Terrible first clinical experience (CNA)

2 I'm taking my nursing assisting class, a pre-nursing requisite. I started clinicals yesterday, and I'm dreading going in again tomorrow. Not because I'm doing a bad job, I'm doing a good job, and the CNAs I'm shadowing love me. The patients who I got to know love me too, and the charge nurse loves me for volunteering to come in this weekend to play piano. It was terrible because I hated the way these patients got treated... and because no sanitation is used!

It's an assisted living facility, I worked on a unit for those who needed daily care, who were dealing with dementia. The day started okay, I helped with breakfast, I helped with feeding and cleaning and all that. It started when I had to assist in helping with a bed bath. This woman was completely bed bound, unable to speak. My guess is it was alzheimer's at a very late stage.

The CNAs I was working with decided to let me and another student take over for this, which was fine because I needed the experience. They sat in chairs. But then they turn on MTV, and banter back and forth about this woman's family, and how horrible her sister is. This was after they removed her clothes and left he laying there completely naked on the bed, no bath blanket or anything. I asked for a bath blanket and they said "oh we don't really do that... I guess you can check the linen closet." They threw towels on the floor... one of the CNAs didn't even wash her hands or wear gloves.

This type of insensitivity went on throughout the day. After lunch is "down time" because everyone takes a nap, so the CNAs literally do nothing. They sit in the work station. I wander the halls looking for things to do, I see a call light on (I haven't gotten used to checking for those yet... but the woman claimed it was on for 30 minutes, and I believe her). She was sitting in her wheelchair, and said she needed so many things and I wouldn't be able to help her. but she said she was cold, and wanted to be in her bed. I told her that her needs were very important to me, and that I would go find a CNA and we would help her. I finally find the CNAs in the work station, they tell me, "oh she's always confused after lunch. She'll give you hard time if you let her..." "Is it really a problem to move her to a bed when everyone else is in a bed?" "She doesn't know what she wants, just turn her call light off."

My unit wasn't nearly as bad as a unit down where some other students were (leaving patients on standing lifts for 15-20 minutes, who can't hold themselves up because it's 'easier to clean them that way.' Not cleaning their bottoms, or under skin folds, or even their legs... where they constantly smell like poo and urine).

I go in again tomorrow, and I don't know what to do. I know that for my standards I need to provide the kind of care that gives dignity, but I can't dictate to a CNA, when I am just the student who will be here for a few weeks. What can I do? Is this kind of thing normal? I work as a vet tech... and I treat dogs better than this...

This experience in all honesty has made me want to die in a car accident tomorrow, before ever getting old and being in that situation. I would rather lose the rest of my life now, than to end up being in that situation later. Last edit by bustthewave on Feb 22, '11 : Reason: Edited words that weren't words
I'm sorry that you are having this experience, and I don't have any advice to offer. But I just wanted to say that I think you are going to be a great nurse. The residents are very lucky to have you, if only for a short time as a student-CNA. Good luck in your education and career.

Typical. Not sure what else to say, but as others here I'm sure will tell you, this situation is not out of the ordinary. I think you might be overreacting slightly as you are used to the standards taught in school, which are often ignored once you hit the floor in nursing. But you're right, and sadly nothing you say or do at this place is likely to change what anyone else does. All you can do is offer the best care you can, and hope and pray a few others follow.

Quote from CaregiverGraceTypical. Not sure what else to say, but as others here I'm sure will tell you, this situation is not out of the ordinary. I think you might be overreacting slightly as you are used to the standards taught in school, which are often ignored once you hit the floor in nursing. But you're right, and sadly nothing you say or do at this place is likely to change what anyone else does. All you can do is offer the best care you can, and hope and pray a few others follow.

