Career Corner >> Career Advice >> Not the career for me?
Not the career for me?
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Posted about 4 years ago I'm a new CNA. I've been working for about 2 weeks now. I'm sorry to say it, but I hate my job. It's emotionally overwhelming. I find myself envying the laundry lady and the housekeepers wishing I had their jobs instead. Yesterday I sat down and had a heart to heart with my DON about my concerns. She thinks I'm doing a great job, but also understands how difficult it can be. She told me to take a couple of days off and think about what I want to do. Everyone keeps telling me that it takes a special kind of person to be a CNA (or a nurse for that matter) and I can't help but wonder if I'm not that kind of person. My DON tells me that the biggest problem I have is that I'm too timid and not "abrasive" enough. I can't get the residents to do anything and I'm not willing to push them around the way the other CNAs do, so I'm pretty useless most of the time. Anyway, my DON really doesn't want me to quit and has offered me a different position. I would still be a CNA, but I'd be doing activities with the residents. Would this really be much different? Yeah, I wouldn't have to do a lot of the daily care like showers and shaving, but I still don't know. I'm "trying out" the new position this weekend, so I guess I'll have a better idea of what I want after that. I guess I'm just wondering when I should throw in the towel and decide that this just isn't for me. I mean one of the worst things you can have is a CNA whose heart isn't in it, right? Just looking for some good advice I guess. It's really tough to talk to friends and family about this since they're so excited about me going to nursing school. I don't know if they'd understand if I told them I've decided not to do it. I can't help but feel like a failure right now. Christine |
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| Posted about 4 years ago I hope you are able to make peace with your self in this situation. There is no shame in feeling emotionally overwhelmed. I assume you are working in a nursing home. I have worked in several nursing homes. There is never enough help, and no matter how hard you work it seems you are always behind. Ask yourself a few questions before you make any decisions. Is it the tasks involved that you hate? The incontinent care, the feeding, the baths, etc? If so, and if those are things that you do not want to do, then you probably will not want to stay as a CNA. Again, there is no shame in that. If you like those tasks, or at least can tolerate them, then ask yourself why it is you want to quit? You do not have to be like everybody else and be "abrasive". You can be kind and caring and still get the job done. You have only been there 2 weeks. It takes 4-6 months of working with the residents to really get a routine down. They have to get to know you too. Not everybody adapts at the same speed or the same way. It is not fair to expect that you could have your routine down after just 2 weeks on the job. Some people might be able to do that, but it is o.k. if you need more time. Maybe a different shift is the answer. Some people do better working at night. The job is the same, but there is not so much activity going on and you can focus on the resident care. I hope you hang in there and give it another try. This weekend, as you work in the activities, think about what is important to you. There is no wrong answer to that. Give yourself a chance. And if you decide you would rather work in housekeeping, that's o.k. too. Everybody has their role in the care of the residents, and nobody is any more or less important that the next person. I sincerely believe that. Take care and may God guide you as you decide what to do. peace Walter |
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| Posted almost 4 years ago Hi Christine, I just read your post and realized how similiar it was to the challenges I'm facing as a new CNA. You shouldn't feel like a failure whatsoever. I really believe being a aide is a difficult job. Usually there is never enough staffing and the nurse to patient ratio is overwhelming. I've been told it takes about half a year to get used to the residents and the position, so I would encourage you not to give up. I had been working the day shift but now work nights. I feel as a new aide working nights, or even evenings isn't as overwhelming as days. You might enjoy doing activities with the residents more than giving the more hands on care you have been. Don't give up yet, give yourself more time and realize there are different options available for you. I've learned that myself recently. Best of luck to you! |
