Nursing assistants

I know you have a shitty job (literally!). And I know that some days are miserable and you want to quit and never come back into the hospital again. But you guys are horrible excuses for aides.

I was an aide for 4 years. The job sucks, and the pay sucks even more. But seriously, when I tell you that my patient just left for surgery, and ask you to please change the bed linens, don't roll your eyes at me and tell me you have other things to do and tell me to do it myself. Making beds IS in your job description. And I would do it myself if I didn't have 2 people hollering for their discharge instructions and the desk clerk telling me I will have an admission in 20 minutes. I'm not superwoman I can't do everything myself, and if I could, you wouldn't have a job.

When I am caught up on my work and have a few free minutes to help you out, don't get all bent out of shape. I realize there are 4 people that need fed and 3 of you. That's why I am passing out meal trays. But hey, if you want me to set at the desk like the others and then yell because you don't have your work done on time I can probably manage that as well. My feet really hurt. I'm not trying to show off for the boss, I'm trying to be a team worker, an I'm trying to make some things easier...

I actually stand in the hall by my patients rooms. When I do my hourly rounding, I check the patient myself and ask questions instead of just charting that everything is alright with them. If they need something, or help to the bathroom, I take them. Maybe it's because I'm still new at everything, but because I am learning everything and I'm kinda slow I'm afraid to leave them. If they are gonna crash I want to be close by. I want them to know that I care, and I want them to get better.

I didn't think I was going to like floor nursing. I was actually worried that I was going to hate it and be miserable. But so far I have enjoyed it, and I do think I could stick around for a bit. I am learning a ton of new information daily, and although it is overwhelming, I wouldn't change it. I have the best preceptor in the world. She was my favorite nurse to work with when I was an aide. She is patient and kind, and very helpful when I have questions. She is really old-school, which I like because she does things differently but she takes awesome care of her patients. I'm hoping that it rubs off on me. So far, at the end of the day when she checks everything, she hasn't found many things that I have done wrong, and she says my patients all have wonderful things to say about me. I think that really helps my confidence. And I like that she gives me independence to care for patients, instead of hovering over me constantly and watching my every move like a hawk. It's pretty cool that I do my own thing and ask for help when I don't know how to do something.