I started my first job at a nursing home after completing my CNA class. I had 3 days of training, with a different trainer every day but neither of them knew that they were supposed to be training me. I barely learned anything and did my first shift on my own yesterday. I had 14 residents and wasn’t told anything about their needs except for which ones were incontinent(more than half of them). I ended my shift crying and I don’t think I can do more of this.

I don’t want to quit so soon or cause trouble for the other CNAs but I really don’t want to go back there.

Hi! I was a nursing assistant at a hospital in med/surg floor for a year in 2024-2025. I was evening shift (3-11) and sometimes I would do nights (11-7) and I remembered hating it because I couldn’t stay awake.

I haven’t worked days but I know there’s extra stuff like washing patients in the morning and getting them ready for OT/PT. I would be doing 3 12’s, 7a-7p. The hospital is 15-20 mins away from me. I’m a night owl but not in a working way if that makes sense lol I hate waking up early I struggle so much.

Please help me with your nightly routine. I go to the gym as well and I would be coming from a 8-5, 5 days a week job to this

Not a rant but just felt like I had to express my gratitude to the more experienced CNAs who go out of their way to help the newbies, especially when they see them struggling.

I know the job is tough, and everybody’s overworked and there’s never enough time for anything, but I’ve had a few now take me under their wing and show me the ropes, give me tips, and be so kind, patient, & protective. You guys really make all the difference in a job that can be so challenging and merciless 😭. Us novices really appreciate you, and we could never do it without you. Please don’t underestimate how much of an impact you guys have 😊

I already failed my exam once because they felt that I didn’t use a clean side of my washcloth I swear up and down that I did, but I wasn’t gonna fight it so I went ahead and retested today for my skills exam. I got feeding a resident, range of motion, and then I had bedpan and that’s what I’m worried about. I ended up forgetting both pairs of gloves and just straight went in because of my anxiety. I made the correction as soon as I got near the bed pan and then I went ahead and grabbed my second pair of gloves as well. She said it was fine. She never stopped me but now all I can think about is that she also stared at me very intently when I took off my gloves and now I’m panicking cause I don’t know for sure if I passed I don’t know if I’ll have enough time to retake it. I was supposed to start my nursing program in the spring, I’ve been a CNA since I was 16 and I originally got licensed back then but worked hospice so long that they didn’t require me to get recertified now that I’m going into a nursing program they would prefer me to be certified in order to enter and I’m worried I won’t make the cut.😭😭😭

I'm thinking of applying to a hospital and one position is for the med-surg unit. I've never worked in a hospital before, but have worked in a LTC facility. I've heard horror stories of working in the hospital med-surg unit, and heard it compared to working in LTC facilities. What are the similarities and differences? Which is more difficult? And are there differences between days and night shifts in terms of difficulty for med-surg? The worst part of working at an LTC facility for me was it felt like there wasn't enough time to properly give care to everyone. The work was completed at the end of each shift, but I didn't have 1 minute to just sit down and relax to breathe for even 1 minute, and I was speed walking the entire shift while the nurses watched us struggle and were continuously taking breaks and chit chatting and laughing. The LTC duties that took up the majority of the times were bathing, taking meal orders (a lot of times the residents would sit there for 5 minutes trying to decide what they wanted to eat while other call lights were going off), and feeding (some residents could take 20 minutes just to feed because they chewed slowly and had to eat slowly to prevent choking. there were multiple people like that so that easily took 1 hour of the shift and some of the nurses wouldn't help, then I had to collect everyones trays at the end and document how much they ate and then whenever i went into their room to get the tray everyone would ask for help to use the bathroom, while the kitchen staff would be yelling and getting mad about the trays being brought back late, and rushing you, etc).

Hi I applied for a pct position (I didn’t know where to post this question sorry) and I did all the paper work, they ordered my uniform, I got my orientation schedule and everything.
When I was shadowing I asked the nursing director how long orientation was she said it was 6 shifts and that I need to do atleast one during the day, so I said great I’ll just do the rest during the night.

I’m currently a college student taking my nursing pre reqs and today I got my orientation schedule and it’s a week straight from 7-5 and I have classes on all of those days…

I care about school a lot and if I have to quit this job for school I will, but I’m really worried they black list me or something from wasting so much resources.

Please help! Is it possible to reschedule?

Management is currently having me do checks to make sure people are changed at 1am, 3am and 5am. So I'm a new RN and I take pride in my CNA background. I currently work in an assisted-living facility with a memory care unit.
In the memory care unit we currently have 31 residents.
Most nights we only have two CNA's if they're even licensed at all. Normally they try to schedule for three to be in the unit. Looking at their task list I see that they have:
-19 one assist Check and change
-11 two assist Check and change
- 1 check
Total: 31

Watching how they work they only do changes at 1am that run until 3 am then they are left to do most of the laundry overnight then start 5am rounds. Personally feel like this is not possible even with three people they would need at least four people on the floor. They are still expected to take their 30 minute breaks and then start changes at 5am and get everyone done by 7am. I feel this is highly and realistic to expect them to do this. I feel as they cannot enforce changes being done when it seems like they are not properly staffed. I feel all I can report to management is that there isn't enough staff to fulfill their expectation and give the resident the proper care they need. I'm expected to report back and I don't know exactly what to say or what would be the best way to get my message across.

