Wondering why I did this

[Trillcat]

Hello everyone.

I just finished my CNA class, late in life, 42. But now, I ask, have to ask.

Why am I doing this?

I read and read about how horrible it is to work LTC, (After signing up fpr class, long story) but that is all I will get fresh from CNA school. My clinicals were in the cardiac ward, first class ever to be there, I loved it there. But from reading no one cares about what you did on clinical, you are supposed to do all that.

I just feel like everything I worked for is now going to be in a pit of misery, running from one room to another just wiping butts and changing depends and being not at all what I set out for here.

[Miwila]

It will only be like that for about a year; after that if find you are miserable in LTC you'll have more of an edge in being able to apply for a hospital position. And I know some of the stories about LTC in this forum can make a newbie CNA shudder but you just might find a well-run facility where you'll be happy. Either way, consider this serving in the trenches until you can move on to something better.

[topher-67]

Try to focus on the little positive things you get to do all day for your residents. Yes it is like being in the trenches as already stated, but you will gain a lot of experience. After a while the changing, poopies, etc. will become old hat and you will go through it without even batting an eyelash.

You did this because you love taking care of others, especially those who can no longer take care of themselves. LTC isn't really all that bad. If you find it's not your cup of tea, simply try another route like the hospitals, mental health care/treatment facilities and so on.

Best of luck to you in whatever you choose! :nuke:

[Trillcat]

Try to focus on the little positive things you get to do all day for your residents. Yes it is like being in the trenches as already stated, but you will gain a lot of experience. After a while the changing, poopies, etc. will become old hat and you will go through it without even batting an eyelash.

You did this because you love taking care of others, especially those who can no longer take care of themselves. LTC isn't really all that bad. If you find it's not your cup of tea, simply try another route like the hospitals, mental health care/treatment facilities and so on.

Best of luck to you in whatever you choose! :nuke:

Its not the dirty work I am afraid of doing, heck, one day into clinicals and I was over that. It is the posts of understaffing, infights, borderline or just out and out abuse of people, staff and residents. I don't know if I will hold up under that pressure. I have a big mouth, the censor in my brain sometime goes on a coffee break leaving me to my own devices, lol. Comes in handy sometimes, gets me into trouble other times.

Edit: I dont mean that I will go off on the residents, or the staff. BUt, if I see something not right, I will speak up, its going to be a tough road.

[NursinginProgress]

Hello Trillcat! Being a CNA can have its faults and its benefits. I was a nurse mentor for CNA students who were struggling mentally and bookwise. The best advice I gave was to make the best of it, appreciate the value of your service, step outside the box and view it from the residents/patients perspective and know that at the end of the day you make a difference in SOMEONE's life. When it comes to staffing, I'd look the other way until they started intervening with your work and the residents. Remember duties! ^_^ Other than that ... if you can't do LTCs, keep accruing experience to gain access to hospital positions such as patient care technicians and/or nurse attendants. Good luck in life and its never too late to rechange your path!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

Every workplace has its own bullcrap, healthcare or not. It's really not that bad.

[Katie89]

You won't necessarily have to work in LTC out of school. I was able to get a job in a hospital right away. Just be willing to make some sacrifices, for example working 3rd shift or PMs.

If you do end up having to work in LTC, at least it's only temporary...and you will be a better CNA/nurse for it. It's good to have the basics drilled into you before you start learning/working the more specific stuff. I do wish I had the experience of my coworkers who have worked LTC.

And besides, you may find that it's not as bad as you think, seeing as how you already have a low perception of it. There will definitely be good things about it. I loved certain parts of working with the elderly during my clinicals. You may even end up loving it, who knows? Not every place is terrible.

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

Its not the dirty work I am afraid of doing, heck, one day into clinicals and I was over that. It is the posts of understaffing, infights, borderline or just out and out abuse of people, staff and residents. I don't know if I will hold up under that pressure. I have a big mouth, the censor in my brain sometime goes on a coffee break leaving me to my own devices, lol. Comes in handy sometimes, gets me into trouble other times.

Edit: I dont mean that I will go off on the residents, or the staff. BUt, if I see something not right, I will speak up, its going to be a tough road.

If you have a big mouth you're going to have to learn to keep a tight lip at times. You will have to learn to pick and choose your battles. No matter where you work, there's always going to be something you don't like. It happens everywhere. Just remember that you must look towards your goal and get there. It will sometimes be a rough road up ahead, but once you've achieved that you will look back and remember it was all worth it.