wish I had more hands

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I had 45 residents on my last shift that need total care. Seems like someone always has to wait because I can't be everywhere at once. I have long given up taking breaks, because I don't want them to be left unattended. I feel terrible and cry on my drive home for not being faster. I also have trouble coping when someone passes with this aide to resident ratio. I never break down at work, just on the drive home and when I'm alone. I love what I do, I just feel so sad sometimes.

I know that you want to do a good job and I commend you for that, but call the state and run away from this place. 45 residents is way to many residents to take care of no matter how much skill you have as a CNA.

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um, you can definitely find a better job some where else. just tell the other employer what you do (just you (cna) and 45 residents), if they believe you, you'll get a new job.

the lawyers in the your area must love where you work, 45 residents to one cna, ha.

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

this is insane. especially the fact that your co-workers are telling you to 'cut corners' instead of offering to help. and what kind of nurse divides the work up so that you have 45 and others only have 25?! and what shift do you work where 25 is even acceptable? nocs I hope...

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"They are hanging out at the nurses station. I've stopped asking for help. The other night, one of them said, "Let us know if we can help you w/ anything" I replied, "You each have 25 residents and I have 45, of course I need help." On the way down the hall they tell me that they are going to give me some tips on getting faster (did they forget i had 45 residents?). They said that I need to cut corners. They told me to only give peri-care on the last round, don't worry about barrier creams and skin preps, leave dentures in, empty the trash cans at the end of the shift, if some one has a BM just throw the linens away instead of rinsing them, they said I needed to "toughen-up". I stopped them from saying any more, then I politely declined their assistance. If that's being tough, then I don't want any part of it. Corners shouldn't be cut, more people should be scheduled! So, I didn't cry after work, I was disgusted and angry and I don't want to go back. I don't know what to do...I thought it was going to get better, now I see that this is common practice there...the poor residents. starting to cry again."

I hear too many of these stories about nursing homes on this site. Usually written by new students coming into the work place, I prefer working in a hospital, you have a lot of pt (I dont think quite as much as you have now) and they are mostly acute, most do their own peri-care, taking vitals etc. I dont hear much about co-worker problems as I do in a LTC facility. Im sure theres problems everywhere though. I will try and apply at a hospital soon after Im done with my PCA course. Good luck to you, Maybe you should look around at the hospitals and apply, keep your job until then-once you get it, put in your 2 weeks (if thats how it works) Dont leave out of there on a bad note. It will be very difficult but you will be able to use them as a good reference. :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
"They are hanging out at the nurses station. I've stopped asking for help. The other night, one of them said, "Let us know if we can help you w/ anything" I replied, "You each have 25 residents and I have 45, of course I need help." On the way down the hall they tell me that they are going to give me some tips on getting faster (did they forget i had 45 residents?). They said that I need to cut corners. They told me to only give peri-care on the last round, don't worry about barrier creams and skin preps, leave dentures in, empty the trash cans at the end of the shift, if some one has a BM just throw the linens away instead of rinsing them, they said I needed to "toughen-up". I stopped them from saying any more, then I politely declined their assistance. If that's being tough, then I don't want any part of it. Corners shouldn't be cut, more people should be scheduled! So, I didn't cry after work, I was disgusted and angry and I don't want to go back. I don't know what to do...I thought it was going to get better, now I see that this is common practice there...the poor residents. starting to cry again."

I hear too many of these stories about nursing homes on this site. Usually written by new students coming into the work place, I prefer working in a hospital, you have a lot of pt (I dont think quite as much as you have now) and they are mostly acute, most do their own peri-care, taking vitals etc. I dont hear much about co-worker problems as I do in a LTC facility. Im sure theres problems everywhere though. I will try and apply at a hospital soon after Im done with my PCA course. Good luck to you, Maybe you should look around at the hospitals and apply, keep your job until then-once you get it, put in your 2 weeks (if thats how it works) Dont leave out of there on a bad note. It will be very difficult but you will be able to use them as a good reference. :)

It all depends on your area. Here, a CNA just can't get a job in a hospital right away without having 6mos-1yr minimum of experience..preferably in LTC.

Topic I totally feel for you! I wanted LTC experience but when I got my license I had a hard time getting a job. The first job I got was in an ALF. And I grew frustrated with management and my co-workers..mainly the LPNs who never want to help. So I got a job at an LTC & my preceptors are not helpful @ all. Like your co-workers they believe in cutting corners & not helping out..oh yea & complain that I'm not going fast enough:mad: How are we supposed to learn if no1 will help though? I realize now I've just gone from bad to worse, job wise:crying2: I really dont know what to do.

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You need to go talk to your boss about this! Tell her exactally what is going on, who is doing what and what the aide told you to do.

I would also state that you do not even get a break (which is illegal!) You are busy and you need some employees that care. You want help but you are afraid to get it from those aides because you don't think the residents will even be taken care of.

Get this situation taken care of... if your sup isnt willing to listen then find another job and get the heck out of dodge!

At that point you can say you tried.

Ihave had "issues" and taken them to my sup and guess what! The issues were DRASTICALLY improved!!!!!

Don't sit and suffer quietly, go talk to your boss.... TODAY!

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Thank you everyone for you support and advice. I'm hoping to speak w/ the DON today. The sad truth is that the DON knows what's going on. I received a message questioning whether or not I truly took my job seriously and understood what it means to be a caregiver. I called back and asked if her schedule would allow us to discuss this in person. I explained if there was any question about my intelligence, work ethic, and passion for healthcare that we should discuss this in person. Mind you, I am completely insulted having even been asked(left message on machine) this question. I didn't let on to my feelings in order to meet in person. I am waiting for a call back w/ the time for our appointment. Basically, after I "re-interview" for my position and how I discovered this was what I was meant to do, I am going to give my 2 weeks notice. The Don has my grades, seen me work(one reason for so many residents), and knows my story. I don't want to work for someone that won't be an advocate for the parts of the healthcare team that are passionate and do care. I also worry what other LTC's and hospitals opinions are of this facility. If I can see through the "B.S." as a new CNA, I'm sure potential employers might not look at this place as a good reference, but will hopefully see that I knew this and gave notice anyway.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
I received a message questioning whether or not I truly took my job seriously and understood what it means to be a caregiver. I called back and asked if her schedule would allow us to discuss this in person. I explained if there was any question about my intelligence, work ethic, and passion for healthcare that we should discuss this in person. Mind you, I am completely insulted having even been asked(left message on machine) this question.

I sooo feel where you're coming from b/c that's what happening to me:mad::mad::mad:!! I had a hard time finding employment last yr @ a LTC, so I settled on an ALF. The ppl @ my new job look down on me because of this b/c in their mind you don't do anything in an ALF, just shoot the breeze with the residents. Not true. So they complained to my face "OMG you're working too slow, this isn't assisted living anymore". Well if you just leave me & walk off how am I supposed to know what to do? Am I supposed to automatically know how to approach every single resident if you don't give me advice, hip me to the residents routines, etc..I've had three days of orientation & I still feel really lost :(

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UPDATE: I resigned from the facility and will start school soon (after completing the prerequisites!) Very excited!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
UPDATE: I resigned from the facility and will start school soon (after completing the prerequisites!) Very excited!!!

Congrats!! And good luck :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.
UPDATE: I resigned from the facility and will start school soon (after completing the prerequisites!) Very excited!!!

Congratulations! :redbeathe

With a heart like yours, I know you'll go far! :redbeathe:redbeathe

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