Have worked in nursing homes and hospitals, get into a hospital! Nursing homes are insane for a CNA, LPN, etc. but in particular a CNA. You will burn out unless you're already a bit insane and more than a little bit mean hearted. Your ratio in a hospital can be 20 to 1 and it's still more sane than a nursing home at 12 to 1 (unlikely you'll ever see that except when a rash of new hires come in, not to worry about your job cause they'll leave just as quickly).

Family memebers take heed. It's us who wipes granny's butt, feeds her, gets her up, dresses her, puts her to bed, calls her sweetheart (againt government regulations). That nurse you're drowling over gives her meds to keep her calm and has a dozen or more like her, if she gets her meds on time it's a miracle. Report us for not turning her at 2pm and forget we've got 11 + other residents to do, change their pants, and duck when they take a swing at us, and destory their backs lifting them up. Ask me anything any of you I've been at this 11 years and that's a lifetime career for a CNA, in fact 2 lifetimes! Went to a hospital and sooooooooo glad I did otherwise I'd be doing something I won't love. Being a caregiver is in my blood, being destroyed by it, isn't.

Follow-ups:

• RE: Hospitals    Melinda (2/2/2004 5:15:51 PM)
• RE: Hospitals    Dona (1/29/2004 12:58:36 PM)
  • RE: RE: Hospitals    Melinda (2/2/2004 5:19:07 PM)