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Discussion

Will I make it as a CNA?

I currently have a job working with mentally disabled children. I have one kid who is in his late teens and a total nightmare. His mom has never scolded him for doing bad things like my other kids, so this one is wild. He's a messy eater and only eats finger foods. Apparently his family also considers mashed potatoes as finger foods. He runs around the house burying the food in couch cushions, smearing it on the walls, and just touching everything that is hard to clean. Not to mention he thinks I'm his walking hand towel and seeks me out when he has a particularly sticky substance to get rid of. He drinks his milk/juice so fast that he usually chokes on in and spits it up all over himself. Sometimes when he's being a fussy eater and I tell him to finish his dinner, he will chew a little of it and spit it out at my face. But this isn't the worst part. The worst is changing his diaper. He hates it! He pulls hair, hits, kicks, you name it. He squirms around making it nearly impossible to keep the goods in the diaper during removal. He's always reaching around trying to get to the gold mine. If he succeeds, he will throw it at me or pull my hair.

At the end of a good day, I want to end my job. At the end of a bad day, I want to end my life!

So tell me. If I'm so burned out on this, do you think I'd last working 2nd or 3rd shift as a CNA (preferably 3rd shift)?

Thanks for your advice and help!

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Well, you do get some doozies in a nursing home- people who have explosive messy poops and then get combative when you try to change them, and sometimes they've put their hands in it and touched things and you don't know where to start. There's always help though. If worst comes to worst you get them in the shower. And keep in mind that old people generally have a lot less energy and mobility than a teenager! None of them are going to be able to take off running so they can smear food everywhere.

If you can handle your current job, I think you will totally be a rockin CNA!!!

The thing that will probably "make it or break it" in terms of whether you like being a CNA or not is the workload. Right now you only have one kid at a time- at least that's what it sounds like. In LTC you're responsible for at least 10 people a shift.

You'll do great!

honestly the ones that don't are the ones who have no clue how hard it will be and think its all about hugs and hand holding

It sounds like you will do fine. You seem to do fine as far as the mechanics of the job, but the clients behavior is unreasonable. In a case like that, you really do need to have a partner to work with you. Be it his mom or another CNA. One to manage behavior (like during changine) and one to do the dirty business. I work with students like that, but not quite as severe. If a student is high intensity, we always give back up to each other. About the food problem, what about only allowing him to eat while sitting down. Perhaps in a Rifkin chair? In any case, I would have a talk with your manager about this client. You need to discuss different methods that would work for him and to cover yourself in case there is a dispute.

You're good to go. It'll be much more satisfying.

I could not do what you are doing - :sofahider I think you will be GREAT!

Of course you will make it as a CNA.

Wow... you sound like you can handle anything! I think you're an amazing CNA already!! It's important for you though that you're not miserable at your job. So good luck with your future plans. :redpinkhe

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