O/T: You're in trouble now

One of the girls I work with recently lost her father-in-law.  Her mother-in-law watches her kids (she has a half of a baseball team's worth).  Once the funeral was over and life settled down a little, the kids went back to Grandma's, as usual.

"Grandma, will you take me to heaven?" one of the boys asked.

After some conversation, she figured out that he was asking to go to the cemetery.

So, she gathered everyone up, loaded them in the van and off they went.  Once they arrived, they piled out and the one who had requested the trip marched right over to the grave.

"Grandpa, Grandma has not made me soup yet."

Busted.

Happy Thanksgiving

I actually have the day off, but I'm working Friday.  I'll be home long enough to mess up the kitchen, but good, and then back to work for a day before having Saturday off.

Enjoy your Turkey Day!

Body Language

Yesterday I was standing and talking to my husband with my hands on my hips.  It wasn't a hands on hips type of conversation, that was just how I was standing.

"Don't stand like that.  It makes you look aggressive."

Funny, but I think about this at work all the time.  For some reason, arms akimbo is my default.  I catch myself standing that way constantly.  My first reaction is to put my hands behind my back when I notice it.

The other day Mrs. A asked me if I stood with my hands folded behind my back to keep myself out of trouble.

"That's exactly right," I told her.

Residents notice.  Even if they aren't able to get the words out, they can tell how you are feeling by the way you stand when you're working with them.  Arms akimbo can make them feel like you are being bossy or are in a hurry.  Arms crossed is defensive and makes them feel like you aren't listening or you don't care.  Keeping your arms relaxed at your sides when talking to them shows that you're listening and are willing to do what it takes to help them.  If they feel comfortable, they are less likely to get upset or angry and that automatically makes the day go smoother.

Dating Coworkers

I'm absolutely against coworkers dating.  And, yes, I am a hypocrite because I have worked at several jobs with my husband over the years.  I'm still against it.

This is coming up because we have a boomerang CNA who likes to date coworkers.  Who likes to live with coworkers.  And then, when the break up happens, it rocks the nursing center.  People quit, people take sides, people try to run other people off.  It's stupid, disruptive, and frustrating.  Can you imagine what the resident's think?

I could tell you, but you'd be surprised at how raunchy our elders can be.  Let's just say that whatever you just thought about it, they've already thought a hundred times before.  And their executive function is not what it used to be, so some of them just say it.  Loud.  Because they can't hear.  But a lot of other folks can.

If you simply must date a coworker, you should conduct your relationship so no one else you work with knows about it.  I worked with a couple for nearly a year before I knew they were a couple.  Even after I knew, they didn't do anything at work that indicated they were living together.  They kept their work and their home lives separate.  As it should be.

Regardless of that one good example, I've seen, oh, probably five couples break up since I started working as a CNA.  It's not good for anyone.  It hurts the residents, the rest of the staff, and the business itself.  Better to avoid it altogether.  It's a big world out there.  Find someone else to date.

Thoughts

• Resident's with dementia are like the weather in Chicago.  If you don't like it, wait a minute, it'll change.
• One eight hour shift working the floor nets me about 14000 steps according to my pedometer.  Conversely, giving 25 people meds for one shift gets me about 5000 steps, 35 people, 7500.
• The only right answer to "Are you busy?" is "What can I do for you?"
• Raising children is good training for being a CNA.  The goals are the same.  Keep them warm, clean, dry, fed, and don't let them knock the snot out of each other.