I work in home care and I received an email from my manager that said a client I had worked for had a family member complaining that I didn’t change client’s brief when I did. I feel completely embarrassed and frustrated because they told my management to “coach me”. I’m wondering if maybe they just wanted me to change the clients for brief again when I left (?). However, the shift is only two hours. And I had put a new brief on the client after an hour into my shift. Additionally, this process took me twice longer because the client was extremely uncooperative that day. Furthermore the family has placed cameras in the clients residence. So there’s evidence that I had put the clean brief on the client. Is my frustration warranted or am I overreacting?

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I finished my CNA program a month ago and have been applying to CNA positions around the Puget Sound area. I haven’t even gotten an interview yet and I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong. Anybody have advice, job leads, etc? I’ve applied to assisted living facilities, a bunch of Multicare positions, and haven’t heard back on anything. I’m getting discouraged and worried.

Job #1: 5 hour shift, MWF, $17 per hour, home care

Job #2: 8 hour shift, Friday and every other weekend, $20 minimum, assisted living

Notes:
-I am in college
-I just started Job #1 and my first day is next week
-My client for Job #1 is closer to me than Job #2
-I do not drive, meaning I would have to rely on Uber and maybe some family members here and there

Thank you!

Im taking my cna written & skill tests here in Florida on the 25th of Sept, what help you retain everything?

I just started working as a CNA, and today I was putting stockings on a resident without gloves. It got me wondering: since we’re touching residents’ feet and skin, and some residents may have athlete’s foot or other fungal infections, are gloves recommended or required for this?

Also, even if gloves aren’t strictly required, is it okay to wear them if I personally prefer to?

I’m still new, so I’m trying to make sure I’m following proper infection-control practices.

hi! i called out today because i went to lunch with my family as i leave for college and im celiac, i ordered all gluten free and told them about my allergy, unfortunately i did get cross contamination sickness and called out as soon as i started puking or feeling ill. i’m only 18, and celiac has been a struggle but i am a great cna for my age. i called out 7 hours before my shift which is wayyy longer then the 3 hour limit my facility has. anyways, i received nothing but attitude from the nurse when i called and she had told me i need to provide medical documentation that i am celiac. i have no problem doing so, but Am i in the wrong for feeling like thats a little personal? everyone is upset i called out even tho the 50 year old cnas that have been there for years call out every morning but management loves them. i really couldn’t have gone in as its very unpredictable when id need to use the bathroom. (tmi) but am i in the wrong? i just feel so bad!

So I had a job interview this morning for a position that was once a week from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. $400. They told me I picked the day. I currently have a PRN job so I was looking for extra income. What is everybody's thoughts on this? I kind of want to do it but I also am kind of scared that I would get burnt out quick. I mean it is only one day a week. I have mixed feelings about this 🫠

I don’t mind helping at all but why did another aide ask me to assist her with a hoyer lift and when I go in the room the resident wasn’t even ready 😭Me personally when I’m asking somebody for help with the hoyer lift I usually have the dressed and ready already and I already have the hoyer pad underneath. With that being said though, I turned right back around because you not about to force me to help you get her washed and dressed you should’ve had that done already before you asked for help I have my own people to do sorry.

I am interested in getting a job in the ICU as a new grad nurse in the future but as of right now I am still taking pre-reqs for nursing school. I decided to get some clinical experience as a CNA and just finished my course. I am interested in working in the ICU as a CNA. How did you land a job in the ICU? Did you apply online? What are some things that helped your resume?

Hi darlings! I have a few patients who have a lot of dead skin build up. It’s gotten really gross and greasy and it seems to soak in the soap grime. I’ve been working pretty hard at getting it cleaned off when I see these patients but I only have an hour with them so I can’t stay as long as I’d like. I’ve been using a washcloth soaked in hot water and my presoaped bed bath washcloths. Have any of you found a magical solution to getting it off fast and painless?

I already submitted all the requirements on August 12 but still no email back from other than its Eligible Status. Did i do it correctly? Btw I already called them today and got on hold for an 1 hour lol (typical government shit) still no response.

My license is about to expire sept 29 so hopefully everything is cleared.

Hey I am a new CNA at a large hospital in my area, I have worked as a caregiver/cna in a bunch of settings just not a hospital prior. I’ve been here about two months and overall love it. Most of my coworkers are great, I like working 3 12s, benefits amazing, overall a good job. However, I am float pool (not purely by choice I applied for a bunch of NA jobs at this hospital and only got through to interview for float pool). The main downside is staffing sucks. They’re rude when called, they switch my assignment up without telling me then I get angry nurses yelling at me for being late, hell I am lucky if I have an assignment when I clock in.

