taking care of cute old people. They're so quirky and funny, and there are some who drive you up a wall, but then there's always another CNA to laugh it off with. It's stressful and sometimes emotionally intense but I feel so much better than I ever did working in retail.

I also like that I stay busy (no watching the clock) and active.

The pay isn't great, and there's 2 nurses I have to work for who are really condescending (one is only mean to the CNAs and the other one is even rude to the residents and always has a sour look on her face). I hate doing admissions because it takes so much time. Other than that I like everything about the job.

IHeartPhysiology · Dec 2, 2008

Thank you for your encouraging replies; I really am excited to start working as a CNA. I like the sense that what I am doing really matters and it appreciated by the patients/residents I work with.

Does anyone have any suggestions for reading material (besides the standard textbooks) or web resources for CNAs?

:typing

yousoldtheworld · Dec 2, 2008

I never had a textbook or a book I read - we had al ot of materials provided for us in my class in a big binder.

However, if you go to Amazon, go to the books section and search for "nursing assistant"...this way you can go through the reviews and choose one that meets your needs.

A friend of mine swears by this one: http://www.amazon.com/Being-Nursing-Assistant-9th/dp/0131828738/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228223599&sr=1-2

As for web resources, the only one I ever really used was allnurses. I get the most help out of human experience, and this is the biggest and most helpful community I've found. :)