CNA JOB DESCRIPTION (The "Disney" version): The CNA is responsible for taking vital signs, ambulating residents, answering call lights, bathing, toileting, re-positioning charting, changing linen, keeping track of input/output.
The REALITY: CNA is responsible for getting up to 10 residents washed, dressed and ready for the day in a short amount of time. The CNA will have to search for linen, supplies and soaps (kind of like a treasure hunt). The CNA will toilet people who were toileted 10 minutes prior. The CNA will pass meal trays and run back and forth to the kitchen for the items the kitchen forgot on the tray and/or the things the resident wants. The CNA will answer a call light for the 20th time, only to have the resident say they don't need anything or don't remember. The CNA will be punched, kicked, spit on, scratched, hit and otherwise physically abused. Additionally, the CNA will be called every nasty name and swear word. The CNA will wipe shit and urine multiple times a day. The CNA can expect to clean up instances of vomit and other releases of bodily fluid. In a LTC (Long Term Facility), the CNA will not have an intelligent conversation with the residents as most are incapable/demented. The CNA will attempt to feed residents who refuse to open their mouths. The CNA will pretend to care.
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I think my heart is much too cold... or small... or non-existent (to work in a nursing home again).
The REALITY: CNA is responsible for getting up to 10 residents washed, dressed and ready for the day in a short amount of time. The CNA will have to search for linen, supplies and soaps (kind of like a treasure hunt). The CNA will toilet people who were toileted 10 minutes prior. The CNA will pass meal trays and run back and forth to the kitchen for the items the kitchen forgot on the tray and/or the things the resident wants. The CNA will answer a call light for the 20th time, only to have the resident say they don't need anything or don't remember. The CNA will be punched, kicked, spit on, scratched, hit and otherwise physically abused. Additionally, the CNA will be called every nasty name and swear word. The CNA will wipe shit and urine multiple times a day. The CNA can expect to clean up instances of vomit and other releases of bodily fluid. In a LTC (Long Term Facility), the CNA will not have an intelligent conversation with the residents as most are incapable/demented. The CNA will attempt to feed residents who refuse to open their mouths. The CNA will pretend to care.
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I think my heart is much too cold... or small... or non-existent (to work in a nursing home again).
I loved working on the rehab wing where people were there to GET BETTER and GO HOME. It was nice to *help* people who were ALERT and ORIENTED (and appreciative) and with whom you could have a conversation. It was nice to see them regain their strength and independence more and more every day.
Then I was switched to the LTC wing. UGH! Exactly what I did NOT want. I have enough "crazy" in my life, I don't need or want it for the 8 1/2 hours I am at work, too!
I am so tired of the combative, abusive crap! So tired of trying to help someone who has shit themselves while they are swinging, grabbing, punching, ripping, screaming, biting, scratching, twisting your fingers, ripping your clothes.... and SPITTING in your face!
I hate feeding people who don't want to eat. Frankly, if you don't WANT to open your damn mouth and eat more than a 1/4 of a teaspoon of food at a time, then screw you. I don't care! Starve. I don't CARE!
I hate toileting someone who has JUST been toileted 15 minutes ago because their family member insists they "have to go."
I hate cleaning dentures. That totally grosses me out!
I hate nasty old feet.
I hate cleaning shit out of the inside of pant legs because they started shitting before their ass hit the toilet seat.
I hate washing shit off the toilet seat.
I hate washing shit off the toilet seat.
I hate snot, drool and most of all, phlegm.
I hate having to repeat myself because they are deaf.
I hate having to YELL because they are deaf.
I hate pretending I care about them and I especially hate pretending to the family member(s) that I care about their loved one.
Just because someone is old doesn't make me "automatically" care about them. Caring comes from emotional give and take. It comes from having a relationship. Washing, dressing, cleaning, rolling, heaving them in and out of chairs, getting beat up by them does NOT constitute a relationship.
Dressing residents is like playing with a Mr./Mrs. Potato Head everyday. Add glasses, teeth, hearing aids, shoes...
Just because someone is old doesn't make me "automatically" care about them. Caring comes from emotional give and take. It comes from having a relationship. Washing, dressing, cleaning, rolling, heaving them in and out of chairs, getting beat up by them does NOT constitute a relationship.
