Why so rude?

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Hello everyone! I'm pretty new here, but am a long time lurker. I am a CNA 1 student who just started clinicals at a long term care facility. My class does clinicals from 17:00-21:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays. My class has 8 people in it. I decided to become a CNA because I am interested in working in the healthcare field and I enjoy helping people.

Anyway, I have noticed that the nurses and CNAs (especially the nurses) at the facility we do clinicals at are so darn rude! My instructor has given us strict guidelines to follow (such as only performing patient care once we have gotten in checked off AND only doing patient care once we have permission and are under supervision). I am fully aware that as students, we most likely get in the way of the nurses and CNAs. In a way, we probably are somewhat of a burden to them. I have truly done my best to stand back and stay out of the way, and ONLY perform patient care when I have the full authorization to do it and full supervision. I have also tried to only ask questions that are necessary, as not to get in their way.

However, they are just so darn rude! A few of them are pleasant, but 90% of them sigh and roll their eyes whenever we have a question. I was even sent away by a CNA when I asked her where the blood pressure cuff was located (my instructor told me to practice blood pressure). They were even very rude to my instructor. I don't know why they so rude. Their rudeness has made me start to re-consider this profession. I enjoy healthcare, I enjoy helping people, and I can work at a fast pace while also being effective. However, if my coworkers are just going to be so rude and unprofessional, then I definitely don't want to work as a CNA.

Is their rudeness a standard within the healthcare field, or was I just unlucky to be doing my clinicals at a facility with rude staff?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Define rude. What made you feel that everyone was rude? What was the staff member doing when you asked questions? Were you to practice blood pressures on random patients?

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You can say there are many in the health care field that eat their young/newcomers. I'm a new nurse and the daughter of a nurse with 30+ years under her belt. We have this convo all the time and how some older nurses have forgot what it's like to be in our new shoes but you'll come across those that are great, kind and eager to help. Just never take it personal. I try my best to kill those types with kindness but you definitely need a backbone.

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Specializes in Long term care.

You can always expect some people to be rude however, it seems that the others at this facility are exceptionally rude.

It could be that they are just overwhelmed and very busy and you may be reading that as being rude. Either way, expect some to be rude but it's not the general rule.

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i just want to add my 2 cents. When I did clinicals, the majority of staff were annoyed by having students tagging along. One of the more pleasant aides confided that they like to move room to room and not spend too much time focused on helping students learn cares. even when you are starting out, the other aides can be annoyed if you lag behind (and it is expected).

Being a CNA is rewarding, but it's very hard work and can be thankless work at that. The facility I work at is like working with family since it is a small town environment. They do get annoyed with me at times cause I am still new and it is my first CNA position since certification. once you start working more and show you can pull your own weight, your coworkers do show more respect.

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It's ltc. They're not the nicest co-workers in the bunch.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
It's ltc. They're not the nicest co-workers in the bunch.

There are rude people in every group. Not limited to ltc

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I remember doing clinical a and everyone on the hospital floor was rude to me as a student. Maybe they are just miserable I their life/jobs and have to take it out on someone. Over stressed/overworked who knows. Don't let it get to you. Consider it an opportunity to thicken your skin as they wont be the only people rude to you. It happens also when you are a nurse.

I loved having nursing students and love teaching. Just remember how you were treated and how not to treat others.

There are always those people out there that are nice, pleasant and appreciative who make all the other bad moments go away. [emoji1]

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There are rude people in every group. Not limited to ltc

She is a CNA student and going to a long term care facility. In my experience, nurses,cna's/staff in ltc don't show to be the most loving in this work environment. LVN's with attitudes and staff that don't show concern for the patients. It's not just about making money, you have to show concern for the patients.

Also, staff in LTC are not tripping over you to help you out. Some CNA's hide in patient rooms to avoid assisting patients and go out to smoke, and you have to hunt someone down to help or search for 20 minutes to find a nurse. It is just my experience. If you've had a different experience, great.

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She is a CNA student and going to a long term care facility. In my experience, nurses,cna's/staff in ltc don't show to be the most loving in this work environment. LVN's with attitudes and staff that don't show concern for the patients. It's not just about making money, you have to show concern for the patients.

Also, staff in LTC are not tripping over you to help you out. Some CNA's hide in patient rooms to avoid assisting patients and go out to smoke, and you have to hunt someone down to help or search for 20 minutes to find a nurse. It is just my experience. If you've had a different experience, great.

Sorry you had such a bad experience but please don't make generalizations about people who work in long term care. 90% of the people I have worked with in the past 20 years in long term care have hearts of gold and love their residents. I have made several lifelong friendships with co-workers. We are all very busy and maybe that is why you think the majority are rude but I assure you that is not the case from my experience.

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Sorry you had such a bad experience but please don't make generalizations about people who work in long term care. 90% of the people I have worked with in the past 20 years in long term care have hearts of gold and love their residents. I have made several lifelong friendships with co-workers. We are all very busy and maybe that is why you think the majority are rude but I assure you that is not the case from my experience.

In the years I worked LTC, the nurses were wonderful, but the CNAs, save for maybe 4 or 5, were the laziest, most disrespectful, and rude people with whom I have had to work. It didn't help that one was the DON's niece and the ringleader of the group, and none of them received any punitive actions for their behavior.

It appears from what I have observed, smaller LTC staffs function like high school cliques: The ones who brown nose the administration get away with everything and those of us who abide by the rules, give good patient care, care about our patients, are punctual, don't miss work, and try to be the pillar example are the ones who become the facility whipping boys.

I finally had enough, left, and found a job where I am respected and valued as an employee. Negative attitudes, burnout, favoritism, and disrespect does not breed a work environment conducive to high ranking, high quality patient care.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
Sorry you had such a bad experience but please don't make generalizations about people who work in long term care. 90% of the people I have worked with in the past 20 years in long term care have hearts of gold and love their residents. I have made several lifelong friendships with co-workers. We are all very busy and maybe that is why you think the majority are rude but I assure you that is not the case from my experience.

Thanks for saying this. In 17 years, most of the jerks I worked with were in the acute setting. Sure , there have been some in ltc, but it was as if she was describing last hospital I worked at. But I would never make the sweeping generalization that all acute care workers are mean to their coworkers

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