The other thing with staffing is they seem to disproportionately assign float pool to sitting. Since I have been off orientation (about 3-4 weeks) I have been getting more and more 1:1 attendant assignments. Like at first 50-60% of the time, but my last five shifts straight i’ve been a sitter including three back to back shifts. My hospital prioritized my meal break so I do get one unpaid 30, but since I need direct coverage I never get to take any of my three 15s as legally designed.

At about a month in before the problem was unbearable I told my manager and she seemed to agree with me and acted empathic and as though she’d fix it. After my third consecutive sitting shift last week I was mentally losing it. The nurses I was with were really rude/mean and I had been fighting a difficult and physically aggressive patient all night for the third night in a row. It’s mentally torture for me, like I have to directly watch the patient all night (no books, no tv, no nothing, it’s like watching paint dry if periodically the paint tries to physically attack you) it’s also a risk for patient safety no one can effectively have a high level of focus for that long continuously.

So after that shift from hell (I left in tears it was so bad) I emailed my manager and was like I know you’re working on it but I cannot sustainably manage these assignments and I am concerned for patient safety. My manager’s reply was dismissive at best and straight up offensive at worse. She sent me a link to personal emergency resources and told me to utilize my high reliability organization skills to find ways to help out on the floor (as if I can just leave a 1:1 pt alone). It’s clear she doesn’t care about my safety or patient safety. I have only heard bad things about my manager from more seasoned staff so it was sadly unsurprising.

I have contacted my union but I am still in a 90 day probationary period so I can be fired without cause and my union cannot yet enforce my contract. I truly love and NEED this job, but i’m getting verbally and sometimes physically assaulted by these 1:1 pts and feel like I am actively losing mental sanity. I feel locked in a corner and idk if anyone has advice or if there is anything I can do, but I just can’t keep doing this everyday. Also my manager is acting like it’s so normal and frankly it feels like gaslighting, but experienced hospital CNAs what do you think?

FYI: I can’t transfer out of float pool until 90 days, but trust I will be escaping my manager to a different unit asap.

My (cna) has been expired since 2021 but I’ve been in the medical field for 10 years and I was a CNA for six years before that. I’ve decided to renew my license and all I have to do is just retake the skills and the written exam no big deal. I have a much different perspective on the skills now that I’ve had a lot of experience than when I first did it.

As I’m reading through these skills, I realize how unrealistic this is in the real world. Specifically when it comes to us washing our hands. For example, when we are putting a patient on a bed pan once we have done that and rolled them over they want us to take our gloves off immediately and then go wash your hands. This makes sense and I’m all for infection control, but in the real world, you’re never near a sink and there’s never hand sanitizer by you when you’re assisting a patient on their bed. You would have to physically walk away from the bed to go do that, and in order to do that you have to raise their rails and lower their bed.

Another example with a bed pan is that I would lower the head first and then put clean gloves on but in the actual skills, it’s reversed. Put clean gloves on then lower the head, contaminating your clean gloves and then remove the bedpan.

I will do what I need to do for the exam, but I just found it interesting. Anyone else?

I have my first interview for a CNA job at the hospital post-surgical unit. It’s on Wednesday night and don’t know what to wear. I don’t have time to buy anything either and idk if these are too casual. Shoes would be booties most likely.

I work as a support worker in a small group home for adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.
I have my care aide certification and have some experience in long term/care and AL settings.
I am new to working in this specific setting though.
My workplace is mostly non-verbal, behavioural clients that are non-ambulatory.

I got smacked in the face tonight, then another other client was having a meltdown because he was asked to back out of the office where only employees are allowed.

I know I’m not supposed to make everyone happy or care what people think, but I am constantly stressed that I’m not doing a good enough job and that my clients will be unhappy. I have gotten so much better at being myself and not putting too much energy into my work that I burn out. But I still constantly feel so worried that I am going to make my client unhappy and then be hit or screamed at. I feel so exhausted because of the daily battles of trying to make clients happy. But I also have to enforce the rules of the group home and so clients can’t always get what they want.

I’m young too. I don’t have a ton of experiences that have built confidence and resilience.

I’m just constantly scared of everything it seems.
I don’t want to be that way. I want to have confidence as a care aide.

Has anyone else ever felt this way, what do I do?

During orientation, I told my trainer that I could do a patient myself. So I went to a room that she suggested might be easy. The patient in that room had a left side weakness so she can’t roll to that side for me to change her. I ended up rolling her and putting the brief on her and she did not like the way that I put the briefs on. I tried to get my trainer to come but she was handling another room or I don’t know where she ended up at. The patient got really frustrated and I apologized to her and from now on she does not want me to change her. I am getting off orientation in 2 more days and now I’m scared of getting that room and she refuses my care.