Dressing residents is like playing with a Mr./Mrs. Potato Head everyday. Add glasses, teeth, hearing aids, shoes...
Honestly, I'd like to tell them, "You know what? Your mother is an asshole! She is the most rude and disgusting person here. Your mother digs shit of her ass and then sucks on her fingers!"
I hate that nurse who feels compelled to tell me, "We're here for the residents!"
The hell I am! I am here because I need a paycheck!
I hate the smell of shit wafting down the hallway.
I hate the smell of urine.
I hate dementia.
I hate management in nursing homes.
I hate the stupid things management does because THEY don't know the residents.
I hate lazy residents that won't even, literally, lift their arms because they don't WANT to.
I hate the residents who think they are the ONLY person there and that I am there to SERVE them.
I hate the residents that yell, "HEY YOU!" and "HELP! incessantly.
I hate the family members who think THEIR family member is the only one there.
I hate being a CNA. It really IS a thankless, underpaid, overworked, understaffed job.
I hate the smell of shit wafting down the hallway.
I hate the smell of urine.
I hate dementia.
I hate management in nursing homes.
I hate the stupid things management does because THEY don't know the residents.
I hate lazy residents that won't even, literally, lift their arms because they don't WANT to.
I hate the residents who think they are the ONLY person there and that I am there to SERVE them.
I hate the residents that yell, "HEY YOU!" and "HELP! incessantly.
I hate the family members who think THEIR family member is the only one there.
I hate being a CNA. It really IS a thankless, underpaid, overworked, understaffed job.
Yeah, I am SO DONE with CNA work. I don't EVER want to do it again. I'm tired of GIVING and HELPING all the damn time. I'm tired of waiting on people who abuse me. I'd rather do something I LOVE because life is really damn short and it shouldn't be wasted doing something you don't like.
CNA’s are tired of being taken advantage of. We are tired of being underpaid, unappreciated and overworked. We are tired of being treated like maids instead of healthcare professionals. We are tired of employers looking at us being as replaceable as toilet paper. If you are a CNA or thinking about becoming one you might want to hear from others who already have the job, at a CNA forum ( tiredofbeingacna ), it’s not at all what they tell you it’s going to be, it's a lot worse.
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ReplyDeleteI wouldnt do that job unless I was getting $50 an hour. Even then Im not sure.
ReplyDeleteAmen
ReplyDeleteI wanted to work instead of getting state assistance. I wanted to make more then minimum wage but I couldnt go to college without a high school diploma so I decided to take the CNA course. I didnt try to get my high school dipolma because I figured I was working already,so Im fine..I got comfortable and settled ,but in the back of my mind I wanted to do better..I've been doing CNA for 25 years..jumping from job to job..The longest I stayed on one job was 5 years..CNA is a back breaking and exhausting job and when we're short staff then we become a burnt out CNA..When this happens it makes it difficult to give good quality care to patients..But there is no reason to yell and ignore patients. I've witness CNA's and nurses yelling at patients and just ignore the patients. No matter how tired and burnt out I'am, I do not yell or ignore the patients. I've seen so much in my 20+ Years as a CNA. I can't take it anymore. I'm done. I finally got my high school dipolma and I'm ready for school..Not nursing,but dentistry.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteccna courses london
Yes, I’ve been a CNA for over ten years and I’m so sick and tired of it. The staff is always getting cut and they do not care if we’re working short. Why is it that the CNAs must always be held accountable for their actions? Why is it that the CNAs must have a positive attitude and a caring spirit and a compassionate spirit and all that other bullshit? Why are we the ones being thrown to the wolves; sacrificed to the Lions and thrown underneath the bus all of the time. Corporate doesn’t care. I enjoy helping people but I don’t enjoy taking care of people. There’s a difference. I believe that I’m taking care of people and I’m seen as being expendable. I don’t matter and I’m not as important as the registered nurse. I know that the RN has their own amount of crap that they deal with but I don’t have a RN behind my name. I”m a CNA and that’s what I”m focused on because no one cares that I’m underpaid and no one cares about me at all. The corporate doesn’t care about CNAs at all. They just don’t care. If they did then they would be properly staffed and we’d have the staff that we need. You can tell me that CNAs are important all you want to and we’re needed and all that other crap because I just don’t believe it. I’ve become some apathetic that it’s insane. I just don’t care anymore. I know that as a CNA, I don’t matter and that I’m not important and Corporate doesn’t care about me at all. I’m past being jaded and I’m apathetic because I’ve seen it all and I’ve done it all. I know what’s what and I just don’t care at all. You can’t tell me anything. I don’t wanna join some CNA council in order to improve conditions because it never works. And I don’t like it. CNAs are never going to be a lot of money because of the educational requirements for the position are nil to none. I am past caring about it. I just don’t care because Corporate doesn’t care. How am I supposed to care when Corporate doesn’t care? I can’t give patients the compassionate and the caring that they require because this nursing profession has sucked me dry and I have no more to give to patients. I just want to go home and get my pay check because I’m done attempting to make excuses for why things in my profession. So that’s it.
