Perceptions We Need to See
Posted by Patti on February 6th, 2008 / Print This Post
Here’s a perception we need to consider A LOT more. This was written by a CNA who is a member of the Yahoo Nursing Assistants email group. I suggest every CNA and anyone else who reads this to stop…think…and relate. What can you do to change the way you work to prevent these perceptions? I suspect many of our voiceless residents will agree with this.
If you were me what would you see?
I’m stuck in this bed, I’m old, I’m sick and in pain most of the time. I can’t get up to do simple things that I used to do, like go to the bathroom by myself. I can’t feed myself anymore, I have to depend on someone else to cook my food and then someone else comes along and impatiently spoons a bitefull at a time and if I am slow to respond or don’t open my mouth wide enough sometimes they get angry and say “Okay, so you’re not hungry” and they leave. I am hungry, it just takes a little longer for me to eat and now you’ve decided to take my food and I am still stuck in this bed…not able to tell anyone that I’m hungry or wet
and uncomfortable, in pain. But, you’re busy and in a hurry to go to the next chore on your list.
My room has a bad odor…is it me? I had a bed bath a couple of days ago. Since then I have soiled my “brief” at least a dozen times and the person that put a clean brief on me just made a quick pass on my poor old bottom with a wipe and then threw the brief in the garbage can in the corner. I can’t complain…no one understands me. My brain doesn’t always work very well…
sometimes I think I’m just a little kid, or a young adult with my children and I forget that I’m old and stuck in my bed and depending on someone else to care for my needs.
I get lonely too sometimes. I just wish I could pick up the telephone and call someone, or get in my car and drive to a friend’s
house and share a cup of coffee. No one sits with me and just talks…everyone is always in a hurry. I would help you if I could …but I’m stuck in my bed.
I pray sometimes for the good Lord to just take me…Oh God Please…I’m tired of being in pain…being alone…being hungry, thirsty, wet and uncomfortable. Please just let me come Home and get me out of this bed.
If you were me…what would you see?
Cherry Walker, CNA, Rome, GA
February 8th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Great! thank you for the reminder… James
February 8th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
:razz:Thank you so much for your post! I, too, am a cna and I have felt that way about them, too. I have heard of doctors and nurses who thought the people in the nursing homes were just “old and are going to die anyway”. One day they might be there themselves. How will they feel then. I have worked in nursing homes, too and I try to treat the elderly the way I hope I would be treated, too, if I have to go to one of them. It is really a shame that it is a vicious cycle. cna’s don’t make the money they deserve and they are always understaffed and overworked. Thank you again so much for your post. It is so tru! Becky
February 11th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Yes this was great. I’m happy I saw it in the email group!