I love working second shift. I always have, even when I worked in an office. There's something about having the morning to do what I want that makes me happy. Also, when you're at work, it has the most natural rhythm. It's busy when you come in to work, but then slows down as the night goes on.
First shift is rough because you are running two-forty the entire shift. Get them up, feed them, activities or nap time then do the whole thing all over again. The least little delay throws your entire schedule off.
Third shift is the hardest of the three. It starts out slow, but then, just when you're really getting tired, you have to start running to get people up for the day. No wonder they have to offer a shift differential to get folks to work that shift.
Everything else being equal, I'll take second shift every time.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Lack of choices.
Being in rural Oklahoma means you have a limited pool of people to choose from whether you are talking about residents or staff. While we have gotten more residents and more staff, we still need more residents and we need some staff that actually are willing to stay on and work.
We had a CNA walk out on us. So, of course, since it happened on my shift, not only did I have to help cover until one of the CNA's from the next shift came in early, but I also had to attend a pow-wow with the DON because the CNA said she left because the staff was rude to her.
Please.
If I walked out on a job every time someone was rude to me, I'd never work anywhere more than one day. People are rude. That's all there is to it. Doesn't matter if it's a resident, coworker, or a family member. One of our other staff members told the DON that "rude" is just an excuse they use because they don't want to work.
Can I hear an "amen"?
Regardless, we now need another CNA. One who will work and not get offended if we aren't mollycoddling them.
We had a CNA walk out on us. So, of course, since it happened on my shift, not only did I have to help cover until one of the CNA's from the next shift came in early, but I also had to attend a pow-wow with the DON because the CNA said she left because the staff was rude to her.
Please.
If I walked out on a job every time someone was rude to me, I'd never work anywhere more than one day. People are rude. That's all there is to it. Doesn't matter if it's a resident, coworker, or a family member. One of our other staff members told the DON that "rude" is just an excuse they use because they don't want to work.
Can I hear an "amen"?
Regardless, we now need another CNA. One who will work and not get offended if we aren't mollycoddling them.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Same Stuff Different Day
Yesterday was my first day back from vacation. (And moving and visiting with my sister and brother in law.)
It was pretty much the same as when I left.
We had a couple new faces. Which is good. Higher census means more money and more staff and the other good things that go along with more money.
No one passed away. Also good. I hate coming back from days off and finding out Mr. So and So died.
Staff drama hasn't changed. The shift wars and department wars are alive and well. People who should be working as a team can't get along. You know, the usual.
It would have been nice if all the things I didn't like had changed for my benefit while I was gone, but no such luck. Nothing really awful happened either, so I guess I can't complain.
I have noticed, however, that my coworkers are already trying to see if they can set my hair on fire. I guess they want to know how long the vacation afterglow is going to last. I think I'm going to see how long I can keep from getting involved in their dramas. That would be some different stuff for a different day.
It was pretty much the same as when I left.
We had a couple new faces. Which is good. Higher census means more money and more staff and the other good things that go along with more money.
No one passed away. Also good. I hate coming back from days off and finding out Mr. So and So died.
Staff drama hasn't changed. The shift wars and department wars are alive and well. People who should be working as a team can't get along. You know, the usual.
It would have been nice if all the things I didn't like had changed for my benefit while I was gone, but no such luck. Nothing really awful happened either, so I guess I can't complain.
I have noticed, however, that my coworkers are already trying to see if they can set my hair on fire. I guess they want to know how long the vacation afterglow is going to last. I think I'm going to see how long I can keep from getting involved in their dramas. That would be some different stuff for a different day.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Finally, back online.
Jeez. Sorry for the ridiculous delay. I'm back online. Permanently, as long as I pay the cable bill. :) Give me a couple days. I've been on vacation from work, but we've moved residences and I'm up to my ears in stress.
Here's a funny conversation I had before going on vacation.
Mrs. A is a bossy lady. She's ex-military and she used to work in a Nursing Center. Nothing gets by her. She's also mean as snot and that means she's one of my favorites.
Mrs. A: Well, your hair is just in a little ball on the back of your head. It must not be any longer than your shoulders.
Me: Actually, it's pretty long. It's just fine and I don't have a lot of it. Next time I come to work with it down, I'll come and show you. (For the record, this only happens when inservice day falls on my day off.)
Mrs. A: If you come to work with your hair down, I'll send you home.
