Your first cna assignment on your own

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Attention all cnas, how much orientation did you receive before your own assignment was orientation good or you were thrown into the wolves on your own

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Idk how many days of orientation I was supposed to get before I got thrown to the wolves however I know that I worked one day and got orientated to my floor (its mostly rehab but a few LTC's about 23 pts on average) and then the next night I came in I was sent to work on a complete LTC hall it was awful. Third night I came in I asked to have my own group of pts. The following week I was forced to work the entire floor by myself for one night because of a call out and this is my first CNA job lol

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I had like 5 shifts with a precepter I think, which is more than most. Your last shift or two during orientation should be you pretty much doing everything yourself, so when you are on your own you wont be floundering because its the first time you've done something without help.

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Idk how many days of orientation I was supposed to get before I got thrown to the wolves however I know that I worked one day and got orientated to my floor (its mostly rehab but a few LTC's about 23 pts on average) and then the next night I came in I was sent to work on a complete LTC hall it was awful. Third night I came in I asked to have my own group of pts. The following week I was forced to work the entire floor by myself for one night because of a call out and this is my first CNA job lol

Wow that's crazy, I remember my first nursing home job as a cna, my first day was orientation like signing paperwork and getting a tour of the facility I was promised by human resources as a brand new aide out of school that I was to get at least 2weeks of orientation in 2nd shift till I was comfy 1week on dementia and longbterm unit and 1week on rehab unit well I came in the next day for my first day on dementia unit the wing was short 1cna the girl I was supposed to orient with made it clear to everyone she was not training me while we are short and I ended up with a list on my own! the girl looked mean like straight from the ghetto I said its my first day as a cna ever from school and the charge nurse says to me do ur best just ask for help and my trainer didn't even tell me who gets up for dinner or my patients needs she snapped look in the care cards in their closets there were none in closet since it was a dementia unit I did my best but was so slow and asking for help w transfers boosts was like pulling teeth I was responded w attitudes from cnas and snappy remarks like mrs. So and so weighs 80lbs I lift her alone when I actually saw her care card stated two cna transfer she was deadweight and frail the nasty aide I was supposed to b training with put mrs. So and so by herself in the chair with an attitude and dirty look as If I was a burden I wanted to be safe I had cared for one patient yelling and swinging at me she didn't want to get up for supper so I washed her up and told a charge nurse she refused and she snaps she has to get up I said I was taught in school that I shouldn't force a patient to do anything I was told t hat woman had dementia and has no choice but to get up I tried again and she refused I let her stay in bed she said she was sick and she did throw up :( the rest of the night was hell I took no breaks while the cnas and nurses smoked chatted on cell phones and took their dinner breaks while I struggled asking for help was a nightmare very hostile environment to work for the 2nd day was worse as I was moved to the rehab unit since they were short and was hell except the patients were more alert and could tell me their needs way too needy though I quit after that night because the aides and nurses didn't want to help me or make me welcome not only I had a list alone but wasn't told about the patients needs and I received no help I work in a facility now with good team work most cnas and nurses are good

Sorry u had to go thru hell but u seem like a strong cna keep up the good work nights aren't all that easy

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

As an inexperienced CNA fresh out of school, I received four days of orientation, then was left to my own devices. My first day off orientation actually wasn't bad because I had a senior CNA still helping me out as needed. My second night on my own, though, was awful -- I was running late getting all my people changed for bed and several people SCREAMED at me for not going fast enough. I felt horrible and thought I'd made a huge mistake going into this line of work. From then on, though, it did start to get better, although there'd still be the occasional rough shift where someone would call out and I'd have 20+ residents to take care of my own.

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Specializes in None.

When I first got a job at a nursing home/rehab center I had 10 days/shifts. However, if I needed more they said it wouldn't be a problem. I now am working at a hospital and it varies. The longest my supervisor has seen is four weeks and as short as two weeks. I believe you should be given adequate time, meaning you feel comfortable with taking on patients/residents by yourself. If your employer is pushing you to get started before you are comfortable- tell them. Safety first for the patients.

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My second nursing home job I only had a week orientation on south wing and one day on the north wing and then I was on my own, my orientation was mostly cnas leaving me alone and they did their own thing I learned to tougheN up and I was slow but gradually built up speed my third nursinf home job where I'm currently at I had 4days orientation 2days on dementia long term wing and two days on rehab wing since I had 4years cna experience the two days out of four days of my orientation there was a call out and I received lists on my own but the aides and nurses were helpful and kind to tell me the patients needs and routines I had experience but didn't know the patients my supervisor asked me if I felt comfortable taking a list by myself and I said yes I don't want to b a burden to the others I go have prior cna experience just tell me the routines and needs and I did well, I was unemployed for 3months before starting at my current job so I was ready to work

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At the LTC I had only 2 days orientation with zero experience I just got hired at a hospital and training is 2 weeks

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ICU.

Wow that's crazy, I remember my first nursing home job as a cna, my first day was orientation like signing paperwork and getting a tour of the facility I was promised by human resources as a brand new aide out of school that I was to get at least 2weeks of orientation in 2nd shift till I was comfy 1week on dementia and longbterm unit and 1week on rehab unit well I came in the next day for my first day on dementia unit the wing was short 1cna the girl I was supposed to orient with made it clear to everyone she was not training me while we are short and I ended up with a list on my own! the girl looked mean like straight from the ghetto I said its my first day as a cna ever from school and the charge nurse says to me do ur best just ask for help and my trainer didn't even tell me who gets up for dinner or my patients needs she snapped look in the care cards in their closets there were none in closet since it was a dementia unit I did my best but was so slow and asking for help w transfers boosts was like pulling teeth I was responded w attitudes from cnas and snappy remarks like mrs. So and so weighs 80lbs I lift her alone when I actually saw her care card stated two cna transfer she was deadweight and frail the nasty aide I was supposed to b training with put mrs. So and so by herself in the chair with an attitude and dirty look as If I was a burden I wanted to be safe I had cared for one patient yelling and swinging at me she didn't want to get up for supper so I washed her up and told a charge nurse she refused and she snaps she has to get up I said I was taught in school that I shouldn't force a patient to do anything I was told t hat woman had dementia and has no choice but to get up I tried again and she refused I let her stay in bed she said she was sick and she did throw up :( the rest of the night was hell I took no breaks while the cnas and nurses smoked chatted on cell phones and took their dinner breaks while I struggled asking for help was a nightmare very hostile environment to work for the 2nd day was worse as I was moved to the rehab unit since they were short and was hell except the patients were more alert and could tell me their needs way too needy though I quit after that night because the aides and nurses didn't want to help me or make me welcome not only I had a list alone but wasn't told about the patients needs and I received no help I work in a facility now with good team work most cnas and nurses are good

Sorry u had to go thru hell but u seem like a strong cna keep up the good work nights aren't all that easy

Thanks I look back on that night and laugh now. I feel like I can handle anything now I'm super woman lol

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