So two weeks ago I decided to take a CNA class. My thinking was that it would be a good idea because I could get a job with it and it would boost up any nursing application that I will do in the future. But according to my bank account it was not such a good idea. After I pay $293 for insurance for school which is due in 3 days, I will be down to a total of $6 dollars in my bank account. Oh well, I guess I will just have to start to donate plasma. Okay on the good note...
Clinicals Day 1:
Wake up at 4:30, get ready, and Dad is out making waffles for me! What a nice Dad. Then I am in the car at 5:15 and almost to the freeway when I look up and see that the check engine light is on. Oh joy! So I call dad, he said to turn around, and I was already late, but then switched cars and was on the road again. Then my gps on my phone doesn't work, so I call the instructor guy and ask him how to get there and I turn around and finally get there. Then the bum wiping starts.
You know, after you have seen so many naked bodies, it doesn't really phase you anymore. My CNA was really good, the first girl that we helped, she gave me gloves and said okay put on the Ted Hose. So I did, then we just worked as a team the rest of the day. that day I wiped bums, gave bed baths,gave showers, shaved a lady's beard, used a hoyer lift, changed wet briefs, held hands, talked to the old ladies and men, took meals to people, and many other little odds and ends things.
That day three ladies in particular stood out to me. Marilyn, Virginia, and Eunice. Marilyn is about 75 and capable of most things. She was just so sweet. She would walk the halls and hand out candy to the CNA's and tell them than-you for all that they do.
Virginia a 89 year old lady with severe back pain and on lots of pain meds. i first met her when we were getting her up from bed. i talked to her while she was laying there and asked her if she was the neighborhood watch because she had a good view. She said she might as well be because she is looking out the window all the time. When my CNA lifted her for the first time she screamed in pain because she had been laying down for so long without movement, and now we were disturbing her peace. When I took her to breakfast i said "okay lets go talk to your friends and have a good breakfast" and then she replied, "I don't have any friends here and I don't need anymore". I felt kind of sad.
Eunice. She is the cutest old lady. She probably was a new admit because she was the only one in her room, and had little to no belongings. The first time I had met her we took her to lunch, and at lunch this scenario happened.
I wheeled Virginia into her spot, then I wheeled Eunice into her spot next to Virginia. Eunice looked over and said, "Virginia!", and then Virginia looked over and said "Eunie!". They then had told me that they were friends in a different nursing home and had been there together for 7 years previous. Virginia had made up the nickname Eunie for her when they met about 8 years ago. I left and let them talk and when i returned after lunch they were still chatting away, and still holding hands. They were seriously so cute together! later I had talked to Virginia for a while and asked her about Eunice. She said that she fiinally got up the courage to ask her how old she was and Eunice told her that her birthday is tomorrow and is turning 99! Can you believe it! Crazy. And she doesn't really ave too many problems except for the ones that naturally come with old age.
Long story short those three ladies are just the cutest. and I think that I will always remember the glow in Virginia's eyes when she said, Eunie! She was so excited to see her friend.
Day 2
I was assigned to the first level which is the Alzheimers and Dementia level. The first guy I helped, two people were standing next to him, holding his hands while he was on the toilet, and he was shouting, "I'm going to kill you, I'm going to kick your butt, and go to heck!, you son of a monkey!" (but with the real words inserted) He was fighting back the CNA's and I was like oh good heavens and I have 8 hours on this floor? To my joy he was one of only two people like that. It was crazy to think that when the family would come around those two people, they were calm, collective, and if they did say something inappropriate, then a family members voice calmed them right down.
Most people were very nice, Billy, but she introduces herself as Silly Billy, is quite the character also. She would hold your hand and talk for hours if you had the time. Leaving her grasp is very hard once she holds your hand.
I felt so bad for Billy. After lunch, she grabbed my hand and said, "Why do we have to live so long? I just want to die now." I told her that Ididn't know but we have to try and live every day to its fullest and that I would try and make that day the best one I could for her.
I also saw a pressure ulcer. It was to stage 4. They had a wound vac on it to help it heal. They brought me in to see the bandage being replaced. It was on her bum, but if it had been anywhere else bone would have been showing. It was so deep that a 2 year old could fit their fist in the hole. She said at that point it didn't hurt her because the tissue was so dead. They also said that in a few months they could have it back to normal.
Also, most people were very, very grateful on that floor. They were constantly saying thank-you, or you are such a sweet heart, or please come back and help again. I was so sad to leave them. I think I am way better at the talking to them part of the job than the actual dirty work.
All in all, I had a good experience, and I confirmed my love for old people