Guess she told me. :)
Here's a funny conversation I had before going on vacation.
Mrs. A is a bossy lady. She's ex-military and she used to work in a Nursing Center. Nothing gets by her. She's also mean as snot and that means she's one of my favorites.
Mrs. A: Well, your hair is just in a little ball on the back of your head. It must not be any longer than your shoulders.
Me: Actually, it's pretty long. It's just fine and I don't have a lot of it. Next time I come to work with it down, I'll come and show you. (For the record, this only happens when inservice day falls on my day off.)
Mrs. A: If you come to work with your hair down, I'll send you home.
Guess she told me. :)
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Appropriate Responses
Had an incident yesterday where a CNA that I work with found it necessary to confront a resident who had complained about her.
Really? Someone explain to me why this is a good idea.
There's only two proper responses to a resident complaint: Silence or an apology. Confronting a resident is never a good idea.
Luckily for the CNA, the resident didn't want anything further done. Technically, this would be abuse and the CNA could have come under investigation.
Some days I wonder if people unplug their frontal lobes before coming to work. Grr.
Really? Someone explain to me why this is a good idea.
There's only two proper responses to a resident complaint: Silence or an apology. Confronting a resident is never a good idea.
Luckily for the CNA, the resident didn't want anything further done. Technically, this would be abuse and the CNA could have come under investigation.
Some days I wonder if people unplug their frontal lobes before coming to work. Grr.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Future Entertainment
So, yesterday we had a gentleman come in and sing Karaoke for the residents. Mostly old country tunes and spiritual songs.
When it's my turn, do you think someone will come out and perform "Succubus" by Five Finger Death Punch for my listening pleasure?
When it's my turn, do you think someone will come out and perform "Succubus" by Five Finger Death Punch for my listening pleasure?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Previous Occupation
Warning: Sexist material to follow.
One of the many pieces of information that we have on our residents is what they did to make a living. The ones I find the most interesting are the women who worked outside the home. Most of my ladies are between 75 and 95 years old. They were CNA's, LPN's, School Teachers, Shop Keepers, Waitresses, Farmers, Bar owners (yes, we have a couple of those) and Domestic Technicians. All of them had children. Somehow, they managed to work, keep house, raise children and keep a man happy (at least for a little while). Some of them worked away from home when it was looked down upon. (As if contributing finacially to the family were shameful.) Keep in mind, too, that this is "The South" and we're a good 10 to 15 years behind the times as far as acceptance of women as equals.
Sometimes when I'm talking to them, I get a glimpse of that steel that kept them going even when they were bone tired from work and still had children to bathe and dishes to wash. It's no wonder they've outlived their husbands and, in some cases, their children. They've been going so long, they don't quite know how to stop.
So, what's the point? When we think work is rough, try to see it from their perspective. They watch us work and they've already been there, done that and sewn their own t-shirts. They got through it and they expect the same from us. Frankly, they don't want to hear our complaints, they just want us to take care of them the way they took care of their customers back in the day. (Well, maybe not the bar owner who used to chase unruly patrons out with a broom, but the rest of them.)
It's the least we can do.
One of the many pieces of information that we have on our residents is what they did to make a living. The ones I find the most interesting are the women who worked outside the home. Most of my ladies are between 75 and 95 years old. They were CNA's, LPN's, School Teachers, Shop Keepers, Waitresses, Farmers, Bar owners (yes, we have a couple of those) and Domestic Technicians. All of them had children. Somehow, they managed to work, keep house, raise children and keep a man happy (at least for a little while). Some of them worked away from home when it was looked down upon. (As if contributing finacially to the family were shameful.) Keep in mind, too, that this is "The South" and we're a good 10 to 15 years behind the times as far as acceptance of women as equals.
Sometimes when I'm talking to them, I get a glimpse of that steel that kept them going even when they were bone tired from work and still had children to bathe and dishes to wash. It's no wonder they've outlived their husbands and, in some cases, their children. They've been going so long, they don't quite know how to stop.
So, what's the point? When we think work is rough, try to see it from their perspective. They watch us work and they've already been there, done that and sewn their own t-shirts. They got through it and they expect the same from us. Frankly, they don't want to hear our complaints, they just want us to take care of them the way they took care of their customers back in the day. (Well, maybe not the bar owner who used to chase unruly patrons out with a broom, but the rest of them.)
It's the least we can do.
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