ReplyDeleteWorking as an CNA sucks the life out of you and I just don't care anymore.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I work for two different staffing agencies and I would work at these facilities and I would say to myself...."Thank you Lord I don't work as a full-time CNA anymore" CNA work is very exhausting and every patient has different needs. The residents would get mad at you if you're late or if you're helping someone else. It feels like when I work at these facilities you're running your ass off until your shift is over. CNA SUCKS but it pays the bills. :)
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ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to write for a while since I found this blog. First off, I think it's a shame you haven't written in a long while. Second, I am sorry you got lambasted as bad as you did, I all too well, know a lot of the same problems. Also being a CNA that's why I resonated so strongly with this one post, because it sums up many years in this business in a nutshell. I also hate lazy "superiors" in administration AND even lazier-lack-of-common-sense nurses who moan they don't get paid enough (almost 20.00+ an hr) when all they do is really sit on their behinds gossip and read or cruise youtube/facebook. While crabbing they have to do SOOO much. While ignoring residents and call lights that per policy they are supposed to help us with. I would absolutely love to make as much as they make for doing mostly nothing for 12 hours and have 3 or 4 days off depending on how the days go. When I am the one usually constantly running for lazy residents or coworkers who are usually hiding outside in the smoking area or stuffing their faces in the kitchenettes. Abother thing that people do not tell you is how sick you get on a regular basis. Because these places are usually infested with horrible bacteria and insects. I have had to become my own amateur doctor, because I cant afford one due to very low wages and the crappy insurance they offer is so expensive I might as well not have it. I have had all manner of nasty illnesses and infections, including staph and MRSA, cellulitis, fungal infections. All because residents can't practice basic manners or hygiene and NOT cough on you or refuse to wash after the bathroom. I have had to start spraying my dirty scrubs with Lysol when I get home. Along with keeping them separately in the wash, I never wear my shoes past the front door. Theres a drawer in my bathroom that is stocked with homeopathic medicine and bandages. Its helped, believe me. I take a smaller kit with me to work. I also keep surgical soap in my shower, just so I can feel human again. Plus dont even get me started with getting other employment, my fondest wish is to get out and go into a completely different field. I have rewritten my resume so many times its unreal. Ive been byassed by people sometimes quite rudely in many HR places, if I try to apply. I think keeps many poor souls from getting other work outside of healthcare without racking up huge debt to go to school. I have tried for years to get other jobs, but as soon as recruiters see CNA as the my most current experience, I automatically get rejected. They don't even want to see what I can do, or train me, heck they don't even want to give me a chance at all. I am automatically worthless material. Every place wants a cookie cut perfect fit right off the street. I keep being told to just be a nurse, I have refused. I already have severe burnout and a worse temper, I used to be a happy, nice person who liked people. Now Im a closeted arsehole who hates most of the elderly, and who doesnt go a night without wanting to strangle someone with a pull cord. How I wish I had the luxury of quitting like many old coworkers seem to do. I cry a lot, all I think of is when will this decade long nightmare end? I want to enjoy what's left of my youth and focus on healing "me" with out hearing call lights every time I sleep or dreaming of people screaming "I gotta peeeeee" at me constantly. I only stay for the paycheck anymore.
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