I would address your concerns with your teacher or director of your program.Its a shame that these ones are being taken care of so poorly

I am not going to agree that it is ok for this to happen. I've been in healthcare a while now, started out as a CNA/HHA and tech. I would never treat my patients that way then nor do I now. But what IS hard to realize, once you hit the floor is that not all people share your views. You can only give the best care you can and can't be responsible for other people. Yes, you can report people for negligence but not much you can do for those who truly don't care. If you allow it, it will eat you up inside. You need to learn that while YOU are there, your patients are getting the best you can provide. That is what is important. Listen, I had to leave the nursing home I worked at as a CNA due to the fact it was KILLING me. At that time, 3 aides for 65 patients, I was making less than $4 an hour and was working 65-70 hours a week and I still couldn't pay my bills. It broke my heart to leave, and my patients all told me "who will care for me when you are gone?"....but I had to live. If I didn't make a move, I would have ended up homeless. I've come to realize over the years...it's not just the elderly but anyone who isn't able to speak up for themselves that are at risk. As a nurse, my job is to advocate for such patients..to be that voice in the wilderness when no one else will speak up. If you are becoming a CNA to eventually become a nurse, remember this time. Take it with you to your classes, nursing clinicals and eventually your job. I tell you now, it won't change when you become a nurse. Just follow YOUR standard for how to care for your patients..do the best you can and you have to leave the rest in God's hands.

Quote from bustthewaveThis experience in all honesty has made me want to die in a car accident tomorrow, before ever getting old and being in that situation. I would rather lose the rest of my life now, than to end up being in that situation later.

Thank you for your concern for those patients (residents). Now you have a firsthand example of how crappy some healthcare workers can be. Good luck in school.

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately this sort of treatment is not rare at all. I too have seen the neglect and abuse of residents and I shudder to think of any of my family or myself ending up in a nursing home.Maybe discuss your experience with your clinical educator and ask for advice on how to deal with these situations.

First off, i want to thankyou for your concern for these residents!! It is bad patient care....Not only is this a "resident" it is someones mother, someones sister etc. maybe this residents sister is "horrible" because the CNA's are horrible!! Ok, so here is my two cents on this.I was a CNA for 3 years on a unit that sounds ALOT like this unit; however we were "state of the art" facility. They took NOTHING lightly, any concern that was brought to the manager, we were gone!! Our CNA's were very very good-- we've never had a complaint before about anyone. Our residents were taken very well care of. Given we had "down time" after lunch as well, but we knew which residents wanted to take a nap. We would work on teams to get them to sleep, in bed and comfortable in the way they like. (We had residents who prefered to take a nap in a recliner--wasnt 'neglect' it was just wat they like). So try to think of some things like that...i mean the CNA's DO know the residents, and they do have their routines. But leaving a call light on for 30 minutes should never ever happen! EVER!!...our manager actually has us do activities with residents who are awake. This keeps us up/moving and not being lazy. We only had like 3 or 4 that would stay awake during this time, so we would do things like bake cookies for snack time. Snack time was after nap....or if it was nice out we would take the residents for a walk outside. We would put the ones in wheelchairs that needed to be. Get everyone comfortable/in the right clothing etc. This is the way a nursing home should be!!!! What really makes me mad about this though, is they had to pay EXTRA for this care!!! No one should have to pay "extra" for this sort of care....it should be implemented at every place. The fact you are showing concern for these residents is a good thing-- it means you care, and thats what is needed in this field. Stick through it, stick up for the residents when needed. I too saw some horrible things when i was in CNA clinicals years back. I get really worked up over one thing i saw, words can't even explain how horrible it was!! You know what though?? as an ALMOST nurse (i graduate BSN in May) i do not let this occur with my patients. I now work as CNA in a hospital, if i see a patient not getting the care they deserve, i say something. You will learn your place, and what needs to be said and when to say something. I'm really happy there are people like you out in the field. You realize this is wrong, and that is what is important. Keep up the good work, and stick with it. Not every place is like this. You'll make a great nurse with the compassion you are showing.Jenni

A lot of that sounds pretty horrible, but I have had confused patients who want to get in bed, then out of bed, then in bed, then out of bed, etc. every five minutes. If I know a patient is confused and requesting things they don't genuinely want or need, I may not come running. As a student, I would have.

Quote from CaregiverGraceTypical. Not sure what else to say, but as others here I'm sure will tell you, this situation is not out of the ordinary. I think you might be overreacting slightly as you are used to the standards taught in school, which are often ignored once you hit the floor in nursing. But you're right, and sadly nothing you say or do at this place is likely to change what anyone else does. All you can do is offer the best care you can, and hope and pray a few others follow.

I don't think you're overreacting at all either. Just because this happens often does not make it ok, and hopefully these same "caregivers" will receive the same "care" when they are in a nursing home! Good for you for being such a caring person. Keep up the good work.