High priced nursing home

I have been a CNA for about 3 years. I previously worked on a surgical stepdown unit and now work on a cardiac floor. I worked in LTC for a minute thinking it was the worse, but I am beginning to think I was wrong. I feel like quitting alot of days. I feel like I am working in some high priced nursing home. Most of the patents are totals, they are not self sufficient. They poop every 30 minutes, they have C-diff, they are falls precautions, they are confused. I can go on and on. I am so tired of this. I am trying to get another job or transfer off the floor but people who have worked here for years, have told me that management makes it hard to leave. They blackball you to other unit managers, they don't give references, they write you up for things that did not happen. Management only cares about if we are over budget, and if you are walking patients! Are you kidding me!!!! :mad I barely have time to breathe!! It's all I can do some days to walk to my care because I am so tired. I am taking prereqs for nursing, but I am not going to be able to make it like this through nursing school. I am even questioning now if I even want to be a nurse anymore. I am at my wits end!!!!!!!!!!!! Should I quit or resign before I lose my mind. I am depressed.
Sorry for the long post I had to vent. Last edit by Moogie on Mar 3, '11 : Reason: All caps; edited for visual clarity
If you're question is where should you work during nursing school as a CNA so that you'll be less stressed out???, I say try the ICU. Our CNA's have it very easy and do very little work. They only touch patients when we need assistance with a bath and all they pretty much do is empty the linen carts and stock the supply drawers. The only neUgative is that they get floated a lot and that's because the ICU nurses can work without them. I know some will say I'm bashing CNA's but Im just being honest. I used to be a CNA before being a nurse and it's a hard but very rewarding job.

"MOST OF THE PATIENTS ARE TOTALS, THEY ARE NOT SELF SUFFICIENT. THEY POOP EVERY 30 MINUTES, THEY HAVE C-DIFF, THEY ARE FALLS PRECAUTIONS, THEY ARE CONFUSED. I CAN GO ON AND ON. I AM SO TIRED OF THIS I AM EVEN QUESTIONING NOW IF I EVEN WANT TO BE A NURSE ANYMORE. .....I AM AT MY WITS END!!!!!!!!!!!! SHOULD I QUIT OR RESIGN BEFORE I LOSE MY MIND. I AM DEPRESSED"Yes, and what is your point? These patients rely on their caregivers (which you currently are). If you don't like the position that you've accepted, resign and move on.In the interim, I hope you can bring yourself to give minimally adequate care, even if you have to pretend that your patients are members of your own family in order to have compassion for their current situation. Never forget - one day this may be you, your sister or your mother. Do what you must in terms of leaving the healthcare arena (and taking a hint from your post, you will be leaving soon), but while you are there, please take care of those for whom you have responsibility.

Relax roser13!!!!!!! The healthcare field can be very stressful and I guess the question was what's a less stressful job to have during the already very stressful nursing school. Damn this is why I sometimes hate venting to other nurses. Some make you feel bad for being human and being tired of dealing with ****!!!!!!

I am a great cna, I am one the best cna's that they have. I am one of the most compassionate people when it comes to patient care. My problem is that it is not enough. Management does not care about my compassion they only care about getting a patient out as quick as possible. But how can I give patients the best care if I have 13 patients at one time, and they all have many many needs. I can't get to everyone at the same time. And on this unit it is never enough. There is constant complaning to the cna that they are not doing enough. You do the best you can of course, but it is very over whelming!!!!

And to roser I give stellar care to my patients!@!!!!

Quote from mejajo08And to roser I give stellar care to my patients!@!!!!

You are welcome. I'm glad I've made myself crystal clear !!!!

I read the post about five times to see where the OP wrote that she feels animosity towards the patients and I don't see it? Am I missing something? It seems like the OP was just venting that her workload is very heavy and that management uses underhanded tactics to retain staff. When I was a CNA I used to float all over the hospital and some of the lighter units I worked on were the ICU, PACU, and ante partum, units. The thing is that those units staff less CNAs or sometimes none at all so it may be tough to get a spot. You can also try a psych or detox unit. I've never worked as a CNA in those areas but the techs that I have observed do have a lighter load than those on the medical floors or LTC. As far as you not being sure that you still want to be a nurse, hospital nursing is not the only option. Most of the future job growth in nursing is going to be outpatient (ambulatory care clinics and home health) so you don't have to work in a hospital if you don't want too. I wanted a bedside hospital job really bad when I graduated and I had to take an outpatient substance abuse job and you know what? It's been a year and I love it! I'm eligible to transfer now but I don't want to go. I've grown to really like working with the population and the consistent hours, lack of stress, and same pay as the floor nurses is sweet. With a little luck and persistence you will find your niche, good luck.

Thanks Lovely RN for your positive feedback, you totally understood my post. And what great advice you gave me some ideas I have never thought of when it comes to nursing! I will definitely take it into consideration!!Thanks alot!!!!

I feel for you. I'm a CNA presently and am going to nursing school. I so totally understand what it feels like to be overworked, underpaid, stressed out and honestly .... feeling I can't do enough for the patients I'm assigned to because I only have 2 arms and 2 legs ... I'm not a magician. On the other hand , I do more than some, as I think you do. And you know what ? We make a difference !! Keep that in mind ... and it sounds like you really do care about giving good care, so you will be a GREAT nurse !! Keep things in perspective and do all you can do and be proud to be a CNA !!I'm sure your patients are glad you are there for them !!Good LucK !! PS. dont always listen to the "know it all's" at work ....... they usually just want to bring you down :-)

Mejajo08, what about me? I had your back, what about me???? Lmao

Hi guysI just passed boards the other dayI have been a CNA for over seven years and I work in LTC and I worked during nursing school. Short staffed. . . ishy hours and underpaid Being a CNA is very challenging and very stressful and the combination of nursing school adds alot of extra stress. However being a CNA is very rewarding and it deserves alot more credit then what we get! I am an RN now but I will always be a CNA at heart and I will never forget the hard work a CNA does. CNA's mean so much to a resident or a patient. A CNA is the nurses eyes and ears for residents in LTC. Im proud that I was a CNA and I will always be a CNA.... As a new chapter in my life begins as an RN I will always have great respect for the CNA's. Maybe a new atmosphere will be good for you just remember your goals and why became a CNA in the first place and why you began nursing school. Follow your heart and a new enviroment may be a better outlook for you in the nursing career!